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51-493: Upper Darby Township , often shortened to Upper Darby , is a home rule township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania , United States. As of the 2020 census, the township had a total population of 85,681, making it the state's sixth-most populated municipality after Philadelphia , Pittsburgh , Allentown , Reading , and Erie . Upper Darby borders Philadelphia , the nation's sixth-most populous city , and constitutes part of

102-555: A die-in at 69th and Market Streets. In 2020, the community voted on a motto for Upper Darby, "The World in One Place," reflecting the multicultural community of the present day. Upper Darby has seen a rise in LGBTQ activism of late, and Upper Darby Pride, a non-profit organization planned the first Upper Darby Pride Fest for June 2020. It was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it

153-414: A Census 2015 estimate, the racial makeup of the borough was 67.6% non-Hispanic White , 21.4% African American , 6.9% Asian , 2.1% from other races , and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4% of the population. 14.5% of the borough's population was foreign-born [1] . As of the census of 2000, there were 6,779 people, 2,714 households, and 1,696 families residing in

204-454: A double-edged sword as beginning in 1885, the township lost large sections of territory as the citizens of more populated neighborhoods petitioned the state to be recognized as separate municipalities. The first of these was the borough of Clifton Heights (incorporated on June 1, 1885), followed by the boroughs of Lansdowne (July 6, 1893), Aldan (September 22, 1893), Millbourne (October 12, 1909), and East Lansdowne (June 3, 1911). Part of

255-543: A household in the township was $ 41,489, and median income for a family was $ 52,500. Males had a median income of $ 38,090 versus $ 30,416 for females. The per capita income for the township was $ 20,770. About 7.3% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia operates several Catholic churches in Upper Darby: Soji Zen Center

306-667: A point in Central Philadelphia and a point on the Delaware River to the south. The high point, Tin Kettle Hill, is believed to be the origin of "Heights" in the borough's name. In 1839, Thomas Kent settled in the area and established the J. and T. Kent Company, which manufactured carpet yarn. The company's workers built houses throughout Clifton Heights, surrounding the Kent Mills factory. The original factory building and many of

357-861: Is a Buddhist Temple in the Drexel Hill section of Upper Darby. Masjid Al-Madinah Islamic Center is a mosque and cultural center located on 69th Street. Masjid Omar and AL-Quran Center are in the Stonehurst and Bywood neighborhoods. Sree Sree Sanatan Shangho and Sree Narayana Guru Deva Temple are Hindu Temples located in Bywood. St Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church is located in the Stonehurst neighborhood. Protestant denominations in Upper Darby include Presbyterian, Baptist, United Methodist, Lutheran, and non-denominational. In 1991, five Upper Darby policemen were convicted in federal court and sentenced to prison for violating

408-489: Is also on the National Register of Historic Places. Darby Township originally occupied the area between the current border of Upper Darby to the north, Cobbs Creek and then Darby Creek to the east and south, and Ridley and Springfield townships to the west. This continued until 1747, when, for the convenience of the inhabitants, it was decided at a town meeting to separate the upper part from the lower "in all matters save

459-626: Is bordered to the northeast by the borough of Lansdowne , to the southeast by the borough of Aldan , and to the west, north, and southeast by Upper Darby Township . Clifton Heights is bordered by Darby Creek to the west. According to the United States Census Bureau , the borough has a total area of 0.62 square miles (1.6 km ), all land. As of 2015, there were 12.51 miles (20.13 km) of public roads in Clifton Heights, of which 2.37 miles (3.81 km) were maintained by

510-592: Is held at Greenhorn Gardens in Arlington Cemetery and features live music, food, beer gardens, and a 5k fundraiser for arts programs. The Upper Darby International Festival is an annual event held in September in Terminal Square (prior to 2021 it was held on 69th Street). The festival features performances, artwork, and food reflecting the diverse cultural backgrounds of the Upper Darby community. Opened in 2018,

561-572: Is one of Pennsylvania's most diverse communities. In 2019, three out members of the LGBTQ community were elected to the Upper Darby School Board. As of the census of 2000, there were 85,038 people, 32,551 households, and 20,474 families residing in the township. The population density was 14,658.7 people per square mile. There were 34,322 housing units at an average density of 4,361.6 per square mile (1,684.0/km). The racial makeup of Upper Darby

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612-505: The Battle of Antietam and Battle of Gettysburg . In addition to mills, the township was part of a region that was home to rock quarries, factories, and other various industrial concerns. Industrialization greatly increased the township's population from just over 800 in 1800 to almost 5,000 by 1890 and spurred residential and commercial development that attracted an influx of European immigrants. To serve this influx, churches were founded across

663-610: The Delaware Valley , also known as the Philadelphia metropolitan area, the nation's seventh-largest metropolitan area . Upper Darby is home to the Tower Theater , a historic music venue on 69th Street built in the 1920s, and to several Underground Railroad sites. In August 2019, the radio tower on top of the theater was removed due to structural concerns. In 1650, the area that eventually became Upper Darby had been inhabited by

714-527: The Lenape tribe of Native Americans for thousands of years. The Lenape were part of the larger late Woodland culture, living in longhouses and birch bark homes , and engaging in the type of agriculture featuring companion planting of the Three Sisters (winter squash, maize, and beans). The first permanent Europeans settlers arrived in late 1653 with a group from New Sweden . Soon after, in 1655, New Sweden

765-742: The Pennsylvania Code in titles numbered in the 300s, by county. However, Norristown's published charter in the Montgomery County title of the Pennsylvania code (specifically Title 346) is an obsolete version, as the revised version was never published in the code. Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania The demographics of the greater Delaware Valley were significantly impacted by European colonization. By 1754, Native American populations in this region had been significantly displaced, however various uprisings of Native Americans were common throughout

816-574: The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and 10.14 miles (16.32 km) were maintained by the borough. No numbered highways serve Clifton Heights directly. The main thoroughfares include Baltimore Avenue, which follows a southwest-to-northeast alignment, and Springfield Road, which follows a northwest-to-southeast alignment. The two roads intersect near the center of the borough. Baltimore Avenue leads northeast into Philadelphia and southwest 5 miles (8 km) to Media . As of

867-519: The Underground Railroad , including Hoodland, the home of abolitionist Abraham L. Pennock and Thomas Pennock, which was eventually bequeathed to the township's public library and which currently houses the children's library, connected to a much larger modern annex which houses the Main Branch. Another prominent abolitionist, Thomas Garrett , grew up in Upper Darby and Thornfield, his home until

918-464: The 1960s, Upper Darby was the seventh-most populous municipality in Pennsylvania. In the early 1970s, students from Highland Park Elementary School began a campaign to have the Pennsylvania Firefly declared the official state insect of Pennsylvania. With advice and support from state legislators , the students began a campaign that included letter writing, the circulation of petitions, and

969-760: The Llanerch Diner was the setting for a pivotal scene in the film Silver Linings Playbook . The Philadelphia Museum of Art opened the first branch museum in the United States, modeled on the Carnegie Library branch system, on 69th Street. The 69th Street Branch of the PMA operated from 1930 to 1933. The University of Pennsylvania operated the Flower and Clark Observatory in the Highland Park neighborhood from 1897 to 1956,

1020-501: The Tower reopened as a concert venue in 1972, and has hosted acts including the first American tours of David Bowie and Genesis . In addition to musical acts, the Tower has hosted comedians such as Trevor Noah and Jim Norton . In 2018, Rolling Stone listed the Tower as one of the ten best live music venues in the United States. Upper Darby Summer Stage is one of the nation's oldest youth theater programs. The annual Music Man Festival

1071-456: The U.S. commonwealth of Pennsylvania , a home rule municipality is one incorporated under its own unique charter, created pursuant to the state's home rule and optional plans law and approved by referendum. "Local governments without home rule can only act where specifically authorized by state law; home rule municipalities can act anywhere except where they are specifically limited by state law". Although many such municipalities have retained

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1122-558: The Upper Darby Art Gallery in the Highland Park neighborhood features local, national and international artists and works, as well as art classes. Centered in Terminal Square and the West Chester Pike business districts, Upper Darby restaurants feature a diverse range of cuisines including Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Liberian, Indian, Italian, Korean, Mexican, and Colombian. The community is also known for its Irish pubs, and

1173-573: The age of 32, still stands at Garrett Road and Maple Avenue in the Drexel Hill neighborhood. The influx of immigrants drawn to the township by industrialization caused the township's population to explode, and also gave Upper Darby a role in the Civil War . Two regiments from Upper Darby took part in the American Civil War , including the 106th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment , which was involved in

1224-407: The average family size was 3.20. In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males. The median income for a household in the borough

1275-653: The border of Upper Darby and connects with Darby Creek. Cobbs Creek Park and the Philadelphia public golf course abut the Highland Park Neighborhood of Upper Darby along the border of Philadelphia's Overbrook Park neighborhood. Upper Darby has a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ) and the hardiness zone is 7a bordering 7b. Average monthly temperatures in the vicinity of Garrett Road and Lansdowne Avenue range from 32.9 °F in January to 77.7 °F in July. Upper Darby

1326-414: The borough. The population density was 10,882.5 inhabitants per square mile (4,201.8/km ). There were 2,883 housing units at an average density of 4,628.2 per square mile (1,787.0/km ). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.22% White , 2.92% African American , 0.06% Native American , 1.50% Asian , 0.38% from other races , and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.99% of

1377-399: The civil rights of two residents, a father and son. Each was found guilty on several counts involving assault, false arrest, and prosecution. On January 30, 2002, Upper Darby police officer Dennis McNamara was shot and killed in the line of duty by Thomas Campbell. McNamara was investigating a suspicious parked vehicle around 9:30 PM when Campbell came up behind him and shot him in the side of

1428-520: The distribution of bumper stickers . On April 10, 1974, Governor Milton J. Shapp signed their bill making the Pennsylvania Firefly their state's official insect. A couple of years later, Highland Park Elementary School was presented with a bronze plaque in honor of the students' achievement. In the wake of the 2020 racial uprising in response to the murder of George Floyd , several protests and actions took place in Upper Darby, including

1479-732: The edge of the Piedmont slightly above the City of Philadelphia (60 to 260 ft or 18 to 79 m above sea level). The area is crossed by several small creeks. The borough of East Lansdowne , Pennsylvania is an enclave completely surrounded by Upper Darby Township; additionally, an exclave of Upper Darby Township is separated from the rest of the township. Upper Darby neighborhoods include Aronimink, Beverly Hills, Bywood, Drexel Hill , Drexel Park, Fernwood, Highland Park, Llanerch Hills, Kellyville, Kirklyn, Oakview, Primos, Secane , Stonehurst, Terminal Square, and Westbrook Park. Cobbs Creek runs along

1530-567: The first home rule city of Pennsylvania in 1951. The Assembly further adopted the Optional Third Class City Charter Law in 1957, and in 1968, the new Constitution declared that "Municipalities shall have the right and power to frame and adopt home rule charters." The new Home Rule Charter and Optional Plans Law, creating that right in the statutes of the Commonwealth, was passed in 1972. Home rule charters are published in

1581-463: The head with a .32 caliber revolver. McNamara had a section of Lansdowne Avenue renamed in his honor; Campbell pled guilty to his murder in 2003 and was sentenced to life in prison plus ten years. He died in Graterford Prison in 2015. Tower Theater , located in Terminal Square at the intersection of 69th and Ludlow Streets, opened as a movie and vaudeville theater in 1927. After closing briefly,

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1632-472: The levies made for the support of the poor," with the northern part thereafter to be called Upper Darby Township. The exact boundary was not established until 1786, when a petition was presented to the court. The following is an excerpt from this petition: Beginning at Cobb's Creek on the Northwest side of a tract of land belonging to the heirs of Joshua Ash and in the line of said land, thence along said line and

1683-416: The line of land late Enoch Bonsall's & Joshua Bonsall's to Darby Creek thence down the said Creek to the northwest line of John Ash's land, thence along said line and the line of Samuel Ash and Nathaniel Smith to the line of Ridley Township , and that the lower part may be called Darby and the other part Upper Darby. The abundance of creeks and streams in the area favored the development of mills, and it

1734-403: The millworker houses still exist today. In the early 1950s, Clifton Precision, a defense contractor, built a factory in Clifton Heights, designed by architect Nathan Cronheim. Completed in 1955, the company designed and manufactured motors and other electronic components out of the location. The company was later acquired by Litton Industries and operated until the late 1990s, when the property

1785-409: The population. There were 2,714 households, out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and

1836-415: The region. According to historian Freas B. Snyder, settlers set up a large tin kettle at a high point on what is now Oak Avenue, between Baltimore Avenue and Springfield Road. When hostile Indians were moving through the area, an alert would be sounded by banging on the tin kettle. This high point was called "Tin Kettle Hill" and would become a landmark used in three-point calculation surveying , along with

1887-652: The site is now known as Observatory Park. Upper Darby Township has three public library branches as part of the Delaware County Library System: In the 2020 presidential election , Democrat Joe Biden received 71.1% of the vote in Upper Darby with Republican Donald Trump receiving 28.9%. In the 2016 presidential election , Democrat Hillary Clinton received 25,475 votes (66.3%), Republican Donald Trump received 11,967 (31.1%) votes, with independent candidates receiving just over 1,000 votes in Upper Darby. Home Rule Municipality (Pennsylvania) In

1938-408: The suburbs, as well as numerous city and suburban bus routes. Commuter traffic spurred the development of the 69th St. shopping district in the 1920s by John McClatchy, and made Upper Darby the second-busiest shopping area in the region after Center City Philadelphia . The business district is noted for many fine examples of Art Deco style buildings. A population explosion in the township followed; by

1989-639: The territory of Aldan was also taken from Darby Township. In 1907, the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company recognized the potential for growth in the township and extended the Market-Frankford elevated train line , or the "El", from just west of the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia to 69th and Market Streets in Upper Darby. The El terminus at 69th Street Station became a busy terminal serving several trolley and light rail lines into

2040-527: The territory of Aldan was also taken from Darby Township. Reflecting the Quaker background of its earliest English settlers, Upper Darby was active in the antislavery movement. At least one abolition society existed prior to 1830, and sent a committee of twelve prominent citizens to the 1830 meeting of the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society in Philadelphia. Many homes in the area were stops on

2091-449: The township was part of a region that was home to rock quarries, factories, and other various industrial concerns. Industrialization greatly increased the township's population from just over 800 in 1800 to almost 5,000 by 1890 and spurred residential and commercial development that attracted an influx of European immigrants. To serve this influx, churches were founded across the township. The township's population explosion turned out to be

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2142-523: The township. The township's population explosion turned out to be a double-edged sword as beginning in 1885, the township lost large sections of territory as the citizens of more populated neighborhoods petitioned the state to be recognized as separate municipalities. The first of these was the borough of Clifton Heights (incorporated on June 1, 1885), followed by the boroughs of Lansdowne (July 6, 1893), Aldan (September 22, 1893), Millbourne (October 12, 1909), and East Lansdowne (June 3, 1911). Part of

2193-462: The word "Township" or "Borough" in their official names, the Pennsylvania Township and Borough Codes no longer apply to them. All three types of municipalities (cities, boroughs, and townships) may become a home rule municipality. When Pennsylvania was chartered in 1681, its proprietor William Penn was given the power to create counties, towns, and other municipalities, and the legislature

2244-551: Was 59.1% White ; 20.5% African American; 15.3% Asian ; 0.1% Native American; <0.1% Pacific Islander ; 0.5% from other races and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.4% of the population There were 32,551 households, out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who

2295-419: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.23. 25.2% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64 and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males. The median income for

2346-565: Was given sovereignty over them. "Abuse of legislative interference in local matters in the nineteenth century led to prohibition of special and local laws in the Constitution of 1874". Early in the 20th century, the concept of municipal home rule spread across the United States, and in 1922 the Pennsylvania Constitution was amended to give the legislature the right to grant cities the right to choose home rule. Philadelphia became

2397-573: Was held a year later by U.D.T.J. on the grounds of Upper Darby High School and accompanied by other Pride events in the township. In 2023, the Pride celebration in Upper Darby grew into what is now Delaware County Pride. Delaware County Pride hosted its inaugural festival in Downtown Upper Darby June 10, 2023. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the township has a total area of 7.9 square miles (20.4 km), all land. The township lies on

2448-746: Was in Upper Darby that some of the first mills in Delaware County could be found. Some notable examples were the Cardington Mills in the Cardington section of the township and the Kent Mills in the Kellyville section. The site of the former Kent Mills is now a recreation area and dog park known as Kent Park. One local mill owner was the Garrett family, who owned mills along the Darby Creek. In addition to mills,

2499-604: Was sold and converted into offices and warehouse space. The population of the borough was 1,820 in 1890, 3,155 in 1910, and reached a maximum of 10,268 in 1960. Clifton Heights is the birthplace of the glam rock band Cinderella . Clifton Heights is the home of Rosati Water Ice, the nation's first Italian ice company, and the Slinky toy. Clifton Heights is located in eastern Delaware County at 39°55′45″N 75°17′45″W  /  39.92917°N 75.29583°W  / 39.92917; -75.29583 (39.929062, -75.295760). It

2550-491: Was subsequently part of the eastern section of that county which was split off on September 26, 1789, to form Delaware County . The Lower Swedish Cabin , thought to have been built in 1654, is located on Creek Road along the Darby Creek and is believed by many to be a remnant of the early Swedes, who introduced the log cabin to this area. Today the "Swedish Cabin" is designated with a Pennsylvania Historical Marker. The Cabin

2601-639: Was taken over by the Dutch, and then came under English rule in October 1664 as part of England's overall conquest of New Amsterdam . The region was controlled as a possession of the English king until it was included in a large land grant to William Penn in 1681. Upon Penn's founding of the colony of Pennsylvania the next year, the area was designated as part of the municipality of Darby Township , in Chester County . It

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