20-635: West Bradford Township is a township that is located in Chester County , Pennsylvania , United States. The population was 14,706 at the time of the 2020 census. There are three federal historic districts , Marshallton , Trimbleville , and Northbrook , that are located within West Bradford Township and listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Also listed are the Baily Farm ,
40-543: A family was $ 162,606 West Bradford Township is served by the Downingtown Area School District , and has two elementary schools within the township: Each of the two elementary schools serves sections of the township. All of the township is zoned to Downingtown Middle School and Downingtown West High School . As of 2021, there were 103.39 miles (166.39 km) of public roads in West Bradford Township, of which 26.82 miles (43.16 km) were maintained by
60-460: A southwest–northeast alignment across the southeastern portion of the township. Township (Pennsylvania) A township , under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , is the lowest level of municipal incorporation of government. All of Pennsylvania's communities outside of incorporated cities , boroughs , and one town have been incorporated into individual townships that serve as
80-1195: A tax collector and, in many townships, a panel of three auditors who annually audit all township accounts. The supervisors or commissioners of the township appoint a secretary and a treasurer, and may also appoint a township manager to coordinate township employees and operations. County governments may provide some or all municipal services to residents of townships, regardless of class and size, including trash collection or sewage processing. Some counties, though, leave individual municipalities to provide their own services; in some instances small groups of boroughs or townships may pool their resources to provide water, police, or other functions. The main areas of local services include police and fire protection, maintenance of local roads and streets, water supply, sewage collection and treatment, parking and traffic control, local planning and zoning, parks and recreation, garbage collection, health services, libraries, licensing of businesses and code enforcement. All municipalities in Pennsylvania, however, rely on county and state organized courts for probate, criminal, and civil court services. Under
100-497: A township of the first class and operate under the powers of the First Class Township Code, a township must have a population density of 300 inhabitants per square mile (120/km ) and voters therein must approve the change of classification in a referendum. The classes of townships differ primarily in the form of their administration. Townships of the second class are governed by a board of supervisors, elected at large by
120-497: Is 0.32% water. As of the census of 2020, there were 14,706 people comprising 4,974 households residing in the township. The population density was 773.9 inhabitants per square mile (298.8/km). There were 4,974 housing units at an average density of 226.7 per square mile (87.5/km). The racial makeup of the township was 85.6% White , 2.8% African American , 0% Native American , 4.0% Asian , 0.01% Pacific Islander , 0.1% from other races , and 7.1% from two or more races. 4.1% of
140-857: The Bradford Friends Meetinghouse , the Como Farm , the Derbydown Homestead , the Humphry Marshall House , the Marshallton Inn , and the Temple-Webster-Stoner House . According to the United States Census Bureau , the township has a total area of 18.6 square miles (48.2 km), of which, 18.6 square miles (48.1 km) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km) is water. The total area
160-528: The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and 76.57 miles (123.23 km) were maintained by the township. U.S. Route 322 and Pennsylvania Route 162 are the numbered roads serving West Bradford Township. US 322 follows the Downingtown Pike along a northwest–southeast alignment across the northeastern portion of the township. PA 162 follows Telegraph Road and Strasburg Road along
180-670: The state . Municipalities may have the right to tax individuals and corporations with income tax , property tax , and corporate income tax , but may also receive substantial funding from the state. In some European countries, such as Germany, municipalities have the constitutional right to supply public services through municipally-owned public utility companies . Terms cognate with "municipality", mostly referring to territory or political structure, are Spanish municipio (Spain) and municipalidad (Chile), Catalan municipi , Portuguese município . In many countries, terms cognate with "commune" are used, referring to
200-689: The 17th century during the colonial-era Province of Pennsylvania prior to the American Revolution . Much of the province was then occupied by Native Americans , but the colonial administration in Philadelphia brought new counties and new settlements regularly. The first communities defined by the provincial state government tended to be rural, geographically large, and sparsely populated townships. Townships or portions of them tended to become boroughs after population growth or an increase in population density and, eventually, might to reincorporate at
220-559: The Pennsylvania constitution, each governmental entity has the right to choose its own form of self-government, and a limited ability to delegate powers and oversight to such entities as authorities, commissions and school boards. Any township, regardless of its class, may adopt a home rule charter, at which point it is no longer governed by the Pennsylvania Township Codes. While a home rule charter can incorporate unusual features, standard municipal functions are generally part of
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#1732850997353240-592: The Roman state (granting Roman citizenship to the inhabitants) while permitting the communities to retain their own local governments (a limited autonomy). A municipality can be any political jurisdiction , from a sovereign state such as the Principality of Monaco , to a small village such as West Hampton Dunes, New York . The territory over which a municipality has jurisdiction may encompass: Powers of municipalities range from virtual autonomy to complete subordination to
260-823: The characteristics of more-urbanized areas that might be associated with "towns." Because Pennsylvania's constitution provides for a progression of municipal structures based on population growth, it is not uncommon to have a township and borough of the same or similar name, generally adjacent within the same county. The 'town-like' borough might be partially or wholly surrounded by the remaining township from which it had split off. The government of Cold Spring Township ceased to function in 1961, when there were no candidates for office. Pennsylvania townships typically vary in size from 6 to 40 square miles (16–104 km ). There are two classifications of townships, first class and second class. The commonwealth initially incorporates all townships as second class townships. To become
280-525: The community living in the area and the common interest. These include terms: The same terms "Gemeente" (Dutch) or "Gemeinde" (German) may be used for church congregations or parishes, for example, in the German and Dutch Protestant churches. In Greece, the word Δήμος ( demos ) is used, also meaning 'community'; the word is known in English from the compound democracy (rule of the people). In some countries,
300-432: The electorate of the whole township for overlapping six-year terms. The number of supervisors can be increased to five by referendum. Townships of the first class, by contrast, have a board of commissioners. Between five and fifteen commissioners sit on this panel; they can be elected either at large or by wards within the township; and they serve for overlapping terms of four years in office. Other elected officials include
320-553: The governing body of a given municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district . The English word is derived from French municipalité , which in turn derives from the Latin municipalis , based on the word for social contract ( municipium ), referring originally to the Latin communities that supplied Rome with troops in exchange for their own incorporation into
340-455: The legal entities providing local self-government functions. In general, townships in Pennsylvania encompass larger land areas than other municipalities , and tend to be located in suburban , exurban , or rural parts of the commonwealth. As with other incorporated municipalities in Pennsylvania, townships exist within counties and are subordinate to or dependent upon the county level of government. Townships in Pennsylvania were created in
360-548: The level of city. Initially, each municipal organization begins as a second-class township. When a sufficient population density, currently 300 people per square mile, was attained, the township had the option of holding a referendum and, if it passed, became a first-class township. The municipality could proceed to the level of borough or city in a similar fashion. Historically, this progression has often included border adjustments or mergers with other boroughs or townships. Many communities remain townships in spite of growth that brings
380-421: The mix regardless of how offices and powers are allocated within the jurisdiction. "Citizen's Guide to Pennsylvania Local Government, 2010" Municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term municipality may also mean
400-474: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The average household size was 2.89. Within the township, the population was spread out, with 30.4% of residents who were under the age of 19, 4.0% from 20 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males. The median income for
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