Journey Through the Past of Upper Providence, PA

The personal injury lawyers in Upper Providence, PA, at Schuster Law present the following article on the town's history.

Upper Providence

The township of Upper Providence is located on the western edge of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Schuylkill River forms the western border of the town, while Perkiomen Creek flows along the eastern edge. North Township Line Road creates the northern border separating the town from Royersford and Chestnut Pointe. Pottstown Expressway, or U.S. Route 422, travels across the 11,628.8-acre township.

Early History

The area was part of the tract of land owned by William Penn. He named the area after his mother's maiden name, The Manor of Gilberts. In 1701, Edward Lane purchased 2,500 acres from Penn and began the first settlement in the area that included the first Episcopal church. Several Germans moved into the area, including Reverand Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, the founder of the first Lutheran Church in the United States.

After a petition started by the residents in 1725, the area was renamed Providence and included both the upper and lower regions. IT was not until 1805 that the area was divided along the Perkiomen Creek, establishing the upper township. The boroughs of Trappe and Collegeville were created in 1896, leaving the current boundaries of the township.

The Schuylkill Canal played a vital role in the growth of the area. In 1846 the Schuylkill Canal’s Lock Number 60 was constructed. This allowed the boats to cross the river as it connected the canal to the forebay by maintaining the correct level of water flow. A recent restoration took place in 1995 and was completed in 2005 that included improvements to the guard wall, miter gates, and truss bridge.

Historical Attractions

The community boasts of historical landmarks throughout the area, such as:

• The Black Rock Dam, located on the Schuylkill Canal, was built in 1825 by the Schuylkill Navigation Company.
• The Friends Meeting House, located on Black Rock Road, was built in 1740.
• The Far Away Farm, original land owned by William Penn's sons, includes a house built by Henry Ewalt in 1761.

More recent attractions in the area include the Arnold Family Fun Center. It is the largest indoor amusement center in the state and is approximately 144,000 square feet. The center includes some of the following activities:

• bumper cars
• duck pin bowling
• inflatable bounces
• the area's largest arcade

Demographics

The population of the neighborhood in 2010 was 21,219. This was an increase of 37.8% from 2000, which was 15,398. The area has had a steady growth in population, with an astounding 54.0% increase from 1980 to 1990. The racial makeup of the community was the following:

• 86.6% white
• 3.5% African American
• 2.2% Hispanic or Latino
• 7.9% Asian
• 0.1% Native American
• 1.5% two or more races

The median annual household income for the area was approximately $75,789 in 2010. The average for a family household was $85,660. The average income brought in by men was $54,764 per year versus $37,193 by women.

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Our Local Office

The Upper Providence, PA, personal injury lawyers at Schuster Law are committed to helping you get the maximum payout for your personal injury. Contact our office for a free case review.

Schuster Law
334 W Front St,
Media, PA 19063, USA
(610) 892-9200