Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania

Lower Merion Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Philadelphia Main Line. The township's name originates with the county of Merioneth in north Wales. Merioneth is an English-language transcription of the Welsh Meirionnydd.

Lower Merion Township, along with Upper Darby, Haverford, and Cheltenham, are major suburbs of Philadelphia, the United States' sixth-most populous city as of 2020. With a population of 63,633, Lower Merion Township is the ninth-most populous municipality in Pennsylvania as of the 2020 U.S. census.

The center of Lower Merion Township is located 11.9 mi northwest of the center Philadelphia, the state's largest city. Parts of the township border the northwestern section of the city.

History
Lower Merion Township was first settled in 1682 by Welsh Quakers, who were granted a tract of land, the Welsh Tract, by William Penn. In 1713, Lower Merion was established as an independent Township with about 52 landholders and tenants. In 1900, the Township was incorporated as a Township of the First Class. Lower Merion is home to the oldest continuously used place of worship in the United States, the Merion Friends Meeting House, used continuously since 1695.

On April 4, 1991, U.S. Senator John Heinz died while as a passenger in a Piper Aerostar propeller aircraft when it collided with a Bell 412 helicopter over the Merion Elementary School in the Merion air disaster. The other four people in both aircraft also died, and the falling debris from the aircraft also caused the death of two elementary students and injured five others.

The Mill Creek Historic District, and Seville Theatre are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Green Hill Farms was added in 2011.

In 2010, the township received national media attention when a student filed a lawsuit, Robbins v. Lower Merion School District, after a school administrator used the webcam of a school-issued laptop to spy on the student while the student was in his home. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed an amicus brief in support of the student.

In 2012, the Federal Highway Administration modified the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices in a way that would have required the replacement of Lower Merion Township's historic street signs, some of which date back to the early 1910s. After some campaigning by local residents and by Senator Pat Toomey, the Lower Merion Board of Commissioners declared, via an ordinance, the entire Lower Merion as a historic district and received a waiver from Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 23.9 square miles (61.8 km2), of which 23.7 square miles (61.4 km2) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.4 km2) (0.67%) is water.

The township is bounded by the Wynnefield Heights, Belmont Village, Wynnefield, and Overbrook communities in the city of Philadelphia; the Boroughs of Conshohocken and West Conshohocken, and the townships of Upper Merion and Whitemarsh in Montgomery County and by the townships of Haverford and Radnor in Delaware County. The borough of Narberth, a separate political entity of one-half square mile, is completely surrounded by the township.

Forming the township's southern border is City Avenue separating it from Philadelphia. Along City Avenue, starting with the Schuylkill Expressway and continuing on to Lord & Taylor at Belmont Avenue in Bala Cynwyd is what is sometimes referred to as the "Golden Mile" which also includes the radio and television studios of WCAU, the Exxon Building, the Fox Building and the Germantown Savings Bank Building. Behind those buildings are the One-Ninety-One Condominiums and the Bala Cynwyd Plazas.

The township's eastern border is along the Schuylkill River.

Before European settlement, Lower Merion's dense forest was home to bears, cougars, wolves, rattlesnakes, otters, beavers, weasels, turkeys, grouses, woodland bison, trout, and bald eagles. When Europeans arrived, they began cutting down the forests, chasing away much of the wildlife. After World War II, Lower Merion transformed from a farming township to a suburban area, and wildlife changed accordingly. Today, red foxes, white-footed mice, horned owls, skunks, raccoons, crayfish, songbirds, butterflies, and white-tailed deer populate the township.

Unincorporated communities

 * Ardmore (also in Delaware County)
 * Bala Cynwyd
 * Belmont Hills
 * Bryn Mawr (also in Delaware County)
 * Gladwyne
 * Haverford (also in Delaware County)
 * Merion
 * Overbrook Hills
 * Pencoyd
 * Penn Valley
 * Penn Wynne
 * Roseglen
 * Rosemont (also in Delaware County)
 * Villanova (also in Delaware County)
 * Wynnewood

Climate
Lower Merion straddles the boundary between a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). The hardiness zone is 7a. Average monthly temperatures in Gladwyne range from 31.7 °F in January to 76.5 °F in July, in Bryn Mawr they range from 31.4 °F in January to 76.4 °F in July, and at the former location of NBC 10 studios in Bala Cynwyd they range from 32.6 °F in January to 77.4 °F in July.

Demographics
As of the 2010 census, the township was 85.7% White, 5.6% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 6.0% Asian, and 1.9% were two or more races. 3.0% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.

As of the 2020 census, there were 63,633 people, 22,868 households, and 15,024 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,670.29 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 76.11% White, 9.03% Asian, 6.54% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.61% from other races and 6.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.70% of the population.

According to the 2000 census, there were 22,868 households, 29.4% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the township, the population was spread out, with 21.7% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64 and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.5 males. For every 100 women aged 18 and over, there were 78.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $86,373, and the median income for a family was $115,694 (these figures had risen to $114,608 and $148,123 respectively as of a 2007 estimate ). Men had a median income of $77,692 versus $43,793 for women. The per capita income for the township was $55,526. About 1.9% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics
Lower Merion is a first-class township with 14 commissioners elected by ward.
 * Daniel Bernheim (D), Ward 1
 * Joshua Grimes (D), Ward 2
 * Michael F. McKeon (D), Ward 3
 * Anthony C. Stevenson (D), Ward 4
 * Ray A. Courtney (D), Ward 5
 * Andrew S. Gavrin (D), Ward 6
 * Sean P. Whalen (D), Ward 7
 * Shawn Kraemer (D), Ward 8
 * David F. McComb (D), Ward 9
 * V. Scott Zelov (R), Ward 10
 * Tiffany O'Neill (R), Ward 11
 * Todd M. Sinai (D), Ward 12, President
 * Gilda L. Kramer (D), Ward 13
 * Rick Churchill (D), Ward 14

The township is part of the Fourth Congressional District (represented by Rep. Madeleine Dean), the Fifth Congressional District (represented by Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon), the 149th State House District (represented by Rep. Tim Briggs), the 148th State House District (represented by Rep. Mary Jo Daley), and the 17th State Senate District (represented by Sen. Amanda Cappelletti).

Roads and highways
As of 2018, there were 240.08 mi of public roads in Lower Merion Township, of which 35.14 mi were maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and 204.94 mi were maintained by the township.

Several major highways traverse Lower Merion Township, including the Schuylkill Expressway (Interstate 76), "Blue Route" (Interstate 476), U.S. Route 1, U.S. Route 30, Pennsylvania Route 320, and Pennsylvania Route 23. The Schuylkill Expressway follows a northwest-southeast route along the northeastern border of the township, adjacent to its namesake river, while I-476 and PA 320 both clip the far northwest corner of the township. US 1 follows City Avenue along the southeastern border of the township, while US 30 follows Lancaster Avenue across southern portions of the township. Finally, PA 23 follows Conshohocken State Road through the heart of Lower Merion Township.

Public transportation
Lower Merion Township is the heart of the affluent Philadelphia Main Line series of suburban communities, named after the "Main Line" of the former Pennsylvania Railroad that runs through the township. Now known as SEPTA Regional Rail's Paoli/Thorndale Line, the rail line has station stops in Lower Merion in the following communities within the township:
 * Merion Station in Merion
 * Wynnewood Station in Wynnewood
 * Ardmore Station in Ardmore (also served by Amtrak's Keystone Service)
 * Haverford Station in Haverford
 * Bryn Mawr Station in Bryn Mawr
 * Rosemont Station in Rosemont

SEPTA Regional Rail's Cynwyd Line, with weekday service, has stops at:
 * Bala Station
 * Cynwyd Station (both in Bala Cynwyd)

SEPTA operates the Norristown High Speed Line between Norristown Transportation Center and 69th Street Transportation Center through the western part of Lower Merion Township with stops located at Matsonford and County Line, with additional stops located just outside the township in Delaware County. SEPTA provides bus service to Lower Merion Township along City Bus routes, and and Suburban Bus routes , and , serving points of interest in the township and offering connections to Philadelphia and other suburbs.

Top employers
According to a Lower Merion Township bond document, the top employers in 2018 were:

Public schools
Pupils living in the Lower Merion Township attend schools in the Lower Merion School District unless they go to a private school. The educational roots of the township stretch back to the Lower Merion Academy, one of the first public schools in the country.

There are six elementary schools, three middle schools, and two high schools, Lower Merion and Harriton High School. Students are split between schools depending on location of residence.

Private schools
Rosemont School of the Holy Child, located in Rosemont and in Lower Merion Township, is affiliated with but not governed by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The school is adjacent to Rosemont College.

Other private schools in the area include The Shipley School, The Baldwin School, Waldron Mercy Academy, The Haverford School, The Agnes Irwin School, Friends Central School, French International School of Philadelphia, Kohelet Yeshiva High School, The Mesivta High School, Caskey Torah Academy, and other schools outside the area.

Colleges and universities
Bryn Mawr College, Harcum College, Rosemont College, and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary are located in Lower Merion Township. The campus of Saint Joseph's University straddles the city line between Lower Merion and Philadelphia, while Haverford College straddles the lines between Lower Merion and Haverford Townships.

Other education
The Japanese Language School of Philadelphia, a supplementary Japanese school, holds its classes at the Friends Central School (FCS) in Wynnewood and in Lower Merion Township. Residents are also serviced by the Lower Merion Library System.

NRHP Historic Districts

 * Bryn Mawr College Historic District
 * Gladwyne Historic District
 * Mill Creek Historic District

Notable buildings and structures

 * 1690 House (1690), part of Mill Creek Historic District
 * Arboretum of the Barnes Foundation (1922)
 * The Baldwin School (1890–91), NRHP listed
 * Black Rock Dam (1825)
 * Bryn Mawr Hospital (1893)
 * Bryn Mawr Theater (1926), NRHP listed
 * Dolobran (1881)
 * Flat Rock Tunnel (1838–40)
 * Green Hill Farms (1695), NRHP listed
 * Harriton House (1704), NRHP listed
 * Idlewild Farm Complex (1740), NRHP listed
 * Lankenau Medical Center (1953)
 * Lower Merion Academy (1812), NRHP listed
 * Manayunk Bridge (1918)
 * Merion Cricket Club (1897), NRHP listed
 * Merion Friends Meeting House (1714), NRHP listed
 * Merion Tribute House (1924)
 * Pencoyd (c.1690, demolished 1964)
 * Philadelphia Country Club (1890)
 * Rathalla, Rosemont College (1889–91), NRHP listed
 * St. Charles Borromeo Seminary (1871)
 * Suburban Square (1928)
 * M. Carey Thomas Library (1901–07), NRHP listed
 * General Wayne Inn (1704), NRHP listed
 * West Laurel Hill Cemetery (1869), NRHP listed
 * Whitehall Apartments (1925–26), NRHP listed
 * Woodmont (1891–94), NRHP listed
 * Yorklynne (1899–1902, demolished 1974), former campus of Episcopal Academy, removed from NRHP 1974

Notable people

 * Hap Arnold, former World War II Air Force general
 * Albert C. Barnes, founder, Barnes Foundation
 * James H. Billington, former Librarian of Congress
 * Kobe Bryant, former professional basketball player, Los Angeles Lakers
 * Elijah Levinsohn, founder of Eli's School
 * Taylor Buchholz, former professional baseball player, Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, New York Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays
 * John Debella, former DJ, WMMR and WMGK
 * Shelly Gross, film producer
 * Alexander Haig, former U.S. Secretary of State
 * Patti LaBelle, Grammy award-winning rhythm and blues singer
 * Howard Lassoff, former professional basketball player, Israeli Premier League
 * Jeffrey Lurie, owner, Philadelphia Eagles
 * Garry Maddox, former professional player baseball player, Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco 49ers
 * Brooke McCarter, actor, singer, director, producer star of the film The Lost Boys
 * Tim McCarver, former professional baseball player and broadcaster
 * David Magerman, philanthropist
 * Teddy Pendergrass, Grammy winning singer
 * M. Night Shyamalan, filmmaker
 * Martin J. Silverstein, attorney and former U.S. ambassador to Uruguay
 * Lawrence Summers, former Harvard University president