Editing Fort Washington, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Unincorporated community in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Fort Washington
| native_name             = 
| other_name              = 
| settlement_type         = [[Census-designated place]]
<!-- images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline           = Quaker Manor Ft Washington PA.jpg
| image_caption           = [[Quaker Manor House]]
| image_flag              = 
| image_shield            = 
| motto                   = 
| nickname                = 
| etymology               = 
<!-- location -->
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = United States
| subdivision_type1       = State
| subdivision_name1       = Pennsylvania
| subdivision_type2       = County
| subdivision_name2       = [[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Montgomery]]
| subdivision_type3       = Township
| subdivision_name3       = [[Upper Dublin Township, Pennsylvania|Upper Dublin]] (CDP)<br />[[Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania|Whitemarsh]]
<!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map               = 
| map_caption             = 
| pushpin_map             = USA Pennsylvania#USA
| pushpin_relief          = 
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location of Fort Washington in Pennsylvania 
| coordinates             = {{coord|40|08|19|N|75|11|29|W|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes   = 
<!-- established -->
| established_title       = 
| established_date        = 
<!-- area -->
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='42'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 12, 2022}}</ref>
| dunam_link              = 
| area_total_km2          = 8.43
| area_total_sq_mi        = 3.25
| area_land_sq_mi         = 3.25
| area_water_sq_mi        = 0.00
<!-- elevation -->
| elevation_footnotes     = 
| elevation_m             = 
| elevation_ft            = 233
<!-- population -->
| population_as_of        = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes    = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_total        = 5910
| population_density_km2  = 701.26
| population_density_sq_mi = 1816.23
| population_demonym      = 
<!-- time zone(s) -->
| timezone1               = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset1             = -5
| timezone1_DST           = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = -4
| timezone2               =  
| utc_offset2             = 
| timezone2_DST           = 
| utc_offset2_DST         = 
<!-- postal codes, area code -->
| postal_code_type        = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code             = 19034
| area_code_type          =  
| area_codes               = [[Area codes 215, 267, and 445|215, 267, and 445]]
| geocode                 = 
| iso_code                = 
<!-- website, footnotes -->
| website                 = 
| footnotes               = 
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 42-26872
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_land_km2 = 8.43
|area_water_km2 = 0.00
}}

'''Fort Washington''' is a [[census-designated place]] and suburb of [[Philadelphia]] in [[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania]], United States. The CDP, as of 2020, is entirely in [[Upper Dublin Township]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st42_pa/place/p4226872_fort_washington/DC20BLK_P4226872.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Fort Washington CDP, PA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-10-22}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st42_pa/place/p4226872_fort_washington/DC10BLK_P4226872_001.pdf 2010 map] - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk2000/st42_Pennsylvania/Place/4226872_FortWashington/CBP4226872_001.pdf 2000 map] - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st42_Pennsylvania/42091_Montgomery/90B42091_000.pdf 1990 County index map] with Fort Washington on pages [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st42_Pennsylvania/42091_Montgomery/90B42091_046.pdf 46], [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st42_Pennsylvania/42091_Montgomery/90B42091_047.pdf 47], [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st42_Pennsylvania/42091_Montgomery/90B42091_055.pdf 55], and [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st42_Pennsylvania/42091_Montgomery/90B42091_056.pdf 56]</ref> The population was 5,446 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].

== History ==
Prior to the [[American Revolutionary War]], present-day Fort Washington was settled by [[Germans|German]] immigrants, including Philip Engard who immigrated in 1728. Engard purchased a {{convert|100|acre}} lot of land on what was to be named Susquehanna Road and Fort Washington Avenue. By the mid-18th century, the area came to be known as Engardtown, and Fort Washington Avenue was originally called Engardtown Road.  The house built by Philip Engard is listed as the "Engard Family Home - 1765" in the [[Upper Dublin Township, Pennsylvania|Upper Dublin Township]] Open Space & Environmental Resource Protection Plan - 2005, as part of the Upper Dublin Historical Properties #25.

===American Revolutionary War===
{{main|Battle of White Marsh}}
[[File:EMLEN HOUSE, FT. WASHNGTON, MONTGOMERY COUNTY.jpg|thumb|Emlen House in Fort Washington]]
During the [[Philadelphia campaign]] of the [[American Revolutionary War]], [[George Washington]] and the [[Continental Army]] encamped in present-day Fort Washington following their October 4, 1777, defeat at the [[Battle of Germantown]], and immediately prior to their march to [[Valley Forge]]. During the encampment, Washington was headquartered at the Emlen House, built by George Emlen, a [[Quakers|Quaker]], in 1745.

Later that year, between December 5 and December 8, 1777, the [[Battle of White Marsh]] was fought in present-day Fort Washington between the [[British Army during the American Revolutionary War|British]] and [[Continental Army]].  British commander [[William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe|General William Howe]] observed the American lines from the bell tower of St. Thomas' Episcopal Church at Bethlehem Pike and Camp Hill Road, where the British Army was encamped on December 5.  

A current [[Pennsylvania]] park, [[Fort Washington State Park]] in Fort Washington, includes the area where Washington and the Continental Army were located during the Battle of White Marsh.

===Great Train Wreck of 1856===
{{main|The Great Train Wreck of 1856}}
On July 17, 1856, Fort Washington was the site of one of the worst [[List of rail accidents (before 1880)|train accidents]] in the United States when two [[North Pennsylvania Railroad]] trains collided with one another near the Sandy Run station, later renamed Camp Hill, now the defunct Fellwick Station). The exact number of deaths is uncertain, but 59 were killed instantly and dozens more perished from their injuries. Many of the dead were children from [[St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, Philadelphia|St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church]] from the [[Kensington, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Kensington]] section of Philadelphia, who were traveling to Sheaff's Woods, a park in the Fort Washington area for a [[Sunday school]] picnic.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080317112514/http://www.amusementparknostalgia.com/indcamp.html Camp Hill Train Disaster] (archive)</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://home.catholicweb.com/StMichaelsHistory/index.cfm/NewsItem?ID=124237&From=Home| title=The Great Train Wreck of 1856| publisher=St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church| location=Philadelphia, PA| access-date=May 23, 2011| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070816232038/http://home.catholicweb.com/StMichaelsHistory/index.cfm/NewsItem?ID=124237&From=Home| archive-date=August 16, 2007}}</ref>

===Incorporation into Upper Dublin Township===
{{main|Upper Dublin Township, Pennsylvania}}
On January 1, 1946, the [[Upper Dublin Township, Pennsylvania|Township of Upper Dublin]] was created, and in doing so, encompassed Fort Washington along with nine other communities. Parts of Fort Washington were also incorporated into [[Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania|Whitemarsh Township]].

== Business and industry ==

=== Fort Washington Office Park ===
The primary center of business and industry in Upper Dublin Township is the Fort Washington Office Park, which occupies {{convert|536|acre}} and contains {{convert|6000000|sqft}} of building space. There are more than 65 buildings of various sizes up to {{convert|658535|sqft}}.  The park contains the offices of over 100 different companies, including [[Honeywell]], [[Aetna]], [[AccuWeather]], [[Eastern National]], [[Genworth Financial]], and a suburban campus of [[Temple University]].  The office park was also home to the corporate headquarters of [[CDNow]], the pioneering online music retailer. It is also home to one of the earliest branches of [[School of Rock (company)|School of Rock]].  In recent years, the Fort Washington Office Park has experienced a vacancy rate higher than that of other commercial/industrial parks in the region, due in some part to problems with flooding.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.planning.org/thenewplanner/nonmember/default1.htm |title=The New Planner: Drowning Office Park Rescued by Students During High Tide | access-date=2006-11-01 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060714232619/http://www.planning.org/thenewplanner/nonmember/default1.htm |archive-date = 2006-07-14}} (Both links dead)</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/special_packages/flood06/15607939.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp |title=Philadelphia Inquirer: Office park tests nature - again |access-date=2006-11-01 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

====Former Fort Washington Expo Center====
The Fort Washington Office Park was also home to the Fort Washington Expo Center.  Opened in 1993 in the former Honeywell factory, the Expo Center hosted some of the region's biggest consumer and trade shows, and at {{convert|290000|sqft|m2}}, was the largest such suburban venue in the [[northeastern United States]].  The Expo Center closed in 2006 after the building was sold to [[Liberty Property Trust]] who renovated the center into [[Class A office space]].  The center, which can accommodate 2,800 employees, was leased to [[GMAC Mortgage]] who took over the space in 2007.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.phillyblog.com/philly/showthread.php?t=14704 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129232627/https://phillyblog.com/philly/showthread.php?t=14704 | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 29, 2020 | title=Philadelphia Inquirer: Fort Washington Expo is sold | access-date=2006-11-01 }}</ref> GMAC Mortgage went out of business in 2013.<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=1002453 Company Overview of GMAC Mortgage, LLC]</ref>

=== Johnson & Johnson facility===
On Camp Hill Road in Whitemarsh is the corporate headquarters of [[Johnson & Johnson]] division [[McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals]],  marketers of [[Over-the-counter drug|over-the-counter]] and [[Prescription drug|prescription]] [[pharmaceuticals]] including [[Tylenol (brand)|Tylenol]] ([[acetaminophen]]) and Motrin IB ([[ibuprofen]]) products. Their building is based on a {{convert|110|acre|adj=on}} site and has a workforce of 2,600 employees. Johnson and Johnson closed this plant in April 2010 after a series of manufacturing problems led to embarrassing product recalls for faulty manufacturing practices.<ref>[http://us.mobile.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE72S6DO20110329 J&J recalling more Tylenol from closed plant] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529160357/http://us.mobile.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE72S6DO20110329 |date=May 29, 2015 }}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110404051716/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_15/b4223066662101.htm Johnson & Johnson's Recall Rap Sheet] Bloomberg Businessweek, March 31, 2011</ref>

== Transportation ==
Fort Washington is the location of an interchange between the east-west [[Pennsylvania Turnpike]] ([[Interstate 276]]) and north-south [[Pennsylvania Route 309]] (Fort Washington Expressway). This interchange provides access from both roads to Fort Washington via Pennsylvania Avenue. [[Bethlehem Pike]] runs north-south through Fort Washington to the west of PA 309.<ref name=PennDOTMontgomery>{{cite map|publisher=[[Pennsylvania Department of Transportation|PennDOT]]|title=Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Highway Map|url=http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/Montgomery_GHSN.PDF|year=2022|access-date=February 3, 2023|archive-date=September 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905093040/http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/Montgomery_GHSN.PDF|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[SEPTA Regional Rail]]'s [[Lansdale/Doylestown Line]] stops at the nearby [[Fort Washington station]]. [[SEPTA]] provides bus serve to Fort Washington along routes {{SEPTA bus link|94|95}}, and {{SEPTA bus link|201}}.<ref name=septamap>{{cite map|title=SEPTA Official Transit & Street Map Suburban|publisher=SEPTA|url=https://www5.septa.org/wp-content/uploads/travel/map-suburban-transit-street.pdf|access-date=May 2, 2016}}</ref> [[OurBus]] provides intercity bus service from Fort Washington to [[Park Avenue]] in the [[Manhattan]] section in [[New York City]] as part of a route running from [[West Chester, Pennsylvania|West Chester]] to New York City. The bus stop in Fort Washington is located adjacent to the Fort Washington station. The route started on December 21, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Book an Intercity (Prime) Ticket|publisher=OurBus|url=https://www.ourbus.com/bookTicket|access-date=February 14, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Rettew Jr.|first=Bill|title=Company plans bus service from West Chester to New York City|work=Daily Local News|location=West Chester, PA|date=December 16, 2017|url=http://www.dailylocal.com/article/DL/20171216/NEWS/171219841|access-date=February 14, 2018}}</ref>

==Education==
Residents living in the Fort Washington census-designated place, in Upper Dublin Township, are served by the [[Upper Dublin School District]].<ref name=SDMap2020>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42091_montgomery/DC20SD_C42091.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Montgomery County, PA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-10-22}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42091_montgomery/DC20SD_C42091_SD2MS.txt Text list] - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st42_pa/c42091_montgomery/DC10SD_C42091_001.pdf 2010 map] and [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st42_pa/c42091_montgomery/DC10SD_C42091_SD2MS.txt text list]</ref>

Those living with Fort Washington addresses in Whitemarsh Township are served by [[Colonial School District (Pennsylvania)|Colonial School District]].

===Public===
*[[Fort Washington Elementary School]] (K-5)
*[[Upper Dublin High School]] (9-12) (once ranked as the eighth best high school in the state) <ref>[http://www.psk12.com/rating/USthreeRsphp/STATE_PA_level_High_CountyID_0.html Ranking of High Schools in Pennsylvania<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

===Private===
*[[Germantown Academy]] (PK-12) (oldest nonsectarian day school in the country)
*Open Door Christian Academy (PK-8) (closed down in 2020)
*[[The Paul Green School of Rock Music]]
*Our Lady of Mercy Regional Catholic school (PK-8) 2018 Blue Ribbon Award

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1990= 3699
|2000= 3680
|2010= 5446
|2020= 5910
|footnote=<ref>{{cite web |title=Census 2020|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/fortwashingtoncdppennsylvania/PST045219}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:42&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 12, 2022}}</ref>
}}
As of the 2010 census, the CDP was 86.2% White, 4.5% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 6.2% Asian, 0.5% were Some Other Race, and 1.3% were two or more races. 1.8% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/PA#locality-tab Census 2010: Pennsylvania]. Usatoday.Com. Retrieved on 2013-07-21.</ref>

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 3,680 people, 1,161 households, and 1,013 families residing in the community. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1,349.9|pd/sqmi}}. There were 1,173 housing units at an average density of {{cvt|430.3|/sqmi}}. The racial makeup of the community was 91.30% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 3.04% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.08% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 5.03% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (0.46% Asian Indian, 2.20% Chinese, 1.93% Korean, 0.16% Vietnamese, 0.27% Other Asian), 0.11% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.43% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.71% of the population.(0.08% Mexican, 0.19% Puerto Rican, 0.11% Cuban, 0.33% Other Hispanic). 90.65% of the population was White, non-Hispanic.

There were 1,161 households, out of which 45.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 81.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.7% were non-families. 10.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.06 and the average family size was 3.32.

The population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 32.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.

The median income for a household in the community was $103,469, and the median income for a family was $112,863. Males had a median income of $76,205 versus $37,321 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the community was $43,090. About 1.5% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 3.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

==Climate==
Fort Washington has a hot-summer [[humid continental climate]] (''Dfa'') closely bordering upon a [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa''.) Average monthly temperatures range from {{cvt|31.7|°F}} in January to {{cvt|76.1|°F}} in July. [https://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/] The local [[hardiness zone]] is 7a.

== Points of interest ==
* [[Clifton House, Pennsylvania|Clifton House]]
* [[Fort Washington State Park]]
* [[The Highlands (Pennsylvania)|The Highlands Mansion & Garden]]
* [[Hope Lodge (Fort Washington, Pennsylvania)|Hope Lodge]]

== Notable people ==
* [[Norman Grubb]], missionary. 
* [[Suzy Kolber]], ESPN personality

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*"Images of America, Fort Washington and Upper Dublin", Historical Society of Fort Washington. Arcadia Publishing; 2004; p.&nbsp;85
*Upper Dublin Township Open Space & Environmental Resource Protection Plan - 2005
{{commons category}}
{{Geographic Location (8-way)
|Centre = Fort Washington
|North = [[File:PA-309.svg|25px]] [[Ambler, Pennsylvania|Ambler]], [[Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania|Montgomeryville]]
|Northeast = 
|East = [[File:I-276.svg|25px]][[File:Pennsylvania Turnpike logo.svg|20px]] [[Willow Grove, Pennsylvania|Willow Grove]], [[Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania|Bensalem]]
|Southeast = 
|South = [[File:PA-309.svg|25px]] [[Cheltenham, Pennsylvania|Cheltenham]], [[Philadelphia]]
|Southwest = 
|West = [[File:I-276.svg|25px]][[File:Pennsylvania Turnpike logo.svg|20px]] [[Norristown, Pennsylvania|Norristown]], [[King of Prussia, Pennsylvania|King of Prussia]]
|Northwest = 
|image =  
}}

{{Navboxes
|title=Articles relating to Fort Washington
|list=
{{Montgomery County, Pennsylvania}}
{{Upper Dublin Township, Pennsylvania}}
{{Springfield Township Montco}}
}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Upper Dublin Township, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Pennsylvania]]