Editing Franconia Township, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Township in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Franconia Township
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| settlement_type = [[Township (Pennsylvania)|Township]]
| image_skyline = Bridge in Franconia Township.JPG
| imagesize = 250px
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| image_caption = [[Skippack Creek]] at Allentown Road
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| image_map1 = File:Franconia Township Montgomery County.png
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| map_caption1 = Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
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| coordinates = {{coord|40|18|34|N|75|21|22|W|display=inline,title}}
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| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Pennsylvania
| subdivision_type2 = County
| subdivision_name2 = [[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Montgomery]]
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| established_title = Founded
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| leader_title = Mayor
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| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2016">{{cite web |title=2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2016_Gazetteer/2016_gaz_place_42.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 14, 2017}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi = 13.85
| area_land_sq_mi = 13.83
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.02
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| elevation_ft = 407
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| population_as_of = [[2010 United States Census|2010]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total = 13064
| pop_est_as_of = 2016
| pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2016">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2016.html |title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates |access-date=June 9, 2017}}</ref>
| population_est = 13263
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| timezone1 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset1 = -5
| timezone1_DST = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST = -4
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| area_codes = [[Area codes 215, 267, and 445|215, 267 and 445]]
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| blank_info = 42-091-27280
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| blank2_name_sec2 = Wikimedia Commons
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| website = {{URL|http://www.franconiatownship.org}}
| footnotes = 
}}

'''Franconia Township''' is a [[Township (Pennsylvania)|township]] in [[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Montgomery County]], [[Pennsylvania]], United States. The population was 13,064 at the 2010 census.

==History==

Franconia Township was founded in the late 1720s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Franconia Township History |url=https://www.franconiatownship.org/home/history.aspx |website=Franconia Township |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123095131/http://www.franconiatownship.org/home/history.aspx |archive-date=November 23, 2017}}</ref> The name means "Land Of The Franks", and most of the settlers were Germans seeking religious freedom.

The [[Bridge in Franconia Township]] was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1988.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the township has a total area of {{convert|13.9|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|13.8|sqmi|km2}} is land and 0.07% is water. It is in the Delaware watershed and is drained by the [[East Branch Perkiomen Creek]] and the West Branch Neshaminy Creek. The township's villages include [[Earlington, Pennsylvania|Earlington]], [[Franconia, Pennsylvania|Franconia]], Morwood and Reliance. [[Pennsylvania Route 113|Route 113]] crosses it from northeast to southwest and its other major road is north-to-south Allentown Road.

===Neighboring municipalities===
*[[Hatfield Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Hatfield Township]] (southeast)
*[[Towamencin Township, Pennsylvania|Towamencin Township]] (south)
*[[Lower Salford Township, Pennsylvania|Lower Salford Township]] (southwest)
*[[Upper Salford Township, Pennsylvania|Upper Salford Township]] (west)
*[[Salford Township, Pennsylvania|Salford Township]] (northwest)
*[[West Rockhill Township, Pennsylvania|West Rockhill Township, Bucks County]] (north)
*[[Telford, Pennsylvania|Telford]] (northeast)
*[[Souderton, Pennsylvania|Souderton]] (northeast)
*[[Hilltown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania|Hilltown Township, Bucks County]] (east)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1850= 1270
|1860= 1579
|1870= 1959
|1880= 2556
|1890= 2258
|1930= 1915
|1940= 2040
|1950= 2774
|1960= 3910
|1970= 5245
|1980= 6545
|1990= 7224
|2000= 11523
|2010= 13064
|2020= 13259
|footnote=<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dvrpc.org/data/databull/rdb/db82/appedixa.xls |title=DVRPC > Site Search |first=Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission |last=(DVRPC) |website=www.dvrpc.org |access-date=March 21, 2014 |archive-date=April 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409042424/https://www.dvrpc.org/data/databull/rdb/db82/appedixa.xls |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Census 2020 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/franconiatownshipmontgomerycountypennsylvania/PST045219}}</ref>
}}
As of the 2010 census, the township was 93.2% White, 1.6% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 3.3% Asian, and 1.2% were two or more races. 1.8% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/PA |title=Census 2010: Pennsylvania - USATODAY.com |website=USA TODAY News |access-date=September 19, 2020}}</ref>

At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 11,523 people, 4,151 households, and 3,300 families living in the township. The population density was {{convert|833.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,236 housing units at an average density of {{convert|306.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the township was 96.57% White, 0.86% African American, 0.08% Native American, 1.71% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.89%.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>

There were 4,151 households, 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.2% were married couples living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.5% were non-families. 18.0% of households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.07.

The age distribution was 25.2% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.0 males.

The median household income was $62,126 and the median family income was $67,209. Males had a median income of $49,952 versus $32,925 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,751. About 1.4% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
{{-}}

==Transportation==
{{stack|[[File:2022-10-14 13 29 42 View north along Interstate 476 (Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension) from the overpass for Morwood Road in Franconia Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.jpg|right|thumb|The Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension (I-476) in Franconia Township]]}}
As of 2018 there were {{convert|79.47|mi}} of public roads in Franconia Township, of which {{convert|2.50|mi}} were maintained by the [[Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission|Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC)]], {{convert|19.59|mi}} were maintained by the [[Pennsylvania Department of Transportation]] (PennDOT) and {{convert|57.38|mi}} were maintained by the township.<ref name=PennDOTmap>{{cite web |url=https://gis.penndot.gov/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/Type5/46203.pdf |title=Franconia Township map |publisher=PennDOT |access-date=March 10, 2023}}</ref>

[[Interstate 476]] is the most prominent highway traversing Franconia, following the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension along a northwest-southeast alignment across the western and southwestern portion of the township. However, the nearest interchange is south of Franconia in Towamencin Township. [[Pennsylvania Route 113]] is the other numbered highway traversing the township, following a northeast-southwest alignment across northern and western portions of Franconia along Harleysville Pike.

The northeastern edge of Franconia Township near Souderton is served by [[SEPTA]] bus [[SEPTA Route 132|Route 132]], which runs between the [[Montgomery Mall (Pennsylvania)|Montgomery Mall]] and [[Telford, Pennsylvania|Telford]].<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>

==Politics and government==
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Presidential elections results<ref>{{cite web |title=Montco Election Results |url=https://www.montcopa.org/Archive.aspx?AMID=132}}</ref>
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[U.S. presidential election, 2020|2020]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''55.4%''' ''4,781''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|42.9% ''3,700''
|-|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[U.S. presidential election, 2016|2016]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''58.9%''' ''4,259''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|36.32% ''2,630''
|-|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[U.S. presidential election, 2012|2012]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''63.9%''' ''4,489''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|35.2% ''2,478''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[U.S. presidential election, 2008|2008]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''59.5%''' ''4,119''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|39.7% ''2,746''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[U.S. presidential election, 2004|2004]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''66.6%''' ''4,054''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|33.0% ''2,009''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[U.S. presidential election, 2000|2000]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''66.6%''' ''3,209''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|31.3% ''1,511''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[U.S. presidential election, 1996|1996]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''62.8%''' ''2,321''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|27.5% ''1,016''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[U.S. presidential election, 1992|1992]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''58.8%''' ''1,915''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|23.3% ''760''
|-
|}

Franconia is a [[Local government in Pennsylvania#Township|Second Class Township]] governed by five supervisors, elected at-large for staggered six-year terms.

The township is part of [[Pennsylvania's 53rd Representative District]], represented by Rep. [[Steve Malagari]] since 2019.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{commonscatinline}}
* {{official|http://www.franconiatownship.org }}

{{Montgomery County, Pennsylvania}}

[[Category:Townships in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania]]