Editing Lower Salford Township, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Township in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Distinguish|Salford Township, Pennsylvania|Upper Salford Township, Pennsylvania}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = {{nowrap|Lower Salford Township, Pennsylvania}}
| settlement_type = Township
<!-- images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline = Lederach, Pennsylvania.jpg
| image_caption = An old stone house in Lederach in Lower Salford Township
| image_flag = Flag of Lower Salford Township, Pennsylvania.png
| image_seal = Seal of Lower Salford Township, Pennsylvania.png
<!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map = File:Lower Salford Township Montgomery County.png
| map_alt = Location of Lower Salford Township in Montgomery County
| map_caption = Location of Lower Salford Township in [[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Montgomery County]]
| pushpin_map = Pennsylvania#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Lower Salford within the state of [[Pennsylvania]]##Location of Lower Salford within the [[United States of America]]
| coordinates = {{coord|40|15|37.9|N|75|23|58.2|W|display=inline,title}}
<!-- location -->
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Pennsylvania}}
| subdivision_type2 = County
| subdivision_name2 = [[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Montgomery]]
<!-- established -->
| established_title = Founded
| established_date = 1741 (split from Salford)
| founder = Jacob Reiff
| government_type = [[Council–manager government|Council - Manager]]
| governing_body = Board of Supervisors
| leader_party = 
| leader_title = Chairman
| leader_name = Douglas A. Gifford
| leader_title1 = Vice-Chairman
| leader_name1 = Douglas Johnson
| leader_title2 = Supervisors
| leader_name2 = {{ubl|Philip P. Heilman|Keith A. Bergman|Christopher Canavan}}
| unit_pref = Imperial
<!-- area -->
| area_total_sq_mi = 14.49
| area_land_sq_mi = 14.44
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.05
| area_water_percent = 0.69%
| length_mi = 5.2
| width_mi = 5.7
<!-- elevation -->
| elevation_ft = 276
<!-- population -->
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total = 14959
| population_as_of = [[2010 United States census|2010]]
| population_est = 15416
| pop_est_as_of = 2016
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
<!-- time zone(s) -->
| timezone1 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset1 = -5
| timezone1_DST = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST = -4
<!-- postal codes, area code -->
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code = 19438
| area_code_type = Area codes
| area_code = [[Area codes 215, 267, and 445|215, 267, 445]], [[Area codes 610 and 484|610, 484]]
| website = {{URL|http://www.lowersalfordtownship.org/|Township website}}
|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>
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 42-091-45096
|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_km2 = 37.54
|area_land_km2 = 37.41
|area_water_km2 = 0.13
|population_density_km2 = 412.13
}}

'''Lower Salford''' is a [[Township (Pennsylvania)|township]] in [[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania]], United States. It is located one mile west of the [[Lansdale, Pennsylvania|Lansdale]] exit of the [[Interstate 476|Pennsylvania Turnpike]] (exit 31). It is centered on the intersection of [[Pennsylvania Route 63|Route 63]] (Main St), and [[Pennsylvania Route 113|Route 113]] (Harleysville Pike).

==Geography==
The township has a total area of 14.5&nbsp;square miles (37.5&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), of which 14.4&nbsp;square miles (37.3&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) is land and 0.1&nbsp;square mile (0.2&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>)  (0.41%) is water. The [[East Branch Perkiomen Creek]] and [[Skippack Creek]] are tributaries of the [[Perkiomen Creek]] draining the township.

==History==
[[File:Jacob Reiff Farm.jpg|thumb|Jacob Reiff's farm]]

===Founding===
Lower Salford was originally part of the larger Salford Township, until, in March 1741 Jacob Reiff petitioned the Court of Quarter Sessions of Philadelphia County to split the Township into what are now called Lower Salford, [[Upper Salford Township, Pennsylvania|Upper Salford]], [[Marlborough Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Marlborough]], and [[Franconia Township, Pennsylvania|Franconia]] Townships. Lower Salford contains the villages of [[Harleysville, Pennsylvania|Harleysville]], Lederach, Mainland, and Vernfield.

The area around Lower Salford was originally settled in the early 1700s by farmers from [[Germany]], [[Switzerland]], and [[Holland]]. Because of this, most people at the time spoke primarily [[Pennsylvania Dutch language|Pennsylvania Dutch]], until the mid 1900s.<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=http://www.lowersalfordtownship.org/history |website=Lower Salford Township |publisher=Lower Salford Township |access-date=January 17, 2015 |ref=twp-hst}}</ref>

===Heckler Plains===
[[File:Barn at Heckler Farmstead (8465887768).jpg|thumb|Barn at Heckler Farmstead]]
Heckler Plains is a 36-acre farmstead, now park. It was once home to Major General [[Winfield Scott Hancock]], a General at the [[Battle of Gettysburg]]. There still stands a barn from 1761, an 18th-century kitchen garden, and an outdoor bake oven from 1780. Hecklerfest is held annually and has soap making, butter churning, candle dipping, and other Colonial Era demonstrations.<ref>{{cite web |title=W.S. Hancock Society |url=http://www.wshancocksociety.org |website=W.S. Hancock Society |access-date=January 17, 2015 |ref=wsh}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Heckler Plains Folklife Society |url=http://www.hecklerplains.org/ |website=Heckler Plains Folklife Society |access-date=January 17, 2015 |ref=heck}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Head Into the Past at Hecklerfest |url=http://www.montgomerynews.com/articles/2012/07/27/community/doc4e459ad92bb92832542756.txt?viewmode=fullstory |website=Montgomery Media |access-date=January 17, 2015 |ref=heck-mont}}</ref>

===Klein Meetinghouse===
The [[Klein Meetinghouse]] is a historic Dunkard ([[Schwarzenau Brethren]] or [[Church of the Brethren]]) meetinghouse in [[Harleysville, Pennsylvania|Harleysville]], [[Pennsylvania]] built in 1843. The second oldest congregation of the Brethren in the United States, which was founded in the area in 1720, built the meetinghouse, and the adjoining cemetery contains the remains of Peter Becker, who led the Brethren to America in 1714.<ref name="nom">[[Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission]], 1972, [https://www.dot7.state.pa.us/ce_imagery/phmc_scans/H000574_01H_2.pdf NRHP Nomination Form for Klein Meetinghouse] Enter "public" for ID and "public" for password to access the site.</ref>

===Dielman Kolb Homestead===
The [[Dielman Kolb Homestead]] is a historic home located near Lederach. The house was built in 1717, and is a {{frac|2|1|2}}-story, gambrel-roofed dwelling with a modified Germanic floor plan. It has an attached summer kitchen.<ref name="arch">{{cite web |url=https://www.dot7.state.pa.us/ce/SelectWelcome.asp |title=National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania |publisher=CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System |format=Searchable database}} ''Note:'' This includes {{cite web |url=https://www.dot7.state.pa.us/ce_imagery/phmc_scans/H000550_01H.pdf |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Dielman Kolb Homestead |access-date=May 14, 2012 |author=Pennsylvania Register of Historic Sites and Landmarks |date=June 1972}}</ref> It was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1973.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Entertainment and recreation==
The Lederach Golf Club is a public, 18 hole golf course opened in 2006. It is owned by the township of Lower Salford. It has a par 71 layout with five sets of tees from 7,000 yards to 2,800 yards.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lederach Golf Club |url=http://www.lowersalfordtownship.org/lgc/ |website=Lower Salford Township |access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lederach Golf Club |url=http://www.lederachgolfclub.com/ |website=Lederach Golf Club |access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref>

Lower Salford has 12 parks as part of the federal, state and county sponsored "Open Space/Green Belt" program.<ref>{{cite web |title=Parks and Open Spaces |url=http://www.lowersalfordtownship.org/parks/ |website=Lower Salford Township |access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref>

==Arts==
The township flag and logo were designed by John H. Drenning, president of the Heckler Plains Folklife Society, in 1991. The center of the logo depicts a [[Pennsylvania Dutch]] couple in front of a wheat field. Above the depiction is the word “gemeinschaft,” which is German for “a sense of community." The background of the flag has three wavy stripes; brown for the fertile soil, green for the abundant grass and other plants, and gold for the bountiful crops and warm sunshine. On the sides of the flag are two [[Juniperus virginiana|cedar]] trees representing the much praised wood. The top of the flag has '''LOWER SALFORD''' on a field of blue sky with four stars to represent the four villages that make up the township.<ref>{{cite web |title=Flag |url=http://www.lowersalfordtownship.org/history/flag.html |website=Lower Salford Township |access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref>

Lower Salford is home to The Mennonite Heritage Center. ''A museum and historical library dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of [[Mennonite]] faith and life in eastern Pennsylvania.''<ref>{{cite web |title=Mennonite Heritage Center |url=http://www.mhep.org |website=Mennonite Heritage Center |access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref> Which holds an annual [[Apple butter|Apple Butter]] Frolic, an autumn festival featuring [[Cuisine of the Pennsylvania Dutch|Pennsylvania Dutch foods]], crafts, and farming demonstrations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Apple Butter Frolic |url=http://mhep.org/apple-butter-frolic-2/ |website=Mennonite Heritage Center |access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref>

Lower Salford is home to a large-scale exterior mural designed by Dana McMullin, residing on the side of Rann Pharmacy. McMullin executed the public work with a small team in 2006 from its concept to production, portraying a visually nostalgic history of Harleysville from settlement to modern day.

==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="#f0f0ff"|[[U.S. presidential election, 2020|2020]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|47.1% ''4,765''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''51.1%''' ''5,171''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[U.S. presidential election, 2016|2016]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''49.3%''' ''4,208''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|45.6% ''3,888''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[U.S. presidential election, 2012|2012]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''55.5%''' ''4,388''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|43.2% ''3,416''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[U.S. presidential election, 2008|2008]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''51.4%''' ''4,048''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|47.6% ''3,750''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[U.S. presidential election, 2004|2004]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''58.5%''' ''4,138''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|41.0% ''2,895''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[U.S. presidential election, 2000|2000]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''60.0%''' ''3,276''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|36.2% ''1,946''
|}

=== Board of Supervisors ===
Lower Salford Township is a [[Local government in Pennsylvania#Township|Township of the Second Class]] governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors elected at-large for a six year term.

=== Montgomery County Commissioners ===
Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, Chair. Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr., Vice Chair. Joseph C. Gale, Commissioner

=== Representative in the Pennsylvania General Assembly ===
Representative [[Tracy Pennycuick]], [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 147|147th District]]

=== Senator in the Pennsylvania General Assembly ===
Senator [[Bob Mensch]], [[Pennsylvania Senate, District 24|24th District]]

=== Representative in the United States Congress ===
Representative [[Madeleine Dean]], [[Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district|4th District]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1930= 1941
|1940= 2075
|1950= 2290
|1960= 3389
|1970= 5008
|1980= 6156
|1990= 10735
|2000= 12893
|2010= 14959
|2020= 15896
|footnote=<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dvrpc.org/data/databull/rdb/db82/appedixa.xls |title=DVRPC > Site Search |access-date=March 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409042424/https://www.dvrpc.org/data/databull/rdb/db82/appedixa.xls |archive-date=April 9, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Census 2020 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/lowersalfordtownshipmontgomerycountypennsylvania/PST045219}}</ref>
}}
As of the 2010 census, the township was 90.6% White, 2.9% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 4.4% Asian, and 1.3% were two or more races. 2.6% 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=July 27, 2020}}</ref>

As of the [[census]]<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> of 2000, there were 12,893 people, 4,432 households, and 3,541 families residing in the township. The population density was {{convert|894.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,531 housing units at an average density of {{convert|314.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the township was 93.42% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.94% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.05% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.34% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.31% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.89% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.42% of the population.

There were 4,432 households, out of which 45.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.1% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the township the population was spread out, with 31.0% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 34.3% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $70,977, and the median income for a family was $78,473. Males had a median income of $51,837 versus $34,066 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the township was $28,408. About 2.0% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Transportation==
{{stack|[[File:2022-10-12 15 14 22 View south along Interstate 476 (Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension) from the overpass for Fretz Road in Lower Salford Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.jpg|right|thumb|The Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension (I-476) southbound in Lower Salford Township]]}}
As of 2019, there were {{convert|100.16|mi}} of public roads in Lower Salford Township, of which {{convert|1.30|mi}} were maintained by the [[Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission|Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC)]], {{convert|18.71|mi}} were maintained by the [[Pennsylvania Department of Transportation]] (PennDOT) and {{convert|80.15|mi}} were maintained by the township.<ref name=PennDOTmap>{{cite web |url=https://gis.penndot.gov/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/Type5/46209.pdf |title=Lower Salford Township map |publisher=PennDOT |access-date=March 10, 2023}}</ref>

The most prominent highway traversing Lower Salford Township is [[Interstate 476]], which follows the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension along a northwest-southeast alignment through the eastern corner of the township. However, the nearest interchange is in adjacent Towamencin Township. Local highways providing direct access to the township include [[Pennsylvania Route 63]], which follows a northwest-southeast alignment across the northeastern portion of the township, and [[Pennsylvania Route 113]], which follows a northeast-southwest alignment across the northwestern portion of the township.

==Schools==
Lower Salford is part of the [[Souderton Area School District]]. The following public schools can be found in the town:
* Oak Ridge Elementary School
* Lower Salford Elementary School - closed in June 2013
* Vernfield Elementary School
* Indian Valley Middle School

==Notable people==
* [[Andrew L. Lewis, Jr.|Drew Lewis]] - late [[United States Secretary of Transportation]] under [[Ronald Reagan]], chairman and CEO of [[Union Pacific]], and president of [[Warner Communications|Warner-Amex]]
* Preston Elliot - host of [[Preston and Steve]] radio show
* [[Danielle and Jennifer|Danielle and Jennifer Brown]] - singer-songwriters
* [[Jesse Francis McClendon]] - chemist, zoologist, physiologist
* [[Bruce Castor]] - Solicitor General of Pennsylvania; Montgomery County district attorney and commissioner

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{commons category-inline}}
* {{official website|http://www.lowersalfordtownship.org/ }}

{{Montgomery County, Pennsylvania}}

{{authority control}}

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