Editing New Britain, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Borough in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{See also|New Britain Township, Pennsylvania}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = New Britain, Pennsylvania
| settlement_type          = [[List of towns and boroughs in Pennsylvania#Boroughs|Borough]]
| image_skyline            = Pine Valley Covered Bridge.jpg
| image_alt                = 
| image_caption            = Pine Valley Covered Bridge
| image_flag               = 
| flag_alt                 = 
| image_seal               = New Britian Seal.png
| seal_alt                 = 
| image_shield             = 
| shield_alt               = 
| etymology                = 
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = "A Friendly Place to Live"
| image_map                = File:Bucks County Pennsylvania Incorporated and Unincorporated areas New Britain Highlighted.svg
| map_alt                  = 
| map_caption              = Location of New Britain in [[Bucks County, Pennsylvania]]
| pushpin_map              = Pennsylvania#USA
| pushpin_label            = New Britain
| pushpin_label_position   = 
| pushpin_map_alt          = 
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location in Pennsylvania##Location in the United States
| coordinates              = {{coord|40|17|57|N|75|10|42|W|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint            = 
| coordinates_type         = 
| coordinates_footnotes    = 
| coordinates_region       = 
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Pennsylvania]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Pennsylvania|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Bucks County, Pennsylvania|Bucks]]
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = 1928
| founder                  = 
| seat_type                = 
| seat                     = 
| government_footnotes     = 
| governing_body           = Borough Council
| leader_party             = 
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = James Donovan
| leader_title1            = 
| leader_name1             = 
| unit_pref                = Imperial
<!-- or UK -->
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
<!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->| 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>
| area_urban_footnotes     = <!-- <ref> </ref> -->
| area_rural_footnotes     = <!-- <ref> </ref> -->
| area_metro_footnotes     = <!-- <ref> </ref> -->
| area_magnitude           = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink -->
| area_note                = 
| area_water_percent       = 
| area_rank                = 
| area_blank1_title        = 
| area_blank2_title        = <!-- square miles -->
| area_total_sq_mi         = 1.21
| area_land_sq_mi          = 1.21
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
| area_urban_sq_mi         = 
| area_rural_sq_mi         = 
| area_metro_sq_mi         = 
| area_blank1_sq_mi        = 
| area_blank2_sq_mi        = <!-- acres -->
| area_total_acre          = 
| area_land_acre           = 
| area_water_acre          = 
| area_urban_acre          = 
| area_rural_acre          = 
| area_metro_acre          = 
| area_blank1_acre         = 
| area_blank2_acre         = 
| length_mi                = 
| width_mi                 = 
| dimensions_footnotes     = 
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_ft             = 276
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_total         = 2836
| population_density_sq_mi = 2349.63
| population_note          = 
| population_demonym       = 
| timezone1                = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset1              = -5
| timezone1_DST            = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST          = -4
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code              = 18901
| area_code_type           = 
| area_codes               = [[Area codes 215, 267, and 445|215, 267 and 445]]
| iso_code                 = 
| website                  = {{URL|www.newbritainboro.com}}
| footnotes                = 
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| population_est           = 
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 42-53296
| area_total_km2           = 3.13
| area_land_km2            = 3.13
| area_water_km2           = 0.01
| population_density_km2   = 907.10
}}

'''New Britain''' is a [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|borough]] in [[Bucks County, Pennsylvania]], United States. The population was 3,152 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].

==Geography==
New Britain is located at {{Coord|40|17|57|N|75|10|42|W|type:city}} (40.299256, -75.178224).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

Natural features include Cooks Run and [[Neshaminy Creek]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the borough has a total area of {{convert|1.3|sqmi|km2}}, all  land.

==History==
Eugene James built an estate about 1731 and included the Mathews homestead, a fine Colonial house built in 1744 upon the site of an earlier house destroyed by fire. The village of James Manor was begun on the estate by Wynne James. Nearby villages were Jamestown, New Britain and Vauxtown. The National Farm School, now the [[Delaware Valley University]] was built near James Manor.<ref name="PlaceNamesNewBritain">MacReynolds, George, ''Place Names in Bucks County, Pennsylvania'', Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, PA, 1942, New Britain</ref>

The Sign of the Horses and Wagon was a tavern in the west end of the village, where  [[Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette|Lafayette]] headquartered at the time the Continental Army marched from [[Valley Forge National Historical Park|Valley Forge]] to [[Battle of Monmouth|Monmouth, New Jersey]].<ref name="PlaceNamesNewBritain"/>

The first dwelling in the village of New Britain was built at the intersection of West Butler Avenue ([[U.S. Route 202]]) and Almshouse Road by David Stephens, who purchased land from Joseph Kirkbride, sometime before 1760.<ref name="PlaceNamesNewBritain"/>

Early on, the village was called Bittings Store or Bittings Corner for a short time. Most of the people living in village were members of the Montgomery Baptist Church. About 1740 they separated from Montgomery calling their church the Society Meeting House, the first pastors William Davis, Joseph Eaton, and Joshua Jones. By 1813, it the name was changed to the New Britain Baptist Church.<ref name="PlaceNamesNewBritain"/>

The North Pennsylvania Railroad station was opened in 1856, the name on the sign at the station was "New Brittain". A post office was established on 28 December 1829, Isaac W. James, postmaster. New Britain was incorporated as a [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|borough]] on 21 May 1928 taking in the villages of James Manor, Jamestown, New Britain, and a part of Vauxtown.<ref name="PlaceNamesNewBritain"/>

New Britain was entered into the [[Geographic Names Information System]] on August 30, 1999 as identification 1214971.<ref name=GNIS>{{GNIS|1214971|name=Borough of New Britain}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 119
|1930= 417
|1940= 476
|1950= 581
|1960= 1109
|1970= 2428
|1980= 2519
|1990= 2174
|2000= 3125
|2010= 3152
|2020= 2836
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="USDecennialCensus">{{cite web|title=Census of Population and Housing|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=11 December 2013}}</ref><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><ref name=CensusPopEst>{{cite web|title=Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|work=Population Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=11 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611010502/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|archive-date=11 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Census 2020|url=https://pasdc.hbg.psu.edu/Portals/48/Features/CountyAndMunicipalPopulationChange_2010to2020.xlsx?ver=2021-08-24-080135-920}}</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 borough was 92.7% White, 1.6% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and 1.1% were two or more races. 2.7% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/PA |title=Census 2010: Pennsylvania |publisher=Usatoday.Com |access-date=2013-07-22}}</ref>

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 3,125 people, 912 households, and 670 families residing in the borough. The population density was {{convert|2,454.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 930 housing units at an average density of {{convert|730.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the borough was 95.87% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.05% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.06% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.80% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.26% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.93% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.63% of the population.

There were 912 households, out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 18.6% under the age of 18, 29.0% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $60,029, and the median income for a family was $67,500. Males had a median income of $45,875 versus $28,942 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the borough was $20,877. About 1.6% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Climate==

According to the [[Köppen climate classification]] system, New Britain has a Hot-summer, [[Humid continental climate]] (''Dfa''). ''Dfa'' climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ {{convert|32.0|°F|1}}, at least four months with an average mean temperature ≥ {{convert|50.0|°F|1}}, at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ {{convert|71.6|°F|1}} and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are slightly humid in New Britain, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur with [[heat index]] values > {{convert|106|°F|0}}. Since 1981, the highest air temperature was {{convert|102.7|°F|1}} on 07/22/2011, and the highest daily average mean [[dew point]] was {{convert|74.9|°F|1}} on 08/12/2016. The average wettest month is July which corresponds with the annual peak in [[thunderstorm]] activity. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was {{convert|6.93|in|mm|0}} on 09/16/1999. During the winter months, the average annual extreme minimum air temperature is {{convert|-0.6|°F|1}}.<ref name="USDA">{{cite web|url=https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/InteractiveMap.aspx|publisher=[[United States Department of Agriculture]]|access-date= October 16, 2019|title=USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map}}</ref> Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was {{convert|-12.1|°F|1}} on 01/22/1984. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with [[wind chill]] values < {{convert|-11|°F|0}}. The average annual snowfall (Nov-Apr) is between {{convert|30|in|cm|0}} and {{convert|36|in|cm|0}}. [[Ice storm]]s and large snowstorms depositing ≥ {{convert|12|in|cm|0}} of snow occur once every few years, particularly during [[nor’easter]]s from December through February.

{{Weather box	
| width = auto	
| single line = Y	
|location =New Britain, Elevation {{convert|289|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}, 1981-2010 normals, extremes 1981-2018	
| Jan record high F  =	70.9
| Feb record high F  =	77.9
| Mar record high F  =	86.9
| Apr record high F  =	93.8
| May record high F  =	94.7
| Jun record high F  =	95.7
| Jul record high F  =	102.7
| Aug record high F  =	99.6
| Sep record high F  =	97.4
| Oct record high F  =	89.2
| Nov record high F  =	80.8
| Dec record high F  =	75.2
| year record high F =	102.7
| Jan high F  =   	39.2
| Feb high F  =   	42.4
| Mar high F  =   	50.8
| Apr high F  =   	62.8
| May high F  =   	72.8
| Jun high F  =   	81.6
| Jul high F  =   	85.7
| Aug high F  =   	84.0
| Sep high F  =   	77.1
| Oct high F  =   	65.7
| Nov high F  =   	54.7
| Dec high F  =   	43.3
| year high F =   	63.4
| Jan mean F  =   	30.4
| Feb mean F  =   	33.2
| Mar mean F  =   	40.9
| Apr mean F  =   	51.6
| May mean F  =   	61.3
| Jun mean F  =   	70.5
| Jul mean F  =   	75.0
| Aug mean F  =  	73.5
| Sep mean F  =   	66.1
| Oct mean F  =   	54.3
| Nov mean F  =   	44.7
| Dec mean F  =   	34.8
| year mean F =   	53.1
| Jan low F  =   	21.7
| Feb low F  =   	24.1
| Mar low F  =   	30.9
| Apr low F  =   	40.4
| May low F  =   	49.8
| Jun low F  =   	59.4
| Jul low F  =   	64.3
| Aug low F  =   	62.9
| Sep low F  =   	55.1
| Oct low F  =   	42.9
| Nov low F  =   	34.7
| Dec low F  =   	26.3
| year low F =   	42.8
| Jan record low F  =	-12.1
| Feb record low F  =	-4.4
| Mar record low F  =	2.4
| Apr record low F  =	16.5
| May record low F  =	32.8
| Jun record low F  =	40.6
| Jul record low F  =	47.2
| Aug record low F  =	41.9
| Sep record low F  =	34.7
| Oct record low F  =	23.4
| Nov record low F  =	10.9
| Dec record low F  =	-2.8
| year record low F =	-12.1
| precipitation colour = green	
| Jan precipitation inch  =   	3.24
| Feb precipitation inch  =   	2.63
| Mar precipitation inch  =   	3.72
| Apr precipitation inch  =   	3.92
| May precipitation inch  =   	4.34
| Jun precipitation inch  =   	4.30
| Jul precipitation inch  =   	4.97
| Aug precipitation inch  =   	4.05
| Sep precipitation inch  =   	4.46
| Oct precipitation inch  =   	4.21
| Nov precipitation inch  =   	3.63
| Dec precipitation inch  =   	3.91
| year precipitation inch =   	47.38
| humidity colour = green	
| Jan humidity    =	66.6
| Feb humidity    =	63.4
| Mar humidity    =	58.8
| Apr humidity    =	58.0
| May humidity    =	62.3
| Jun humidity    =	67.2
| Jul humidity    =	67.5
| Aug humidity    =	69.7
| Sep humidity    =	71.2
| Oct humidity    =	70.2
| Nov humidity    =	68.9
| Dec humidity    =	68.5
| year humidity   =	66.0
| Jan dew point F =	20.6
| Feb dew point F =	22.1
| Mar dew point F =	27.6
| Apr dew point F =	37.3
| May dew point F =	48.3
| Jun dew point F =	59.1
| Jul dew point F =	63.5
| Aug dew point F =	63.0
| Sep dew point F =	56.5
| Oct dew point F =	44.8
| Nov dew point F =	35.1
| Dec dew point F =	25.5
| year dew point F =	42.0
| source = PRISM<ref name=prism>{{cite web |url=http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/|title=PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University|access-date=October 16, 2019 }}</ref>}}

==Transportation==
{{stack|[[File:2022-11-01 14 32 22 View north along U.S. Route 202 Business (Butler Avenue) just north of Tamanend Avenue in New Britain, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.jpg|left|thumb|US 202 Business northbound in New Britain]]}}
As of 2018 there were {{convert|12.30|mi}} of public roads in New Britain, of which {{convert|3.23|mi}} were maintained by the [[Pennsylvania Department of Transportation]] (PennDOT) and {{convert|9.07|mi}} were maintained by the borough.<ref name=PennDOTmap>{{cite web|url=https://gis.penndot.gov/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/Type5/09410.pdf|title=New Britain Borough map|publisher=PennDOT|access-date=March 11, 2023}}</ref>

[[U.S. Route 202 Business]] is the only numbered highway traversing New Britain. It follows a southwest-northeast alignment along Butler Avenue.

New Britain is served by the [[New Britain station]] on [[SEPTA Regional Rail]]'s [[Lansdale/Doylestown Line]], which provides service to [[Doylestown, Pennsylvania|Doylestown]] and [[Center City Philadelphia]].<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> [[Bucks County Transport]] operates the [[DART West]] bus that serves New Britain, which runs weekdays from [[Chalfont, Pennsylvania|Chalfont]] to a connection with the [[Doylestown DART]] bus to Doylestown at [[Delaware Valley University]].<ref>{{cite web|title=DART West schedule|publisher=Bucks County Transport|url=https://www.bctransport.org/docs/dartwestschedule.pdf|access-date=January 13, 2020}}</ref>

==Ecology==

According to the [[A. W. Kuchler]] U.S. [[potential natural vegetation]] types, New Britain would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian [[Oak]] (''104'') with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern [[Hardwood]] Forest (''25'').<ref name="Conservation Biology Institute">{{cite web|url=https://databasin.org/datasets/1c7a301c8e6843f2b4fe63fdb3a9fe39|access-date= October 16, 2019|title=U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions)}}</ref> The [[plant hardiness zone]] is 6b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of {{convert|-0.6|°F|1}}.<ref name="USDA" /> The spring bloom typically begins by April 11 and fall color usually peaks by October 30.

== Notable People ==
*[[Samuel Aaron]] was an American educator and Baptist minister.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{Official website|www.newbritainboro.com}}

{{Bucks County, Pennsylvania}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places established in 1715]]
[[Category:Boroughs in Bucks County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1715 establishments in Pennsylvania]]