Editing New Britain Township, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Township in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Distinguish|New Britain, Pennsylvania|Little Britain Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = New Britain Township
| native_name             = 
| native_name_lang        = <!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead -->
| settlement_type         = [[Township (Pennsylvania)|Township]]
| image_skyline           = Pine Valley Covered Bridge.jpg
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = [[Pine Valley Covered Bridge]]
| image_flag              = 
| flag_alt                = 
| image_seal              = New Britian Township Seal.png
| seal_alt                = 
| image_shield            = 
| shield_alt              = 
| etymology               = 
| nickname                = 
| motto                   = 
| image_map               = Bucks county - New Britain Township.png
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = Location of New Britain Township in Bucks County
| pushpin_map             = Pennsylvania#USA
| pushpin_label_position  = 
| pushpin_map_alt         = 
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location of New Britain Township in Pennsylvania
| coordinates             = {{coord|40|17|55|N|75|10|24|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       = Founded
| established_date        = 1723
| founder                 = 
| seat_type               = 
| seat                    = 
| government_footnotes    = 
| governing_body          = Board of Supervisors
| leader_party            = 
| leader_title            = Chairman
| leader_name             = A. James Scanzillo
| leader_title1           = Vice Chair
| leader_name1            = John A. Bodden
| leader_title2           = Member
| leader_name2            = Helen Haun<br/>William B. Jones<br/>Gregory T. Hood
| leader_title3           = 
| leader_name3            = 
| leader_title4           = 
| leader_name4            = 
| unit_pref               = Imperial
<!-- or UK -->
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
<!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| 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=Aug 13, 2017}}</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        = 15.29
| area_land_sq_mi         = 14.68
| area_water_sq_mi        = 0.61
| 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    = 
| population_total        = 12327
| population_density_sq_mi = 839.4
| 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        = 
| postal_code             = 
| area_code_type          = 
| area_codes               = [[Area codes 215, 267, and 445|215, 267, and 445]] 
| iso_code                = 
| website                 = {{URL|http://www.newbritaintownship.org}}
| footnotes               = 
|pop_est_as_of = 2023
|pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2023.List_321237334.html#list-tab-List_321237334|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|access-date=March 6, 2025}}</ref>
|population_est = 12277
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 42-017-53304
}}

'''New Britain Township''' is a [[Township (Pennsylvania)|township]] in [[Bucks County, Pennsylvania]], United States. The population was 12,327 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].

==History==
New Britain Township was founded in 1723. The Township was comprised more than 15,000 acres and included land which is now occupied by Chalfont Borough and New Britain Borough as well as the later established Doylestown Township. The Township currently encompasses 14.7 square miles (9900 acres). According to historical research conducted by Township volunteers, it is estimated that the Lenni Lenape Indians arrived in New Britain Township as early as 1397. The [[Morgan James Homestead]] and [[Pine Valley Covered Bridge]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the township has a total area of 15.2&nbsp;square miles (39.5&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), of which 14.7&nbsp;square miles (38.1&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>)  is land and 0.6&nbsp;square mile (1.4&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>)  (3.61%) is water. It is drained by the [[Delaware River]] via the [[Neshaminy Creek]]. Its villages include Christy (also in Montgomery County,) Fountainville, [[Line Lexington, Pennsylvania|Line Lexington]] (also in Hilltown Township and Montgomery County,) Naces Corner, New Galena, and [[Newville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania|Newville]].<ref name="MacReynolds">MacReynolds, George, ''Place Names in Bucks County, Pennsylvania'', Doylestown, Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, PA, 1942, P1.</ref> [[Brittany Farms-The Highlands, Pennsylvania|Brittany Farms-The Highlands CDP]] is also located in the township.

Natural features include Cooks Run, Iron Hill, [[Neshaminy Creek]], Pine Run, Prospect Hill, and Royal Hill.<ref name=MacReynolds/> New Britain Township is home to [[Peace Valley Park]], a county park that surrounds [[Lake Galena (Pennsylvania)|Lake Galena]], a reservoir along the North Branch Neshaminy Creek.

===Neighboring municipalities===
*[[Hilltown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania|Hilltown Township]] (northwest)
*[[Plumstead Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania|Plumstead Township]] (northeast)
*[[Doylestown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania|Doylestown Township]] (east)
*[[New Britain, Pennsylvania|New Britain]] (east)
*[[Chalfont, Pennsylvania|Chalfont]] (east)
*[[Warrington Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania|Warrington Township]] (southeast)
*[[Montgomery Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Montgomery Township, Montgomery County]] (south)
*[[Hatfield Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Hatfield Township, Montgomery County]] (southwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1930= 1157
|1940= 1119
|1950= 1361
|1960= 3090
|1970= 5207
|1980= 7415
|1990= 9099
|2000= 10698
|2010= 11070
|2020= 12327
|footnote=<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dvrpc.org/data/databull/rdb/db82/appedixa.xls |title=DVRPC > Site Search |access-date=2014-03-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409042424/https://www.dvrpc.org/data/databull/rdb/db82/appedixa.xls |archive-date=2019-04-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Census 2020 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/newbritaintownshipbuckscountypennsylvania/PST045219}}</ref>
}}
As of the 2020 census, the township was 86.6% White, 3.5% Black or African American, 0.0% Native American, 3.4% Asian, and 3.6% were two or more races. 4.2% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/newbritaintownshipbuckscountypennsylvania/POP010220#POP010220 |title=2020 Census: New Britain Township |publisher=Census.gov |access-date=2025-03-07}}</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 10,698 people, 3,895 households, and 3,034 families residing in the township.  The population density was {{convert|727.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 3,969 housing units at an average density of {{convert|270.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the township was 96.26% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.35% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.12% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.14% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.43% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.70% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.28% of the population.

There were 3,895 households, out of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.1% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the township the population was spread out, with 27.4% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $71,194, and the median income for a family was $77,896. Males had a median income of $57,188 versus $34,390 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the township was $28,923.  About 1.4% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 1.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Climate==

According to the [[Köppen climate classification]] system, New Britain Township, Pennsylvania has a hot-summer, wet all year, [[humid continental climate]] (''Dfa''). Dfa climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ 32.0&nbsp;°F (≤ 0.0&nbsp;°C), at least four months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0&nbsp;°F (≥ 10.0&nbsp;°C), at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ 71.6&nbsp;°F (≥ 22.0&nbsp;°C), and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. During the summer months, episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with [[heat index]] values ≥ 100&nbsp;°F (≥ 38&nbsp;°C). On average, the wettest month of the year is July which corresponds with the annual peak in [[thunderstorm]] activity. During the winter months, episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with [[wind chill]] values < 0&nbsp;°F (< -18&nbsp;°C). The [[plant hardiness zone]] is 6b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of -1.4&nbsp;°F (-18.6&nbsp;°C).<ref name="USDA">{{cite web|url=https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/InteractiveMap.aspx|publisher=[[United States Department of Agriculture]]|access-date=2019-06-26|title=USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map}}</ref> The average seasonal (Nov-Apr) snowfall total is between 30 and 36 inches (76 and 91&nbsp;cm), and the average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in [[nor'easter]] activity.

{{Weather box |width=auto	
|location = New Britain Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania (1981 – 2010 averages)
|single line = Y	
|Jan high F =	38.5
|Feb high F =	41.8
|Mar high F =	50.1
|Apr high F =	62.3
|May high F =	72.2
|Jun high F =	80.9
|Jul high F =	85.0
|Aug high F =	83.3
|Sep high F =	76.4
|Oct high F =	65.0
|Nov high F =	54.1
|Dec high F =	42.7
|year high F=	62.8
| Jan mean F =	29.7
| Feb mean F =	32.5
| Mar mean F =	40.1
| Apr mean F =	51.0
| May mean F =	60.7
| Jun mean F =	69.8
| Jul mean F =	74.3
| Aug mean F =	72.8
| Sep mean F =	65.4
| Oct mean F =	53.8
| Nov mean F =	44.1
| Dec mean F =	34.2
| year mean F =	52.5
|Jan low F =	21.0
|Feb low F =	23.2
|Mar low F =	30.1
|Apr low F =	39.7
|May low F =	49.2
|Jun low F =	58.8
|Jul low F =	63.6
|Aug low F =	62.2
|Sep low F =	54.3
|Oct low F =	42.5
|Nov low F =	34.2
|Dec low F =	25.7
|year low F=	42.1
|precipitation colour = green	
|Jan precipitation inch =	3.33
|Feb precipitation inch =	2.71
|Mar precipitation inch =	3.79
|Apr precipitation inch =	3.99
|May precipitation inch =	4.34
|Jun precipitation inch =	4.31
|Jul precipitation inch =	4.92
|Aug precipitation inch =	4.04
|Sep precipitation inch =	4.51
|Oct precipitation inch =	4.19
|Nov precipitation inch =	3.68
|Dec precipitation inch =	3.96
|year precipitation inch=	47.77
| humidity colour = green	
| Jan humidity =	67.3
| Feb humidity =	64.1
| Mar humidity =	59.9
| Apr humidity =	58.6
| May humidity =	62.9
| Jun humidity =	68.3
| Jul humidity =	68.3
| Aug humidity =	70.6
| Sep humidity =	72.2
| Oct humidity =	70.7
| Nov humidity =	69.6
| Dec humidity =	69.3
| year humidity =	66.8
| Jan dew point F = 20.2
| Feb dew point F = 21.7
| Mar dew point F = 27.3
| Apr dew point F = 37.0
| May dew point F = 48.0
| Jun dew point F = 58.9
| Jul dew point F = 63.2
| Aug dew point F = 62.7
| Sep dew point F = 56.2
| Oct dew point F = 44.5
| Nov dew point F = 34.8
| Dec dew point F = 25.2
| year dew point F = 41.7
|source 1 = PRISM Climate Group<ref>{{cite web|url=http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/|title=PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State U|website=www.prism.oregonstate.edu|access-date=June 26, 2019}}</ref>}}

==Transportation==
{{stack|[[File:2022-11-01 14 51 15 View north along U.S. Route 202 Business (Butler Avenue) just north of County Line Road in New Britain Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.jpg|right|thumb|U.S. Route 202 Business northbound in New Britain Township]]}}
As of 2022 there were {{convert|81.11|mi}} of public roads in New Britain Township, of which {{convert|21.53|mi}} were maintained by the [[Pennsylvania Department of Transportation]] (PennDOT) and {{convert|59.58|mi}} were maintained by the township.<ref name=PennDOTmap>{{cite web|url=https://gis.penndot.gov/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/Type5/09215.pdf|title=New Britain Township map|publisher=PennDOT|access-date=March 11, 2023}}</ref>

Numbered highways passing through New Britain Township include [[U.S. Route 202 Business]], [[Pennsylvania Route 152]] and [[Pennsylvania Route 313]]. US 202 Business follows the old route of [[U.S. Route 202 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 202]] along Butler Avenue in the southern section of the township. PA 152 follows Limekiln Pike along a northwest-southeast alignment through southern and western sections of the township. Finally, PA 313 follows Swamp Road along a northwest-southeast alignment creating the northeastern border of the township.

[[SEPTA Regional Rail]]'s [[Lansdale/Doylestown Line]] passes through New Britain Township, with the [[Chalfont station]], [[New Britain station]], and [[Link Belt station]] located within proximity to the township.<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 Township, which runs weekdays through [[Chalfont, Pennsylvania|Chalfont]] and [[New Britain, Pennsylvania|New Britain]] to a connection with the [[Doylestown DART]] bus to [[Doylestown, Pennsylvania|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>

==Education==
Most of the township is in the [[Central Bucks School District]]<!--05310-->, while a small portion in the southwest corner encompassing most of the Line Lexington community is in [[North Penn School District]]<!--17280-->.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42017_bucks/DC20SD_C42017.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Bucks County, PA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-07-16}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42017_bucks/DC20SD_C42017_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

==Ecology==

According to the [[A. W. Kuchler]] U.S. [[potential natural vegetation]] types, New Britain Township, Pennsylvania would have an Appalachian [[Oak]] (''104'') vegetation type with an Eastern [[Hardwood]] Forest (''25'') vegetation form.<ref name="Conservation Biology Institute">{{cite web|url=https://databasin.org/datasets/1c7a301c8e6843f2b4fe63fdb3a9fe39|publisher=[[Data Basin]]|access-date=2019-07-31|title=U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions)}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.newbritaintownship.org/ New Britain Township]

{{Bucks County, Pennsylvania}}
{{Authority control}}

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