Middletown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Middletown Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 44,141 at the 2000 census. Many sections of Levittown, Pennsylvania, are located in the southern end of the township. The township is served by public schools run by the Neshaminy School District. The municipality surrounds the boroughs of Langhorne, Langhorne Manor, Penndel and Hulmeville; much of the township beyond Levittown uses Langhorne, Pennsylvania as a mailing address. New neighborhoods continue to be built in many parts of the township, such that the population is expected to grow more rapidly than the national average as it has for the past decades.
Middletown Township is home to a large senior citizen population as a number of specialized communities for older adults are located there. The Oxford Valley Mall, Sesame Place (an amusement park), and a strip of retail businesses along Business U.S. Route 1 have increased traffic congestion and other problems associated with development in recent years, and represent a challenge for planners and local officials.
Oxford Valley Mall
The area surrounding the mall has grown and has changed significantly in the past twenty years. Mainly car dealerships, and car automotive shops were once the only structures around the mall. Today over 40 car dealerships remain, but many have been demolished for the new waves. Over 60 restaurant chains are in the vicinity, along with many major retail stores, such as Target, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Staples, and Barnes and Noble. A surplus of furniture stores are also located here, along with various hotel chains, a major hospital, and office buildings. Many homes have been constructed around the mall. The oldest being Langhorne Terrace, a branch of Levittown, Pennsylvania. Many newly constructed townhouses, condos, and large singe-family homes have been built. Traffic has become a major concern. Nearby Route 1, and I-95 allow commuters to congest the mall area roads, along with the surplus of residents in the area. Over 400,000 people reside less then eight minutes from the mall, plus the many residents from nearby New Jersey. Many major construction projects are planned for the major access roads. There is a significant, and fast-growing foreign presence in the area. As thousands of people from Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa have settled near the mall, there is a wide variety of ethnic food, churches, and superstores in its vicinity.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 50.2 km² (19.4 mi²). 49.5 km² (19.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.7 km² (0.3 mi²) of it (1.39%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 44,141 people, 15,321 households, and 11,659 families residing in the township. The population density was 891.8/km² (2,309.5/mi²). There were 15,713 housing units at an average density of 317.5/km² (822.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 93.86% White, 2.10% African American, 0.15% Native American, 2.40% Asian, 0.55% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.71% of the population. The Asian population is a fast-growing segment of the township.
There were 15,321 households out of which 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.3% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.9% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the township the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $63,964, and the median income for a family was $71,271. Males had a median income of $47,244 versus $32,154 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,213. About 2.1% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
