New Hope, Pennsylvania
| Borough of New Hope | |
| Borough | |
 The train station in New Hope
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| Country | United States |
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| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Bucks |
| Elevation | 144 ft (43.9 m) |
| Coordinates | 40°21′37″N 74°57′26″W / 40.36028°N 74.95722°W |
| Area | 1.4 sq mi (3.6 km2) |
| - land | 1.3 sq mi (3 km2) |
| - water | 0.2 sq mi (1 km2), 14.29% |
| Population | 2,528 (2010) |
| Density | 1,770.9 / sq mi (683.7 / km2) |
| Mayor | Laurence D. Keller |
| Timezone | EST (UTC-5) |
| - summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP Code | 18938 |
| Area code | 215 Exchange: 862 |
 Location of New Hope in Bucks County
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  Location of New Hope in Pennsylvania
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New Hope is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA. The population was 2,528 at the 2010 census. The borough lies on the west bank of the Delaware River at its confluence with Aquetong Creek. The two-lane New Hope – Lambertville Bridge carries automobile and foot traffic across the Delaware to Lambertville, New Jersey on the east bank. New Hope's main industry is tourism.
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Geography[edit]
New Hope is located at 40°21′37″N 74°57′26″W / 40.36028°N 74.95722°W (40.360312, -74.957203)[1].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2), of which 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (11.19%) is water. Much of the water is the Delaware River.
The borough is located at the confluence of the Delaware River and Aquetong Creek, which begins its two-mile course in neighboring Solebury Township at Ingham Springs, the most productive spring in Southeastern Pennsylvania. The name Aquetong comes from a Lenape word meaning "place of the pine trees," [2] while Ingham refers to Samuel D. Ingham, an industrialist, congressman, and advocate of the canal that would run through the town. Near its end in New Hope, the creek forms a scenic millpond and waterfall near the Bucks County Playhouse, a former mill.
The surrounding area features low, rolling hills, and consists largely of preserved forest and farmland. Many people whose mailing addresses are in New Hope actually live outside the borough in Solebury.
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission operates two bridges over the Delaware River between New Hope and Lambertville, New Jersey. One is the free, two-lane New Hope – Lambertville Bridge, and the other, the New Hope – Lambertville Toll Bridge carrying U.S. Highway 202, is a modern toll bridge.
Demographics[edit]
As of the 2010 census, the borough was 88.6% Non-Hispanic White, 1.1% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.9% Asian, and 1.5% were two or more races. 7.3% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry [1].
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 1,113 |
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| 1940 | 1,053 | −5.4% | |
| 1950 | 1,066 | 1.2% | |
| 1960 | 958 | −10.1% | |
| 1970 | 978 | 2.1% | |
| 1980 | 1,473 | 50.6% | |
| 1990 | 1,400 | −5.0% | |
| 2000 | 2,252 | 60.9% | |
| 2010 | 2,528 | 12.3% | |
| www.dvrpc.org/data/databull/rdb/db82/appedixa.xls. | |||
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 2,252 people, 1,160 households, and 506 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,770.9 people per square mile (684.6/km²). There were 1,251 housing units at an average density of 983.8 per square mile (380.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.94% White, 1.11% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 1.87% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.55% of the population.
There were 1,160 households out of which 16.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.5% were married couples living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 56.3% were non-families. 41.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.94 and the average family size was 2.74.
In the borough the population was spread out with 15.5% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 37.3% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 115.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 121.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $60,833, and the median income for a family was $87,868. Males had a median income of $49,750 versus $46,700 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $45,309. About 6.1% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
Industry and attractions[edit]
New Hope's primary industry is tourism. On weekends the streets are crowded with tourists visiting the many restaurants, antique shops and art galleries, or taking the popular walk along the river and the Delaware Canal. Compared to surrounding communities, New Hope has a vibrant night life.
New Hope has historically been a popular spot for Broadway shows to be tested and fine tuned, and many notable stage actors bought weekend homes in the area. The Bucks County Playhouse featured a constant stream of plays and musical productions. In December 2010, the Playhouse was shuttered after lenders foreclosed the property. Following an extensive renovation, funded by the Bucks County Playhouse Conservancy, the Bridge Street Foundation and others, the theater reopened on July 2, 2012.[4]
New Hope was also home to an art colony, founded by Edward Redfield and William L. Lathrop, that produced important regional work.[5] Other members or associates of the colony included George Sotter, Daniel Garber and Fern Coppedge. They are also associated with the nearby Phillips Mill artists colony.[6]
The area later grew to become a popular gay resort in the 1950s and today New Hope still has an active and large gay community.[7] New Hope also attracts motorcyclists (bikers) on weekends in the warmer months.
New Hope is also a terminal point on the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad. On weekends, tourists can ride the historic and scenic line through Bucks County.
Union Camp Corporation had a bag production facility in New Hope until the late 1980s, which employed around one hundred people total and was located uphill from the New Hope & Ivyland railroad. The former factory complex, now known as Union Square, has been recycled as a series of shops and businesses aimed at the teeming tourist industry.
In August 2007, Forbes.com named New Hope Borough as one of the best places in the Northeast of the USA to buy a summer vacation home.[8]
History[edit]
New Hope is located along the route of the Old York Road, the former main highway between Philadelphia and New York City. It was generally regarded as the halfway point, where travelers would stay overnight and be ferried across the river the next morning. Though this route is largely obsolete, the section of U.S. Route 202 that passes just north of town still bears the name York Road. The original route is now known as Bridge St. (PA 179).
During these early days, the town was known as Coryell's Ferry, after the owner of the ferry business. The current name came into use following a large fire in 1790 that burned down several mills in the area—their reconstruction was considered a "new hope" for the area.
The night prior to his famous crossing of the Delaware several miles to the south, George Washington is said[who?] to have lodged in New Hope. Historic former residents include James A. Michener and Aaron Burr.
In 1983, NBC network anchorwoman Jessica Savitch and her boyfriend drowned after their car overturned into the Delaware Canal. The canal passes by Odette's Restaurant, where the couple had dined on a rainy evening when visibility was poor and warning signs were easily missed.
In 2004 and 2006, New Hope was the victim of flooding when the Delaware River overflowed its banks. On both occasions, the downtown businesses reopened within several days; however, many riverside homes remained severely damaged for significantly longer.
Cintra, Joshua Ely House, Honey Hollow Watershed, William Kitchen House, New Hope Village District, Rhoads Homestead, and Springdale Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Honey Hollow Watershed is also designated a National Historic Landmark District.[9]
Chamber of Commerce[edit]
- Caleb Lentchner, President, Marsha Brown[10]
- Connie Gering, Vice President, Kostandina Designs[10]
- Sharon Flanagan, Secretary, Fred Eisen Leather[10]
- Ryan Fuller, Treasurer, Signature Services Group[10]
- Louis Licitra, Past President, Rainbow Assurance, Inc[10]
Notable residents[edit]
Notable current and former residents of New Hope include:
- Christian Bauman, novelist and essayist
- Becky Blasband, singer, songwriter and screenwriter
- Aaron Burr, Revolutionary War soldier and Vice President
- Gregg Cagno, singer and songwriter
- Sim Cain, former Rollins Band drummer
- Chad I Ginsburg, guitarist of CKY
- Harry A. Franck, travel writer
- Abbie Hoffman, political activist who committed suicide in his New Hope apartment
- Aaron Freeman (aka Gene Ween) & Mickey Melchiondo (aka Dean Ween), founding members of the band Ween
- James A. Michener, novelist
- Odette Myrtil, actress, singer and violinist and the namesake of Odette's Restaurant
- George Nakashima, artist and furniture maker
- Ted Tally, Oscar-winning screenwriter
- Steve Garvey, musician, Buzzcocks bass player and music producer
- Winter Ave Zoli, actress
- John Conner, co-creator of TroveHunt
Points of interest[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "Indian Place Names in Bucks County". Lenape Nation - A Tribal Community. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Reed, Bill. "The curtain rises Monday at the refurbished Bucks County Playhouse". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
- ^ Alterman, James (2005). New Hope for American Art. Jim's of Lambertville. ISBN 0-9772665-0-8.
- ^ "National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania" (Searchable database). CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System. Note: This includes Gwen R. Davis (October 1982). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Phillips Mill Historic District" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-10-28.
- ^ New Hope celebrates its Pride, Edge Philadelphia
- ^ "Best Places To Buy A Vacation Home". Forbes. 9 August 2007.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09.
- ^ a b c d e "http://www.newhopechamber.com/memberinfo.php". Retrieved 15 November 2012.
External links[edit]
- New Hope Borough Homepage
- Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce
- Bucks County Conference and Visitors Bureau : Official Tourism Website
- New Hope & Ivyland Railroad
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