New Hope, Pennsylvania

New Hope, formerly Coryell's Ferry, is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA. The population was 2,252 at the 2000 census.

Geography

New Hope is located at (40.360312, -74.957203).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 3.7 km² (1.4 mi²). 3.3 km² (1.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (11.19%) is water. Much of this is the Delaware River. The borough is located at the confluence of the Delaware River and Aquetong Creek, which begins in Solebury Township at Ingham Springs, the most productive spring in Southeastern Pennsylvania, about two miles from its mouth. The name "Aquetong" comes from a local Indian word meaning "place of the pine trees," a reference to the pine forest that the creek runs through at the beginning of its route. Near its end, the creek forms a scenic waterfall near the Bucks County Playhouse, a former mill powered by the flow of water.

The area features low, rolling hills, and much is forested. The compact township contains much of the population.

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission operates two bridges over the Delaware River between New Hope and Lambertville, New Jersey. One is a free, two-lane bridge between the two towns. The other, which carries U.S. Highway 202, is a modern toll bridge.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,252 people, 1,160 households, and 506 families residing in the borough. The population density was 684.6/km² (1,770.9/mi²). There were 1,251 housing units at an average density of 380.3/km² (983.8/mi²). 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.

More informally, the population contains many artists and former hippies. The notably liberal area has a substantial, but subtle, gay community.

Industry and attractions

The primary industry of New Hope is tourism. On weekends the streets are crowded with tourists visiting the many restaurants, antique shops, art galleries, or just strolling along the river and the Delaware Division Canal.

The Bucks County Playhouse is located in New Hope and features a constant stream of plays and musical productions. It is located in an attractive historic building.

New Hope is also a terminal point on the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad. On weekends, an excursion gives tourists a ride on the railroad through scenic Bucks County.

New Hope was in the news in 1983 when NBC network anchorwoman Jessica Savitch and her boyfriend drowned after their car overturned into the canal. The canal passes by Odette's Restaurant, where the couple had dined on a rainy evening and visibility was poor.

Union Camp Corporation had a bag production facility in New Hope until the late 1980s. It employed around one hundred people total and was located uphill from the New Hope Ivyland railroad. The former factory complex has been recycled as a series of shops and businesses aimed at the teeming tourist industry. The most notable new business is the Triumph microbrewery and restaurant (to keep up with River Horse brewery in the former corn curl/Original Trenton Cracker factory across the Delaware river in Lambertville NJ).

Famous people from New Hope

Both of these people are members of the alternative rock band Ween.

Chad Ginsburg

Points of interest

External links