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Riegelsville, Pennsylvania

Coordinates: 40°35′44″N 75°11′44″W / 40.59556°N 75.19556°W / 40.59556; -75.19556
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Riegelsville, Pennsylvania
Signs on the approach for the Riegelsville Bridge denoting entrance into Riegelsville. The Riegelsville Inn can be seen in the background.
Signs on the approach for the Riegelsville Bridge denoting entrance into Riegelsville. The Riegelsville Inn can be seen in the background.
Location in Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Riegelsville is located in Pennsylvania
Riegelsville
Riegelsville
Location in Pennsylvania
Riegelsville is located in the United States
Riegelsville
Riegelsville
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 40°35′44″N 75°11′44″W / 40.59556°N 75.19556°W / 40.59556; -75.19556
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyBucks
Government
 • MayorViana Boenzli
Area
 • Total
1.08 sq mi (2.79 km2)
 • Land1.01 sq mi (2.61 km2)
 • Water0.07 sq mi (0.19 km2)
Elevation
151 ft (46 m)
Population
 • Total
847
 • Density841.11/sq mi (324.82/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
18077
Area code(s)610
FIPS code42-64856
Websitewww.riegelsville.org

Riegelsville is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 868 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Philadelphia–Wilmington–Camden metropolitan statistical area, despite being so closely connected to the Lehigh Valley.

History

[edit]
A black and white photograph of Riegelsville Inn, built in 1838

Benjamin Riegel founded Riegelsville. The original, and now historic, Riegelsville Inn that he built in 1838 still stands. This historic stone inn has offered food and lodging to Bucks County travelers for over 160 years. The community was named for the Riegel family, as early landowners. They established paper mills across the Delaware River in Warren County, New Jersey.[citation needed]

With the completion of the Delaware Canal in 1832, the lands along the Delaware River attracted great industrial development. The movement of coal, a major important product of the area, brought capital & investment to Easton. Boats carried coal, stone, iron, crops, and goods from the mills along the 60 miles from Easton to Bristol. Along Canal Street grew one of the largest industrial manufacturing centers of America during the 1830s and 1840s. Easton continued to prosper as a center for industry, manufacturing, commerce, and culture at the Forks of Delaware and along the great rail lines. Between 1904 and 1926, Riegelsville was served by electric passenger and freight trolleys of the Doylestown & Easton Street Railway Company. Riegelsville prospered when the Delaware Canal opened in 1832 with warehouses and factories lining its banks. The canal closed in 1931 after 99 years of service and was replaced by the railroads. Today, Riegelsville is a peaceful and quiet town. Woods and fields border the Delaware Canal; remnants of crumbling stone foundations along its banks are reminders of a busy past.[citation needed]

Benjamin Riegel House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987

Riegelsville was a mill town in the late 1880s and 1900s. The borough overlooks the Delaware River, spanned by the Riegelsville Bridge, built in 1904 by John A. Roebling's Sons, Co. and connecting with Riegelsville, New Jersey. It is one of the approximately three dozen bridges spanning the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.[citation needed]

Residences near the river built by Riegel Paper Company executives in the late 1880s along "Mansions Row" have been restored.[citation needed]

The Benjamin Riegel House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.[3]

Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2), of which 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (5.71%) is water.[4]

Neighboring municipalities

[edit]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1880308
1920610
193072518.9%
194082413.7%
19508715.7%
19609539.4%
19701,05010.2%
1980993−5.4%
1990912−8.2%
2000863−5.4%
20108680.6%
2020847−2.4%
Sources:[5][6][7][8]

At the 2010 census, the borough was 96.8% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian and 0.5% were two or more races. 2.0% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.[9]

At the 2000 census,[6] there were 863 people, 378 households and 250 families residing in the borough. The population density was 867.8 per square mile (335.1/km2). There were 403 housing units at an average density of 405.3 per square mile (156.5/km2). The racial make-up of the borough was 99.19% White, 0.12% African American, 0.23% Asian, 0.35% from other races and 0.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.58% of the population.

There were 378 households, of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 33.6% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.77.

21.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64 and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.

The median household income was $48,194 and the median family income was $55,208. Males had a median income of $41,250 and females $31,726. The per capita income was $24,916. About 2.0% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

[edit]

Formerly located in the Easton Area School District, Riegelsville is now in the Palisades School District.

Weather and climate

[edit]

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Riegelsville has a Hot-summer, Humid continental climate (Dfa). Dfa climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ 32.0 °F (0.0 °C), at least four months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (10.0 °C), at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ 71.6 °F (22.0 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are slightly humid in Riegelsville, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur with heat index values > 105 °F (41 °C). Since 1981, the highest air temperature was 102.2 °F (39.0 °C) on July 22, 2011, and the highest daily average mean dew point was 73.8 °F (23.2 °C) on August 1, 2006. The average wettest month is July, which corresponds with the annual peak in thunderstorm activity. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was 6.56 inches (167 mm) on August 27, 2011. During the winter months, the average annual extreme minimum air temperature is −1.4 °F (−18.6 °C).[10] Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was −13.4 °F (−25.2 °C) on January 21, 1994. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur, with wind chill values < −12 °F (−24 °C). The average annual snowfall (Nov-Apr) is between 30 inches (76 cm) and 36 inches (91 cm). Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 12 inches (30 cm) of snow occur once every few years, particularly during nor’easters from December through February.

Climate data for Riegelsville, Elevation 171 ft (52 m), 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1981–2018
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 70.2
(21.2)
78.4
(25.8)
87.7
(30.9)
94.2
(34.6)
94.5
(34.7)
95.5
(35.3)
102.2
(39.0)
99.7
(37.6)
96.9
(36.1)
89.8
(32.1)
80.6
(27.0)
73.9
(23.3)
102.2
(39.0)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 37.9
(3.3)
41.6
(5.3)
50.4
(10.2)
62.8
(17.1)
72.7
(22.6)
81.3
(27.4)
85.3
(29.6)
83.3
(28.5)
76.7
(24.8)
65.0
(18.3)
54.3
(12.4)
42.5
(5.8)
62.9
(17.2)
Daily mean °F (°C) 29.4
(−1.4)
32.2
(0.1)
40.0
(4.4)
51.1
(10.6)
60.9
(16.1)
70.0
(21.1)
74.6
(23.7)
72.7
(22.6)
65.4
(18.6)
53.8
(12.1)
44.3
(6.8)
34.2
(1.2)
52.5
(11.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 20.8
(−6.2)
22.8
(−5.1)
29.6
(−1.3)
39.4
(4.1)
49.1
(9.5)
58.8
(14.9)
63.9
(17.7)
62.0
(16.7)
54.2
(12.3)
42.5
(5.8)
34.3
(1.3)
25.9
(−3.4)
42.0
(5.6)
Record low °F (°C) −13.4
(−25.2)
−5.8
(−21.0)
1.2
(−17.1)
16.5
(−8.6)
31.8
(−0.1)
39.9
(4.4)
45.6
(7.6)
40.4
(4.7)
34.1
(1.2)
22.7
(−5.2)
9.1
(−12.7)
−2.7
(−19.3)
−13.4
(−25.2)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.32
(84)
2.79
(71)
3.56
(90)
4.02
(102)
4.30
(109)
4.33
(110)
5.03
(128)
4.09
(104)
4.56
(116)
4.40
(112)
3.64
(92)
3.98
(101)
48.02
(1,220)
Average relative humidity (%) 67.9 63.5 58.9 57.5 62.2 67.4 67.7 70.6 71.6 70.4 68.3 68.7 66.3
Average dew point °F (°C) 20.1
(−6.6)
21.2
(−6.0)
26.8
(−2.9)
36.6
(2.6)
47.9
(8.8)
58.7
(14.8)
63.2
(17.3)
62.6
(17.0)
56.0
(13.3)
44.4
(6.9)
34.5
(1.4)
25.0
(−3.9)
41.5
(5.3)
Source: PRISM[11]

Transportation

[edit]
PA 611 northbound in Riegelsville

As of 2005 there were 6.96 miles (11.20 km) of public roads in Riegelsville, of which 1.74 miles (2.80 km) were maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and 5.22 miles (8.40 km) were maintained by the borough.[12]

Pennsylvania Route 611 is the only numbered highway serving Riegelsville. It traverses the central portion of the borough on a north-south alignment via Easton Road.

Ecology

[edit]

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Riegelsville has a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian Oak (104) with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern Hardwood Forest (25).[13] The plant hardiness zone is 6b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −1.4 °F (−18.6 °C).[10] The spring bloom typically begins by April 12 and fall color usually peaks by October 28.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  2. ^ "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  3. ^ "National Register Information System – (#86003569)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  6. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  7. ^ "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 11, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  8. ^ "Census 2020".
  9. ^ "Census 2010: Pennsylvania". USA Today. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  10. ^ a b "USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map". United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on July 4, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  11. ^ "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University". Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  12. ^ "Riegelsville Borough map" (PDF). PennDOT. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  13. ^ "U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions)". Retrieved October 16, 2019.