The name "Conshohocken" comes from the Unami language and may be translated as "pleasant valley".[6] The name derives from either Kanshihakink, meaning "Elegant-ground-place",[7] or, more likely, Xinkwënchuhakink, which means "Big-trough-ground-place" or "Large-bowl-ground-place", referring to the big bend in the Tulpehane (Turtle River, or modern Schuylkill River).[8]
Conshohocken fronts the Schuylkill River. A rather sharp bend in the river at Conshohocken gives the Schuylkill Expressway, which hugs the far bank, a curve that is well known to regional radio listeners as the Conshohocken curve. Railroad tracks line both river banks, reflecting the valley's heavy industrial past as well as its continuing rail activity including Norfolk Southern and SEPTA. A rail trail portion of the Schuylkill River Trail also passes through.
Politics and history
Conshohocken was first settled about 1820 as "Matson's Ford" before, in 1830, it was laid out as a town and received its present name.[6]
Founded early in the nineteenth century after construction of the Schuylkill Canal, it was incorporated as a borough in 1850. Settlement in this vicinity began as early as 1690. A flourishing industrial community with frame and brick houses along wide and often hilly streets, Conshohocken has a tire plant, a steel and iron mill, a boiler factory, and textile mills.
[10]
— Federal Writers'Project, "Part III: Tours", Pennsylvania: A Guide to the Keystone State (1940)
Conshohocken has a city manager form of government with a mayor and a seven-member borough council. The mayor is Yaniv Aronson.
On September 1, 2021, the borough suffered severe damage and disruption from flooding caused by heavy rainfall associated with the remnants of Hurricane Ida.
As of the 2010 census, the borough was 88.7% White, 6.5% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.8% Asian, and 1.7% were two or more races. 3.5% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry [1].
As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 7,589 people, 3,329 households, and 1,834 families residing in the borough. The population density was 7,720.4 inhabitants per square mile (2,980.9/km2). There were 3,518 housing units at an average density of 3,578.9 per square mile (1,381.8/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 89.88% White, 7.77% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.34% of the population.
There were 3,329 households, out of which 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.5% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.9% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 20.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 35.9% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $43,599, and the median income for a family was $50,601. Males had a median income of $36,299 versus $30,541 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $22,128. About 4.2% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.
According to the 2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimate,[16] the median household income in the borough had risen to $73,750. The median income for a family was $88,049, and the per capita income was $41,144. 5.3% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of children under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 and over.
January is on average the coldest month, and July is on average the hottest. The hardiness zone is 7a.
Transportation
Fayette Street in Conshohocken
As of 2018 there were 19.80 miles (31.87 km) of public roads in Conshohocken, of which 3.17 miles (5.10 km) were maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and 16.63 miles (26.76 km) were maintained by the borough.[18]
No numbered highways pass directly through the borough. The main streets in town include Fayette Street, which passes northeast to southwest, and Elm Street, which traverses west to east. However, two interstate highways pass just outside of the borough: I-76 (locally known as the Schuylkill Expressway) and I-476 (locally referred to as "the Blue Route").
