Warminster Township, also referred to as Warminster, is located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was formally established in 1711. The township is 13.7 miles north of Philadelphia and had a population of 33,603 according to the 2020 U.S. census.
History
The town was called Warminster Township as early as 1685, before its borders were formally established in 1711. It was originally part of Southampton Township, which was founded in 1682 by William Penn.[4]Warminster was named after a small town in the county of Wiltshire, at the western extremity of Salisbury Plain, England.[5] Warminster, Pennsylvania was mostly settled by English and Scotch-Irish colonists after William Penn received a grant of land in the area from King Charles, II.[4] It was the site of the Battle of Crooked Billet during the Revolutionary War, which resulted in a resounding defeat for George Washington's colonial troops.[4]
Warminster began as a small farming community, and agriculture was central to most of its history. The first steamboat model was designed and made in Warminster township. John Fitch and Steven Pagano were the inventors and designers of the model steam boat that was tried out on the Delaware river and successfully floated.
During World War II, the U.S. Navy acquired an industrial site here from the Brewster Aeronautical Corporation in 1943. The Center initially served as a weapons development and airplane testing facility. The Naval Air Warfare Center, previously called the Johnsville Naval Air Development Center and then the Naval Air Development Center, operated in Warminster from World War II until it closed in 1996. As recently as 1955, the township had no residential subdivisions and only one housing complex, Lacey Park off County Line Road.
In the 1960s the naval site became adapted as a training center for the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs. The facility also developed a prototype "black box," best known as the indestructible recorder of cockpit conversations and information in the event of a crash.[6][7]
Geography
Jamison Street in Warminster Heights
Warminster Township is 3.7 miles northwest of Philadelphia at their closest points[8][9] and has a total area of 10.2 square miles (26.5 km2), all land. Warminster is drained by the Delaware River tributaries of the Neshaminy Creek and the Pennypack Creek.[10] Its villages include Babytown, Breadysville (also in Warwick Township,) Casey Highlands, Davisville, Hartsville (also in Warwick Township), Johnsville, Rosewood Park, Warminster, and Warminster Heights.[10]
Warminster Township Free Library provides free access to a diversity of information, arts, culture, and civic resources to improve lives and foster a lifelong love of learning.
Won Institute of Graduate Studies provides quality graduate-level professional education and training in the practical applications of spirituality and the healing arts for the well-being of individuals and society.
Parks and recreation
Warminster Community Park is located on part of the former site of Naval Air Warfare Center Warminster
Warminster Township's Recreation Services Division provides many events and community services, including overseeing and maintaining 420 acres (170 ha) of recreation areas within 13 parks. Sports teams, including soccer, football, basketball, swimming, wrestling, baseball, and softball are provided by various adult and youth sports organizations throughout their respective seasons. The township has partnered with the Central Bucks YMCA starting in January 2015 to offer many of the recreational programs previously offered by the township. The Parks and Recreation Department also offers discount tickets to amusement parks, attractions, ski resorts, and movies.[16]
Warminster Community Park is the largest of the township's parks at 243 acres (98 ha), with over five miles of walking trails.[16] Other facilities at Warminster Community Park include nature areas, basketball courts, a playground, pavilion, picnic area, pond, restrooms, and soccer fields.[17] Warminster Community Park is also home to Bark Park, a fenced-in, off-leash dog park.[18] Also located at Warminster Community Park is Safety Town, a miniature version of Warminster Township where children can ride tricycles and big wheels. The miniature town is sponsored by local businesses, who appear on the storefronts of buildings, and has signs and pavement markings to teach children the rules of the road.[19]
Small neighborhood parks make up the bulk of the other parks in Warminster Township.[16] Smaller parks in the township include Barness Park, a 14-acre (5.7 ha) park which has a walking trail and nature area; The Crossing, a 14-acre (5.7 ha) park which has a walking trail, a playground, open space, and nature area; Crooked Billet Green, an 8.2-acre (3.3 ha) park which has basketball courts, a playground, and a softball field; Devonshire Court, a 6.8-acre (2.8 ha) park which has open space and a nature trail; Ivy Woods, a 12-acre (4.9 ha) park which is undeveloped; Kemper Park, a 30-acre (12 ha) park which has walking trails, nature areas, picnic areas and pavilions, a playground, and a softball field; Log College Park, a 26.6-acre (10.8 ha) park which has a basketball court, tennis court, nature areas, a playground, and grass volleyball courts; Maple Street Park, a 0.6-acre (0.24 ha) park which has a basketball court and playground; Meadow Run Park, a 2.9-acre (1.2 ha) park which has a picnic area and playground; Munro Park, a 36-acre (15 ha) park which has a baseball field, lighted soccer fields, picnic areas, a playground, a seasonal refreshment stand, restrooms, softball fields, tennis courts, a basketball court, and a skate park; Szymanek Park, a 10.8-acre (4.4 ha) park which has basketball courts, a football field, restrooms, a softball field, and a playground; and Werner Park, a 6.8-acre (2.8 ha) park which has a lighted football field, picnic areas, a playground, a seasonal refreshment stand, restrooms, and a softball field.[17]
The township is also home to a public golf course called Five Ponds Golf Club, which is the best-reviewed public golf course in Bucks County. The golf course is owned by Warminster Township and privately managed.[20]
Infrastructure
Transportation
PA 132 westbound in Warminster Township
As of 2018 there were 113.97 miles (183.42 km) of public roads in Warminster Township, of which 13.14 miles (21.15 km) were maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and 100.83 miles (162.27 km) were maintained by the township.[21]
Numbered routes in Warminster Township include Pennsylvania Route 132 (Street Road), which runs northwest–southeast through the township between Warrington and Southampton; Pennsylvania Route 263 (York Road), which runs north–south through the township between Hatboro and Jamison; and Pennsylvania Route 332 (Jacksonville Road), which runs southwest–northeast through the township between Hatboro and Ivyland. Other important roads include County Line Road, which runs northwest–southeast along the southwestern border with Montgomery County; Bristol Road, which runs northwest–southeast along the northeastern border of the township; Davisville Road, which runs southwest–northeast along the southeastern border of the township; and Mearns Road, which begins at Street Road in the center of the township and heads northeast.[22]
Warminster station, which serves as the terminus of SEPTA's Warminster Line
Electricity and natural gas in Warminster Township is provided by PECO Energy Company, a subsidiary of Exelon.[30][31][32] Trash and recycling collection in Warminster Township is provided under contract by J.P. Mascaro & Sons.[33] Cable, telephone, and internet service to the area is provided by Xfinity and Verizon. Warminster Township is served by area codes 215, 267, and 445.[34]
Water and sewer service in the township is provided by the Warminster Municipal Authority, which serves 10,300 customers. The Warminster Municipal Authority receives water from groundwater wells in the township along with water purchased from the North Wales Water Authority.[35] Multiple groundwater wells in the township are contaminated with perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) from the former Naval Air Warfare Center Warminster site, leading to the authority having to close wells to install treatment systems to decontaminate the water. The United States Navy paid for the treatment systems for the wells. As a result, the Warminster Municipal Authority has increased the amount of water it purchases from the North Wales Water Authority to ensure safe drinking water.[36]
Health care
Jefferson Health–Abington operates the Jefferson Health–Warminster (formerly Abington Health Center–Warminster) outpatient center in the township, which offers outpatient services, community health services and programs, and support groups.[37] The health center is located in the former Warminster Hospital, whose emergency room and inpatient services were closed after Abington Memorial Hospital purchased the hospital in October 2007 from Solis Healthcare, who had acquired it from Tenet Healthcare two months prior.[38]
Crime
Warminster has a total crime rate lower than 53% of all U.S. cities, and a violent crime rate 4.13 times lower than the national average.[39]
Law enforcement
The Warminster police department consists of four built-in special units:[40]
Four Warminster police chiefs have been fired for or convicted of wrongdoing:
Chief Elmer Clawges was convicted on December 10, 1997, of assaulting his wife. Clawges had also been accused by 12 women of sexual wrongdoing while on duty, including having sex with girls as young as 13 and sexually harassing women.[41]
Chief James M. Gorczynski pleaded guilty on April 5, 2005, to stealing over $130,000 belonging to the township.[41]
Chief Rowan P. Kelly Jr. was fired for allegedly drinking on duty, assaulting citizens, and sexually harassing women.[41]
Officer John Powell was convicted on April 6, 2005, of attempted sex crimes against a minor.[42] Powell was sentenced to up to eight years in prison.[43]
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Warminster Township, Pennsylvania has a hot-summer, wet all year, 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. During the summer months, episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with heat index values ≥ 100 °F (≥ 38 °C). On average, the wettest month of the year is July which corresponds with the annual peak in thunderstorm activity. During the winter months, episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values < 0 °F (< -18 °C). The plant hardiness zone is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 1.3 °F (-17.1 °C).[44] The average seasonal (Nov-Apr) snowfall total is between 24 and 30 inches (61 and 76 cm), and the average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in nor'easter activity.
Climate data for Warminster Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania (1981 – 2010 averages)
United States
Pennsylvania
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