Sellersville, Pennsylvania

Sellersville, Pennsylvania
Borough
Main Street
Seal
Location of Sellersville in Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Sellersville Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Sellersville Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 40°21′31″N75°18′36″W / 40.35861°N 75.31000°W / 40.35861; -75.31000
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Bucks
Area [1]
• Total	1.17 sq mi (3.03 km2)
• Land	1.14 sq mi (2.96 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.06 km2)
Elevation	381 ft (116 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	4,249
• Estimate  (2019) [2]	4,283
• Density	3,743.88/sq mi (1,445.66/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Zip Code	18960
Area code(s)	215, 267, and 445
FIPS code	42-69248
Website	sellersvilleboro.org

Sellersville is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,249 at the 2010 census. It is in the Pennridge School District.

History

18th century

An aerial view of Sellersville in 1894

Sellersville was founded in the early 18th century. It was centered on a major road known as Bethlehem Pike that connected Philadelphia to Bethlehem and the rest of what was then Western Pennsylvania. The town was very small and was called Sellers Tavern. Its most notable feature was a large inn. The present Washington House in Sellersville, however, was not Sellers Tavern. The town grew slowly over the years until the Industrial Revolution.

19th century

In the 1860s, the North Pennsylvania Railroad was built, running parallel to Bethlehem Pike: this stimulated the growth of light textile industries and brought a wave of population growth. The East Branch of the Perkiomen Creek runs through the town which connects it to an adjacent town of Perkasie. This creek was dammed in the early 20th century creating a small body of water known as Lake Lenape. Along the length of the lake a park was built on Perkasie and Sellersville lands. In the 1920s and 1930s this park housed a carousel, a roller coaster and several other amusements. The railroad brought hundreds of people from Philadelphia in the summer time, and it became a well known vacation spot for blue collar city workers.

20th century

In August 1938, Deutschhorst Country Club, a summer retreat created by the German American Bund, a Pro-Nazi organization moved to the area after purchasing a 40-acre ranch outside of the town. The group used the area as a summer camp where family functions and activities were pursued in addition to political rallies. As World War II approached, the club sought to distance itself several times from the Nazi cause in local newspapers and was reported as "almost abandoned" from a lack of use by 1940. FBI agents were reported to have been watching the club grounds and visitors were reported to have covered their license plates in order to avoid being identified as a Bund member.

In September 1939, shortly after the start of World War II, the leader of German American Bund, Fritz Julius Kuhn, gave a speech to gathered members of the German American Bund and associated groups such as the World War I German Veteran league known as the Kyffhauser Bund, declaring that with the start of the war Adolf Hitler would "lick the world" in the new conflict. The camp would eventually be closed after the dissolution of the German American Bund on December 8, 1941, after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

The town was also home to the Radium Company of America, which was the largest uranium milling facility in the world at the time. A business operating under the name of the United States Gauge Company originated in Sellersville in 1904 and allegedly became a prominent manufacturer of gauges for military use, many of which were coated with radium-based paint ^[6] for night-time luminescence. The company later became instrumental in the production of nuclear weapons, ^[7] leaving behind a legacy of industrial and radioactive contamination that has been well-hidden by local, county, state, and federal government agencies for decades. ^{[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]}

21st century

In the 21st century, the town remains relatively small, sandwiched in between a ridge line and the larger town of Perkasie. The center of town still runs along Bethlehem Pike which is now called Old Route 309. The Washington House has recently been restored to become an upscale restaurant. Next door to the restaurant was a livery stable, which was converted into a theater and later into a movie theater in 1894. It has since been restored, and reopened in 2001 as Sellersville Theater 1894, a popular live music venue. The creek is still dammed but only the carousel in Perkasie remains of the amusements.

The textile industry has long moved out of the area and Sellersville has become mainly a residential town for people working in the many urban centers that are only a short commute away. Grand View Hospital, Bucks County’s first hospital, has provided residents of Bucks and Montgomery counties with comprehensive healthcare services since 1913. The town is surrounded on three sides by open country and spread out housing developments. The local firehouse provides various activities throughout the year, including a carnival in the summer. The Holiday House Pool and Recreation Center becomes a hotspot for people to escape the heat during the summer as well. There are various businesses along Main Street, one being the Washington House, which provide some jobs as well, but largely the town remains a residential area. Sellersville Museum is located off Main Street in Sellersville and displays different exhibits every month.

The Teller Cigar Factory was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. ^[17]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), of which 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) (1.69%) is water. It is located in Southeastern Pennsylvania as part of Northern Bucks County (colloquially referred to as Upper Bucks) which borders Northampton and Lehigh counties.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	490		—
1890	794		62.0%
1900	1,247		57.1%
1910	1,572		26.1%
1920	1,739		10.6%
1930	2,063		18.6%
1940	2,115		2.5%
1950	2,373		12.2%
1960	2,497		5.2%
1970	2,829		13.3%
1980	3,143		11.1%
1990	4,479		42.5%
2000	4,564		1.9%
2010	4,249		−6.9%
2020	4,567		7.5%
Sources: [18] [19] [20] [21]

As of the census ^[19] of 2010, there were 4,249 people living in the borough. The racial makeup of the borough was 93.6% White, 1.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4% of the population.

As of the census ^[19] of 2000, there were 4,564 people, 1,770 households, and 1,198 families living in the borough. The population density was 3,934.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,519.0/km²). There were 1,827 housing units at an average density of 1,574.8 per square mile (608.0/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.30% White, 0.57% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.99% of the population.

There were 1,770 households, out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 36.9% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.9 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $46,500, and the median income for a family was $55,313. Males had a median income of $38,018 versus $27,056 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $19,970. About 5.4% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Infrastructure

Transportation

PA 152 northbound in Sellersville

As of 2020 there were 13.33 miles (21.45 km) of public roads in Sellersville, of which 3.68 miles (5.92 km) were maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and 9.65 miles (15.53 km) were maintained by the borough. ^[22]

Main Street serves as the main north-south road through Sellersville, becoming Bethlehem Pike to the north and south. Pennsylvania Route 152 passes through Sellersville southwest-northeast along Main Street and Park Avenue, heading northeast into Perkasie. Pennsylvania Route 309 bypasses Sellersville to the west along a freeway, with interchanges at PA 152 and Lawn Avenue providing access to Sellersville. Pennsylvania Route 563 passes east-west to the north of Sellersville. ^[23]

There is currently no public transportation in Sellersville. ^[24] Sellersville was once served by SEPTA's Bethlehem Line which provided passenger service north to Quakertown and Bethlehem and south to Philadelphia, but service ended in 1981. Restoration of train service to Quakertown has been proposed. The East Penn Railroad operates freight service through Sellersville along a branch from Telford to Quakertown along the former SEPTA tracks. ^[25] Sellersville station currently serves as borough offices.

Utilities

PPL Corporation in Allentown provides electricity to Sellersville. ^{[26] [27] [28]} Natural gas service in Sellersville is provided by UGI Utilities. ^{[26] [29] [30]} The North Penn Water Authority provides water to Sellersville, having taken over the borough's water system in 2011. ^{[26] [31] [32]} The borough provides sewer service, with sewage treated at the Pennridge Waste Water Treatment plant. ^[26] Trash and recycling collection in Sellersville is provided under contract by Republic Services. ^[33] Cable and internet service in Sellersville is provided by Verizon, Frontier Communications, and Xfinity. ^[26]

Health care

Grand View Health operates Grand View Hospital outside Sellersville, serving northern Bucks County. The hospital offers various services including an emergency room, Cancer Care, Orthopaedics, Pediatrics, Surgery, and Women's Health. ^[34]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Sellersville 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 Sellersville, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur with heat index values > 106 °F (41 °C). Since 1981, the highest air temperature was 101.5 °F (38.6 °C) on 07/22/2011, and the highest daily average mean dew point was 74.3 °F (23.5 °C) on 08/12/2016. The average wettest month is July which corresponds with the annual peak in thunderstorm activity. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was 6.86 inches (174 mm) on 08/27/2011. During the winter months, the average annual extreme minimum air temperature is −1.0 °F (−18.3 °C). ^[35] Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was −12.9 °F (−24.9 °C) on 01/22/1984. 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 Sellersville, Elevation 328 ft (100 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)	70.3 (21.3)	77.8 (25.4)	85.9 (29.9)	92.7 (33.7)	94.1 (34.5)	95.3 (35.2)	101.5 (38.6)	99.2 (37.3)	96.8 (36.0)	88.1 (31.2)	80.0 (26.7)	74.8 (23.8)	101.5 (38.6)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	38.6 (3.7)	42.0 (5.6)	50.4 (10.2)	62.6 (17.0)	72.7 (22.6)	81.3 (27.4)	85.3 (29.6)	83.7 (28.7)	76.9 (24.9)	65.3 (18.5)	54.2 (12.3)	42.8 (6.0)	63.1 (17.3)
Daily mean °F (°C)	30.1 (−1.1)	32.8 (0.4)	40.4 (4.7)	51.3 (10.7)	61.2 (16.2)	70.2 (21.2)	74.6 (23.7)	73.1 (22.8)	65.7 (18.7)	54.0 (12.2)	44.3 (6.8)	34.4 (1.3)	52.8 (11.6)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	21.5 (−5.8)	23.6 (−4.7)	30.5 (−0.8)	40.1 (4.5)	49.6 (9.8)	59.1 (15.1)	64.0 (17.8)	62.4 (16.9)	54.5 (12.5)	42.7 (5.9)	34.4 (1.3)	26.1 (−3.3)	42.5 (5.8)
Record low °F (°C)	−12.9 (−24.9)	−5.3 (−20.7)	1.6 (−16.9)	16.5 (−8.6)	29.9 (−1.2)	40.2 (4.6)	46.7 (8.2)	41.4 (5.2)	34.2 (1.2)	23.0 (−5.0)	10.2 (−12.1)	−2.6 (−19.2)	−12.9 (−24.9)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	3.44 (87)	2.84 (72)	3.89 (99)	4.09 (104)	4.34 (110)	4.38 (111)	4.75 (121)	3.89 (99)	4.55 (116)	4.31 (109)	3.72 (94)	3.96 (101)	48.16 (1,223)
Average relative humidity (%)	67.4	64.4	60.0	58.6	62.5	67.9	68.4	70.7	71.7	70.7	69.4	69.6	66.8
Average dew point °F (°C)	20.6 (−6.3)	22.1 (−5.5)	27.6 (−2.4)	37.3 (2.9)	48.3 (9.1)	59.1 (15.1)	63.5 (17.5)	63.0 (17.2)	56.3 (13.5)	44.7 (7.1)	34.9 (1.6)	25.5 (−3.6)	42.0 (5.6)
Source: PRISM [36]

Ecology

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Sellersville would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian Oak (104) with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern Hardwood Forest (25). ^[37] The plant hardiness zone is 6b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −1.0 °F (−18.3 °C). ^[35] The spring bloom typically begins by April 11 and fall color usually peaks by October 29.

Notable people

• Walter Emerson Baum, Pennsylvania impressionist painter and art educator
• Kyle Blanks, former professional baseball player, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, and Texas Rangers
• Chris Collingwood, co-founder of the power pop band Fountains of Wayne ^[38]
• Jamie Moyer, former professional baseball player, Philadelphia Phillies and other teams
• Marissa Sheva, National Women's Soccer League and Republic of Ireland national team player ^[39]
• Jon Wurster, drummer and comedy writer

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
3. "Nazi Party Sympathizers in Philadelphia Before the War (Part 1) | Historical Society of Pennsylvania".
4. "Nazi Party Sympathizers in Philadelphia Before the War (Part 2) | Historical Society of Pennsylvania".
5. "Cloak and dagger mailbag – Bucks County Adventures".
6. Ferry, Joseph P., “DEP to Begin Cleanup in Sellersville; 3,000 Cubic Yards of Soil Contaminated by Radioactivity Will Be Excavated in a $1.7 Million Project,” Allentown Morning Call, August 16, 1996, ^[ dead link ].
7. Etheridge, A.C., "Engineer Recalls First Visit to White Room," Perkasie News Herald, October 28, 1992.
8. Duhigg, C., Ericson, M., Evans, T., Hamman, B., Willis, D. “Toxic Waters.” New York Times. December 16, 2009. Published testing data from Sellersville Boro Water Works obtained by the Environmental Working Group exposed serious industrial contamination of Sellersville's municipal water supply that had been removed from all public disclosure provided by Sellersville Borough, the Bucks County Department of Health, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency throughout each entity's oversight of said water supplier.
9. Halliburton Nuclear Utility Services Environmental Corporation. “Final Screening Site Inspection – Inactive Landfill – EPA Work Assignment No. 37-34-3JZZ.” June 16, 1992. Retrieved December 19, 2014 via FOIA Appeal #EPA-HQ-2014-010618 submitted on September 22, 2014, mandating the provision of information requested initially in FOIA Request #EPA-R3-2014-006974 submitted on June 2, 2014. A portion of said report was provided upon appeal...with 58 of its 60 pages fully redacted: https://www.slideshare.net/secret/5sydRQLjXyj4cN .
10. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: Department of Environmental Resources vs. PTI. p. 28-29, 67. Bucks County Court of Common Pleas No. 94-007754-15-5. 17 October 1994. Retrieved 2012 via Freedom of Information Act Request. Litigation regarding high-level radiation contamination in Sellersville, Pennsylvania which references the aforesaid Halliburton “Final Screening Site Inspection – Inactive Landfill” report that was redacted in full by the USEPA upon its provision in appeal. Page 28-29 of the legal transcript indicates that said report was to be withheld from inclusion in the court's records: “I'm not going to have this marked for the record, Your Honor, if you don't mind. I'm not sure we want it in the record;” Page 67 indicates that radioactive “hot spots” are located “all over Sellersville.” The aforesaid Halliburton “Final Screening Site Inspection – Inactive Landfill” report designates the location of these areas. This report continues to be withheld from the general public, having been 1) omitted from Bucks County court records, 2) eliminated from the PADEP's FOIA request provision, 3) deemed denied by Sellersville Borough in a 3/2014 FOIA request, 4) deemed denied by the USEPA in a 6/2014 FOIA request, and 5) provided in part in subsequent USEPA FOIA requests/appeals with 58 of its 60 pages fully redacted (blackened-out) and absent the information included in N.R.A. 1-4D2-167 respectively. The USEPA issued a letter on 4/1/2016 to reiterate that said redaction was made to protect “geological and geophysical information and data, including maps regarding wells” from public disclosure, and to advise that the rest of the appeal pertaining to radiation issues in Sellersville, Pennsylvania was denied due to various regulations protecting the disclosure of confidential business information (“CBI”), government contract information, and information about individuals in “medical and similar files.”
11. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Administrative Record – AMETEK U.S. Gauge Division, Sellersville, PA. Reporting shows the drilling of groundwater monitoring wells per the directive of the USEPA at AMETEK Plant #2 as bypassing the confined aquifer containing the underground chemical plume and extracting from the confined aquifer beneath where the chemical plume contamination is not present. This creates testing results within “acceptable” range for human health/exposure and is inclusive of wells drilled by AMETEK on the grounds of an adjacent residential subdivision. Retrieved 2012 via Freedom of Information Act Request. Reference page 18: https://www.slideshare.net/secret/9swclB48uWVxl3 .
12. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Internal Memorandum (excerpt) dated January 22, 2014 acknowledging radiation issues at AMETEK Plant #2, Sellersville, PA. Said issues continue to be denied by Sellersville Borough, Bucks County, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved November 20, 2014 via Freedom of Information Act Request. Reference page 1, highlighted: https://www.slideshare.net/secret/BOVOX3S34Yf7jR .
13. United States Census Bureau, 1920. “Home Farm” is listed as the industry for individuals residing at 215 Diamont Street in Sellersville Borough, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Said description was written over the words “Radium Plant” on Sheet 2A, Line 14 of this federal document. Reference addendum 7, page 8: http://www.slideshare.net/Ax318960/freedom-of-information-request-sellersville-borough-1816 .
14. “Sellersville Proud of Its Fame as Home of Big Plant that Now Produces Radium.” Author Unknown. Trenton Evening Times. January 8, 1914. Additional information and newspaper citations: http://www.slideshare.net/Ax318960/trenton-evening-times-january-8-1914 .
15. “U.S. Material Safety Data Sheet - AMETEK U.S. Gauge, Sellersville, PA.” United States National MSDS Repository. Retrieved May 2, 2016. A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is an informational document of a hazardous chemical or product that a manufacturer has produced at its facility which describes its physical and chemical properties, hazards, and recommended precautions for handling, storage and disposal. A 2016 search of national MSDS archives revealed a previously unseen MSDS for product “AW1 7-8 2OUF2,” otherwise known as “Radium 226,” with the producer/manufacturer for said product listed as “AMETEK U.S. Gauge, 900 Clymer Ave., Sellersville, PA.” Reference: http://www.slideshare.net/Ax318960/ametek-us-gauge-manufacturer-of-radium-226 .
16. “WPA Real Estate Survey Reveals Property Line Discrepancies.” Author and Newspaper Unknown. January 24, 1936. Article obtained from the Mercer Museum Library, Doylestown, PA. Additional information: http://www.slideshare.net/Ax318960/removed-posts-and-final-commentary .
17. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
18. "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
19. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
20. "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 11 June 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
21. "Census 2020".
22. "Sellersville Borough map" (PDF). PennDOT. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
23. Bucks County, Pennsylvania Highway Map (PDF) (Map). PennDOT. 2015. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
24. "Transit Routes in Bucks County". TMA Bucks. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
25. East Penn Railroad Map (PDF) (Map). DeskMap Systems. 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
26. "Utilities". Sellersville Borough. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
27. "Service Area". PPL Electric Utilities. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
28. "General Tariff" (PDF). PPL Electric Utilities. June 20, 2017. p. 4. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
29. "Geographic Footprint". UGI. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
30. "Gas Tariff" (PDF). UGI Utilities. July 7, 2017. pp. 5–6. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
31. "Service Area". North Penn Water Authority. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
32. "History". North Penn Water Authority. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
33. "Garbage & Recycling". Sellerville Borough. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
34. "Our Services". Grand View Health. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
35. "USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map". United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved October 17, 2019.
36. "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University" . Retrieved October 17, 2019.
37. "U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions)" . Retrieved October 17, 2019.
38. Wise, Brian. "Eclectic Sounds of New Jersey, Echoing From Coast to Coast", The New York Times , February 8, 2004. Accessed November 22, 2007.
39. Tannenwald, Jonathan (4 March 2023). "Bucks County native Marissa Sheva plays for the Republic of Ireland women's soccer team". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Retrieved 8 April 2023.

External links

• Official website