Harleysville

History

The land that became Harleysville was originally Lenape territory. The Lenape were Indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands. Their land, Lenapehoking (Lënapehòkink), stretched along the eastern seaboard from Delaware to Connecticut. Some of their roads through the woods eventually became Pennsylvania Route 63 and Route 113. In 1681, Charles II of England granted a large tract of land to William Penn that became Pennsylvania. In 1717 Pennsylvania surveyor David Powell received a grant of three thousand acres of land between the "Skepeck" (Skippack Creek) and a branch of the "Parkyooman" (Perkiomen Creek). He began to sell the land to settlers, including Henry Ruth, who bought 200 acres in February 1718. The Moyer or Meyer family was also in the Harleysville area by 1718. Settlement continued and by 1741 the population was large enough to create Lower Salford Township, subdivided from Salford Township. Early settlers, mainly of German or Swiss descent, continued to establish farms, mills, and taverns along early roads such as Sumneytown Pike. The village was named after Samuel Harley (1758–1839), who built a tavern along the Sumneytown Pike in the 1790s. Operating it until the 1830s, he lent his name to what became known as Harleysville. The Harley family maintained a presence in the area into the 19th century and are buried in the Harley Cemetery. Anabaptist faith traditions have shaped Harleysville since the early 18th century. Christopher Dock, a prominent Mennonite educator, taught locally in the 1730s. Multiple Mennonite and Brethren meetinghouses were built over the years, including the Klein Meetinghouse (c.1750), one of the earliest Brethren churches in America, which still stands today. Many Harleysville families spoke German at home until well into…

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , all land. Harleysville is in the watershed of the Perkiomen Creek (a tributary of the Schuylkill River) and is drained by the Indian Creek and Skippack Creek into the Perkiomen. The CDP has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and average monthly temperatures range from 30.5 °F in January to 75.2 °F in July.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  60,316
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  54,458
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  52,097
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  47,925
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  47,894
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  45,890
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  45,274
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  42,050

Largest nearby schools

• North Penn SHS
  High · Lansdale · 3,184 students · 14.9:1 ratio
• Spring-Ford SHS 9-12 Ctr
  High · Royersford · 2,631 students · 14.5:1 ratio
• Norristown Area HS
  High · Norristown · 2,309 students · 19.2:1 ratio
• Souderton Area SHS
  High · Souderton · 2,129 students · 16.4:1 ratio
• Perkiomen Valley HS
  High · Collegeville · 1,736 students · 14.8:1 ratio
• Methacton HS
  High · Eagleville · 1,510 students · 14.1:1 ratio
• Spring-Ford Intrmd Sch 5th/6th
  Middle · Royersford · 1,278 students · 13.5:1 ratio
• Penndale MS
  Middle · Lansdale · 1,208 students · 12.6:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.9 — 2024-05-24
  6 km E of Califon, New Jersey
• M 2.6 — 2024-05-01
  1 km NW of Gladstone, New Jersey
• M 2.9 — 2024-04-27
  7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey
• M 2.6 — 2024-04-10
  5 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey
• M 3.7 — 2024-04-05
  7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey
• M 2.6 — 2024-04-05
  6 km ESE of Califon, New Jersey