Lansdale

History

The earliest known settlers in Lansdale were members of the Jenkins family. At the peak of its growth, the Jenkins homestead occupied approximately 120 acres of land. The construction of the North Pennsylvania Railroad (later absorbed into the Reading Railroad) during the 1850s contributed to rapid growth and expansion in Lansdale. Employment opportunities generated by the railroad brought settlers, housing, and local businesses to the area. By 1872, Lansdale Borough was officially incorporated and named after Phillip Lansdale Fox, chief surveyor of the North Penn Railroad. By the naming conventions of the time, it should have been called Jenkintown, since the land immediately surrounding the train station was owned by the Jenkins family, but there was already a town by that name along the rail line. The Jenkins Homestead and Lansdale Silk Hosiery Compy-Interstate Hosiery Mills, Inc. are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Lansdale is home to a Kugel ball, which is a dark grey granite sphere supported by a very thin film of water pumped from beneath its base. The Kugel Ball is located in Railroad Plaza, adjacent to the SEPTA Lansdale/Doylestown Line train station in downtown Lansdale. The plaza consists of a bricked patio with benches centered on the Kugel Ball and closes at 11:00 pm. An annual 5k race is held in June, accordingly named the Kugel Ball race, which starts and ends at the actual Kugel Ball in Railroad Plaza. The Lansdale Borough Hometown Heroes Banner Program is a living tribute created for the community to recognize and honor Lansdale Veterans who are serving or are veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of , all land. It has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and the hardiness zone is 7a. The average monthly temperature ranges from 30.2 °F in January to 74.7 °F in July. The average annual absolute minimum temperature is -0.4 °F.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• North Penn SHS
  High · Lansdale · 3,184 students · 14.9:1 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
• Plymouth-Whitemarsh SHS
  High · Plymouth Meeting · 1,552 students
• Methacton HS
  High · Eagleville · 1,510 students · 14.1:1 ratio
• Wissahickon SHS
  High · Ambler · 1,459 students · 12.9:1 ratio
• Hatboro-Horsham SHS
  High · Horsham · 1,379 students · 10.6:1 ratio