Chalfont, Pennsylvania

In 1720, Simon Butler bought over 150 acres of land, including the "Village of Chalfont." After the construction of his home and mill, Butler bought more than 400 more acres of land. Butler was a giant historical figure who acted as a legal and economic powerhouse in the area. After his death, the land was parceled to a number of people. Between then and 1901 Chalfont held several names, including Butler's Mill, Kungle's Tavern, Barndtsville, and Whitehallville. For many years, the most important building in the area was the tavern and public house, which has burnt down many times and now stands as Leonardo's Pizza. During the Victorian era in 1855, a train station was built along the newly constructed Doylestown Branch of the North Penn Railroad which helped the community grow and brought about the construction of the many Victorian-style houses.

In 1885, Chalfont established Forest Park. Forest Park began as a small picnic grounds with frequent live music. The construction of the train station assured the park's success. In time, the grounds grew to become a small amusement park where locals could enjoy rides, a large swimming pool built in the 1930s, music (including string bands in the 1940s), and a host for many company picnics. The park closed its doors forever in 1968.A History of Chalfont (1977) by the Chalfont Borough Bicentennial Committee

George Eckhart later owned the Butler's mill. After it burned in 1835, Eckhart rebuilt with a larger mill. Later, Eckhart's son Martin inherited the mill and his other son inherited the farm. Part of the farmland included woods of mostly oak locally known as Eckhart's Grove which was frequently used for dance parties, family gatherings, religious camp meetings and Sunday School picnics. Later, in 1885, the mill was owned by Philip B. Grove who leased it to Valentine B. Clymer and Matthew S. Cogan when it burned again and was never rebuilt. Another gristmill was built in 1793 not far from where Bulter's mill was first operated by men named Miller and Evans, later by Francis D. Hartzel. Two of Hartzel's sons succeeded him. After a fire in 1878, the mill was rebuilt and much of the machinery replaced. About 1761, Henry Lewis built a stone tavern operated by George Kungle during the Revolutionary period. Chalfont was known as Kungles Tavern. After Kungle, the tavern was later owned consecutively by James Morris, Lewis Morris, Abner Morris, then John Barndt from Tylersport. The village was then known as Barndtsville.

William Stevens had a store on the south bank of the West Branch Neshaminy Creek and opened a post office in 1845. Chalfont was then known as Whitehallville. In 1869, the North Penn changed the name of the station to Chalfont. Sometime before 1885, the farm inherited by Charles Eckhart was purchased by Isaac Funk. On 27 June 1885, Funk opened the Forest Park on the grounds of the Eckhart's Grove. Guest speakers were attorneys from Doylestown J. Freeman Hendricks and John D. James. Music was provided by the Chalfont Cornet Band. On 20 June 1778, detachments of George Washington's army passed through the West Branch Neshaminy Creek and the North Branch Neshaminy Creek as they travelled from their camp at Valley Forge to Monmouth.

File:Chalfont PA borough hall.jpeg

Neshaminy Creek and Pine Run pass through Chalfont.MacReynolds, George, Place Names in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Doylestown, Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, PA, 1942 According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of {{convert|1.6|mi2|km2}}, all land.

Chalfont is located within the Delaware Valley.

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Chalfont has a Hot-summer Humid continental climate (Dfa). Dfa climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ {{convert|32.0|°F|1}}, at least four months with an average mean temperature ≥ {{convert|50.0|°F|1}}, at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ {{convert|71.6|°F|1}} and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are slightly humid in Chalfont, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur with heat index values > {{convert|106|°F|0}}. Since 1981, the highest air temperature was {{convert|102.7|°F|1}} on July 22, 2011, and the highest daily average mean dew point was {{convert|74.8|°F|1}} on August 3, 2016. The average wettest month is July, which corresponds with the annual peak in thunderstorm activity. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was {{convert|6.81|in|mm|0}} on September 16, 1999. During the winter months, the average annual extreme minimum air temperature is {{convert|-0.6|°F|1}}.{{cite web|url=https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/InteractiveMap.aspx|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture|access-date=August 29, 2019|title=USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map|archive-date=June 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618111217/https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/InteractiveMap.aspx|url-status=dead}} Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was {{convert|-11.9|°F|1}} on January 22, 1984. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur, with wind chill values < {{convert|-11|°F|0}}. The average annual snowfall (November–April) is between {{convert|30|and|36|in|cm|0}}. Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ {{convert|12|in|cm|0}} of snow occur once every few years, particularly during nor'easters from December through February.

{{Weather box |width=auto

| location = Chalfont. Elevation: {{convert|279|ft|m|0}}. 1981-2010 Averages (1981-2018 Records).

|single line = Y

| Jan record high F = 71.0

| Feb record high F = 78.0

| Mar record high F = 87.0

| Apr record high F = 93.7

| May record high F = 94.8

| Jun record high F = 95.7

| Jul record high F = 102.7

| Aug record high F = 99.9

| Sep record high F = 97.6

| Oct record high F = 89.2

| Nov record high F = 80.8

| Dec record high F = 75.4

| year record high F = 102.7

|Jan high F = 39.1

|Feb high F = 42.3

|Mar high F = 50.7

|Apr high F = 62.7

|May high F = 72.7

|Jun high F = 81.5

|Jul high F = 85.6

|Aug high F = 84.0

|Sep high F = 77.0

|Oct high F = 65.6

|Nov high F = 54.6

|Dec high F = 43.2

|year high F= 63.3

| Jan mean F = 30.3

| Feb mean F = 33.2

| Mar mean F = 40.8

| Apr mean F = 51.5

| May mean F = 61.2

| Jun mean F = 70.4

| Jul mean F = 74.9

| Aug mean F = 73.4

| Sep mean F = 66.0

| Oct mean F = 54.3

| Nov mean F = 44.6

| Dec mean F = 34.7

| year mean F = 53.0

|Jan low F = 21.6

|Feb low F = 24.0

|Mar low F = 30.8

|Apr low F = 40.3

|May low F = 49.7

|Jun low F = 59.4

|Jul low F = 64.3

|Aug low F = 62.8

|Sep low F = 54.9

|Oct low F = 42.9

|Nov low F = 34.6

|Dec low F = 26.2

|year low F= 42.7

| Jan record low F = -11.9

| Feb record low F = -4.3

| Mar record low F = 2.6

| Apr record low F = 16.5

| May record low F = 32.8

| Jun record low F = 40.8

| Jul record low F = 47.4

| Aug record low F = 42.0

| Sep record low F = 34.6

| Oct record low F = 23.4

| Nov record low F = 10.9

| Dec record low F = -2.8

| year record low F = -11.9

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 3.29

|Feb precipitation inch = 2.67

|Mar precipitation inch = 3.77

|Apr precipitation inch = 3.95

|May precipitation inch = 4.32

|Jun precipitation inch = 4.26

|Jul precipitation inch = 4.94

|Aug precipitation inch = 4.07

|Sep precipitation inch = 4.46

|Oct precipitation inch = 4.14

|Nov precipitation inch = 3.63

|Dec precipitation inch = 3.94

|year precipitation inch= 47.44

| humidity colour = green

| Jan humidity = 66.8

| Feb humidity = 63.4

| Mar humidity = 59.1

| Apr humidity = 58.2

| May humidity = 62.5

| Jun humidity = 67.4

| Jul humidity = 67.7

| Aug humidity = 69.9

| Sep humidity = 71.4

| Oct humidity = 70.2

| Nov humidity = 69.1

| Dec humidity = 69.1

| year humidity = 66.3

| Jan dew point F = 20.6

| Feb dew point F = 22.1

| Mar dew point F = 27.6

| Apr dew point F = 37.3

| May dew point F = 48.3

| Jun dew point F = 59.1

| Jul dew point F = 63.5

| Aug dew point F = 63.0

| Sep dew point F = 56.5

| Oct dew point F = 44.8

| Nov dew point F = 35.1

| Dec dew point F = 25.6

| year dew point F = 42.1

| source = PRISM{{cite web|url=http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/|title=PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University|access-date=August 29, 2019|archive-date=July 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725164937/http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/|url-status=live}}}}

{{US Census population

|1880= 216

|1910= 303

|1920= 317

|1930= 550

|1940= 670

|1950= 828

|1960= 1410

|1970= 2366

|1980= 2802

|1990= 3069

|2000= 3900

|2010= 4009

|2020= 4253

|footnote=Sources:{{cite web|title=Census of Population and Housing|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=11 December 2013|df=mdy|archive-date=April 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426102944/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website|df=mdy|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709054630/https://www.census.gov/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|work=Population Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=11 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611010502/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|archive-date=June 11, 2013|df=mdy}}{{Cite web|url=https://pasdc.hbg.psu.edu/Portals/48/Features/CountyAndMunicipalPopulationChange_2010to2020.xlsx?ver=2021-08-24-080135-920|title=Census 2020|access-date=October 10, 2021|archive-date=March 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308015914/https://pasdc.hbg.psu.edu/Portals/48/Features/CountyAndMunicipalPopulationChange_2010to2020.xlsx?ver=2021-08-24-080135-920|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:42&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 12, 2022|archive-date=November 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109154513/https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:42&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|url-status=live}}

}}

As of the 2010 census, the borough was 92.7% Non-Hispanic White, 1.4% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 3.0% Asian, and 0.8% were two or more races. 1.7% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.{{Cite web |title=Philadelphia gains, Pittsburgh shrinks in population |url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/PA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215053518/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/PA |archive-date=2012-02-15 |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=USA TODAY}}

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,977 people, 1,382 households, and 1,039 families residing in the borough. The population density was {{convert|2,365.8|/sqmi|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|abbr=out}}. There were 1,404 housing units at an average density of {{convert|851.7|/sqmi|/km2|abbr=out}}. The racial makeup of the borough was 95.56% White, 1.15% African American, 0.08% Native American, 1.49% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.25% of the population.

There were 1,382 households, out of which 40.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.2% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 29.1% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 34.9% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $63,491, and the median income for a family was $70,592. Males had a median income of $51,139 versus $30,842 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,248. About 1.1% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

The Chalfont Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and contains many American colonial and Victorian-style houses. Several of these are former residences which are currently occupied by businesses and are concentrated near the intersection of Butler Avenue (U.S. Route 202 Business) and North Main Street (Pennsylvania Route 152) and extend along North Main Street.

File:2022-11-01 15 17 33 View north along U.S. Route 202 Business (Butler Avenue) just south of Kerns Avenue in Chalfont, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.jpg

As of 2016 there were {{convert|19.70|mi}} of public roads in Chalfont, of which {{convert|4.35|mi}} were maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and {{convert|15.35|mi}} were maintained by the borough.{{cite web|url=https://gis.penndot.gov/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/Type5/09402.pdf|title=Chalfont Borough map|publisher=PennDOT|access-date=March 11, 2023|archive-date=March 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311170333/https://gis.penndot.gov/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/Type5/09402.pdf|url-status=live}}

U.S. Route 202 Business and Pennsylvania Route 152 are the numbered highways traversing Chalfont. US 202 Business follows the old alignment of US 202 along Butler Avenue. PA 152 follows a southeast-northwest alignment via Limekiln Pike, Butler Avenue and Main Street, running concurrently with US 202 Business for a short stretch.

Chalfont is served by the Chalfont station on SEPTA Regional Rail's Lansdale/Doylestown Line, which provides service to Doylestown and Center City Philadelphia.{{cite map|title=SEPTA Official Transit & Street Map Suburban|publisher=SEPTA|url=https://www5.septa.org/wp-content/uploads/travel/map-suburban-transit-street.pdf|access-date=May 2, 2016|archive-date=April 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428202620/https://www5.septa.org/wp-content/uploads/travel/map-suburban-transit-street.pdf|url-status=live}} Bucks County Transport operates the DART West bus, which runs weekdays from Chalfont to a connection with the Doylestown DART bus to Doylestown at Delaware Valley University.{{cite web|title=DART West schedule|publisher=Bucks County Transport|url=https://www.bctransport.org/docs/dartwestschedule.pdf|access-date=January 13, 2020|archive-date=January 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114014734/https://www.bctransport.org/docs/dartwestschedule.pdf|url-status=live}}

• Bobby Shantz, 1952 American League Most Valuable Player, operated a bowling alley and diner with baseball players Joe Astroth and Shantz's brother Billy.{{cite news | date = September 26, 2021 | title = Desert With Topping At Bobby Shantz' Dairy Bar, Try An Ice Cream, Then Top It Off With His Autograph. And If You Can't Make It To Pennsylvania, You May Not Be Able To Have His Ice Cream, But You Can Still Get His Autograph | url = https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1985/04/03/desert-with-topping-at-bobby-shantz-dairy-bar-try-an-ice-cream-then-top-it-off-with-his-autograph-and-if-you-cant-make-it-to-pennsylvania-you-may-not-be-able-to-have-his-ice-cream-but-you-can-still-ge/ | work = South Florida Sun-Sentinel}}

{{commons category}}

{{Wikivoyage|Chalfont}}

• [https://chalfontborough.com/ Chalfont Borough] official website

{{Bucks County, Pennsylvania}}

{{PA Home Rule Municipality}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Boroughs in Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Category:Home Rule Municipalities in Pennsylvania

Category:Populated places established in 1765

Category:Populated places in Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Category:1765 establishments in Pennsylvania