Hatboro, Pennsylvania


Hatboro is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,238 at the 2020 census.

History

The town of Hatboro is located on land purchased from William Penn by the family of Nicholas More around 1705. The first land titles in town were issued in 1711. Original construction by early residents of the town occurred between 1715 and 1719. Early settlement pre-dating the Hatboro name occurred in the Crooked Billet area east of York Road, between Moreland Avenue and Byberry Road.
Early resident John Dawson entertained guests at the Crooked Billet Inn as well as manufacturing a line of hats. When the post office opened in 1809 the town was officially called Hatborough. U.S. Postmaster General John Wanamaker officially changed the name of the town in 1889 to Hatboro.
The Union Library Company of Hatboro, the third library company to be founded in Pennsylvania, was formed in 1755. This building still stands on its original site today and still serves as a library. George Washington and his troops passed through the town numerous times during 1777 in pursuit of British Troops. The Battle of Crooked Billet was fought in 1778.
The year 1811 saw the construction of the Loller Academy, the first bank was built in 1873, and railroad service connected to Hatboro in 1874.
The Loller Academy, Roberts and Mander Stove Company Buildings, and Union Library Company are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Hatboro is located at .
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of, all land.
The Borough of Hatboro is a small municipality that is surrounded by Upper Moreland Township in Montgomery County to the west, south, and east; and Warminster Township in Bucks County to the north. The Pennypack Creek runs through the center of town under Pennsylvania Route 263 and through the municipality.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Hatboro has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
Hatboro is Plant Hardiness Zone 7a for both the 2012 and 2023 Plant Hardiness Maps, with a +3F change from 2012 to 2023.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, the borough was 92.4% White, 2.7% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.6% Asian, and 1.6% were two or more races. 4.3% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry

Parks and recreation

Public parks serving the borough of Hatboro include Hatboro Memorial Park, Eaton Park, Tanner Park, Miller Meadow, Blair Mill Park, home of the Hatboro Little League baseball fields, which is owned by Upper Moreland Township but is in Horsham Township, Celano Park, and Pennypack Park.
The Hatboro Memorial Pool is located adjacent to Hatboro Memorial Park and is open during the summer from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. The pool offers a water slide, a baby pool, and a dew drop. The Hatboro Memorial Pool offers day passes and season memberships, with lower rates for borough residents, and has a swim team, the Hatboro Storm.

Politics and government

YearRepublicanDemocratic
202040.0% 1,88358.7% 2,763
201641.2% 1,67754.1% 2,206
201242.1% 1,55156.1% 2,065
200839.8% 1,45258.7% 2,142
200445.8% 1,63253.5% 1,906
200046.6% 1,38349.2% 1,461

Hatboro has a city manager form of government with a mayor and a seven-member borough council.
  • Mayor – Tim Schultz
  • Council President – George Bollendorf Jr.
  • Council Vice President – Nicole Reichner
  • Councilperson – Todd A'Harrah
  • Councilperson – Nicole Shay
  • Councilperson – Jennifer Hendrickson
  • Councilperson – Alex Myers
  • Councilperson – Amanda Jacobus
The Borough Manager is Diane Hegele.
The borough is part of the:
The borough maintains the Hatboro Police Department, which provides police services to Hatboro. The Hatboro Police Department is composed of the Chief of Police, five Sergeants, eight Patrol Officers, three Police Operations Clerks, a Secretary, and five school crossing guards. Fire protection in Hatboro is provided by the Enterprise Fire Company of Hatboro, a volunteer fire company. Emergency Medical Services in Hatboro and surrounding areas is provided by the Second Alarmers Rescue Squad, which maintains a station in the borough.

Education

Hatboro is served by the Hatboro-Horsham School District, along with Horsham Township. One of the district's elementary schools, Crooked Billet Elementary School, is located in the borough. The remainder of the schools, including Keith Valley Middle School and Hatboro-Horsham High School, are in Horsham Township.

Infrastructure

Transportation

As of 2017 there were of public roads in Hatboro, of which were maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and were maintained by the borough.
The main north–south road in Hatboro is Pennsylvania Route 263, which serves as the town's main street. Pennsylvania Route 332 begins at PA 263 in Hatboro and heads east on Montgomery Avenue and northeast on Jacksonville Road. The main east–west street in Hatboro is Moreland Avenue. Other important roads in Hatboro include County Line Road , Warminster Road , Byberry Road is nearby in Upper Moreland Township.
File:Hatboro PA SEPTA station December 2015.jpg|thumb|A SEPTA Regional Rail train on the Warminster Line at Hatboro station
SEPTA provides Regional Rail service to the borough at the Hatboro station along the Warminster Line which runs between Warminster and Center City Philadelphia. SEPTA City Bus Route 22 serves Hatboro along York Road, running between Warminster and the Olney Transportation Center in North Philadelphia.
Parking in the downtown area of Hatboro is regulated by on-street parking meters and public off-street parking lots using multi-space parking meters. The borough also maintains a paid parking lot for commuters near the Hatboro station along with on-street parking meters along Jacksonville Road near the train station.

Utilities

Electricity and natural gas in Hatboro is provided by PECO Energy Company, a subsidiary of Exelon. Water in Hatboro is provided by Aqua Pennsylvania, a subsidiary of Aqua America. The Upper Moreland-Hatboro Joint Sewer Authority provides sewage service to Hatboro along with neighboring Upper Moreland Township. The Hatboro Borough Public Works Department provides trash and recycling collection to the borough. Cable, telephone, and internet service to the area is provided by Xfinity and Verizon. Hatboro is served by area codes 215, 267, and 445.

Notable people