Tinicum Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania |
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Township | |
Location of Tinicum Township in Delaware County |
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Location in Pennsylvania | |
Coordinates: 39°52′15″N 75°16′57″W / 39.87083°N 75.28250°WCoordinates: 39°52′15″N 75°16′57″W / 39.87083°N 75.28250°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Pennsylvania |
County | Delaware |
Settled | 1643 |
Area | |
• Total | 8.8 sq mi (23 km2) |
• Land | 5.8 sq mi (15 km2) |
• Water | 3.0 sq mi (8 km2) |
Elevation | 13 ft (4 m) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 4,091 |
• Density | 709.2/sq mi (273.8/km2) |
Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
• Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
ZIP code | 19029 |
Area code(s) | 610 and 484 |
Website | www |
Tinicum Township, more popularly known as "Tinicum Island" or "The Island", is a township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,091 at the 2010 census, down from 4,353 at the 2000 census. Included within the township's boundaries are the communities of Essington and Lester. One of the island's notable aspects is the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, attracting visitors to the island year-round. The international terminal, the western end of the airfield, and runways 9L/27R and 9R/27L of Philadelphia International Airport are located in Tinicum Township.
Tinicum Township has the distinction of being the site of the first recorded European settlement in Pennsylvania. Fort Nya Gothenborg, located on the South River, was settled by colonial Swedes in 1643. It served as capital of the New Sweden colony, under the rule of Royal Governor Johan Björnsson Printz. Governor Printz built his manor house, The Printzhof, on Tinicum Island, from which he administered the colony. The original Lenape called the place Tin-eek Unk. The township is the site of the Philadelphia Lazaretto. It and the Printzhof are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Tinicum Township is located in southeastern Delaware County at 39°52′8″N 75°17′17″W / 39.86889°N 75.28806°W (39.868962, -75.288273). It is bordered to the south by the Delaware River, to the west and northwest by Darby Creek, and to the northeast by the city of Philadelphia. The township borders the state of New Jersey at the center of the Delaware River. The unincorporated community of Essington is in the western part of the township, and Lester is directly to its east. The western part of Philadelphia International Airport takes up nearly all of the center and eastern parts of the township. The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge lies along Darby Creek on the northwestern side of the township.