The Delaware Canal and its towpath bisect the borough from northwest to southeast. Access points to the canal are located at Edgewater Avenue, Afton Avenue, Fuld Avenue, College Avenue and South Canal Street.
As of the 2010 census, the borough was 89.7% Non-Hispanic White, 3.5% Black or African American, 2.6% Asian, and 1.9% were two or more races. 2.5% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 2,498 people, 1,170 households, and 649 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,729.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,053.7/km2). There were 1,209 housing units at an average density of 1,320.8 per square mile (510.0/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.63% White, 3.44% African American, 0.08% Native American, 1.20% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. 1.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 1,170 households, out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.9% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.5% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the borough, the population was spread out, with 20.4% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 35.3% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $58,221, and the median income for a family was $70,938. Males had a median income of $50,816 versus $41,893 for females. The per capita income for the township was $32,802. About 1.7% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.
Yardley was founded by William Yardley, who emigrated to America in July 1682 with his family. He made an agreement with William Penn, before leaving England, to buy 500 acres (2.0 km2) for ten pounds. A survey was completed in October 1682, and the area William Yardley settled was called "Prospect Farm." It was located just outside the present Yardley Borough. William Yardley died in 1693, and his family in 1702–1703, possibly of smallpox. The family's burial plots are located in Slate Hill Cemetery, one of the oldest Quaker burial grounds in the state.[9]
A nephew, Thomas Yardley, came to America in 1704 to settle the estate and never returned to England. He opened a ferry line which started operating in 1710 from Letchworth Avenue, the lower boundary of the village, and landed in New Jersey further downstream. This was an important link between West Jersey and the three roads leading to Philadelphia by way of Falls, Langhorne and Newtown. The Yardley family occupied the land for more than 150 years.
When Yardley was founded there were already small settlements at nearby Burlington, Bristol, and Falls Ferry.
Yardley began to develop into a village about 1807, and by 1880 had a population of 820. Early industries included a spoke and handle factory, sawmill, felloe factory, plate and plaster mill, and two flour mills. The first post office, established in 1828, used the name "Yardleyville." The name became "Yardley" again at the time the Reading Railroad came through the area in 1876.
During the American Civil War, Yardley was a station for the Underground Railroad, an escape route for slaves. Known hiding places were under the eaves of the Continental Hotel (now the Continental Tavern), in bins of warehouses on the Delaware Canal (completed in 1862), and at the General Store (now Worthington Insurance). At Lakeside, the yellow house facing Lake Afton on N. Main Street, one brick-walled cellar room is also thought to have been a hiding place.
The borough of Yardley was incorporated on March 4, 1895.
As of 2014 there were 10.64 miles (17.12 km) of public roads in Yardley, of which 3.74 miles (6.02 km) were maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and 6.90 miles (11.10 km) were maintained by the borough.[12]
SEPTA trains along the West Trenton Line stop at the Yardley station. Prior to the 1950s, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's New York City-bound trains from Washington, D.C., (Royal Blue, Capitol Limited, National Limited, Ambassador, and others) used the Reading's trackage to Bound Brook as did the Reading's Crusader.
1876: The North Pennsylvania Railroad first constructed the railroad through Yardley in 1876 and was leased by the Reading Railroad for 100 years, starting in 1879, to become part of the Reading's eventual line to Bound Brook, New Jersey.
1976: The historic but now bankrupt Reading Railroad and other bankrupt eastern railroads are acquired by Conrail
1984: The first DMV office opens in Yardley Boro PJ'S Auto Tags
1996: Due to student overpopulation of Quarry Hill Elementary School on Quarry Rd near Creamery Rd, Afton Elementary School was constructed in the adjacent lot.
1997: A notable jewelry store in Yardley proper suffered damage from a fire. This caused quite a stir in the community. The cause of the fire was determined to be from a cigarette inserted into the building from the exterior.
2005: On April 4, the Delaware River crested higher than after Hurricane Ivan. The cause was rain and snow melt.
2006: In late June, there was more flooding of the Delaware River.
2011: In early September, there was even more flooding.
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Yardley has a Humid subtropical climate (Cfa). Cfa climates are characterized by all months having an average mean temperature > 32.0 °F (0.0 °C), at least four months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (10.0 °C), at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ 71.6 °F (22.0 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are slightly humid in Yardley, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur with heat index values > 108 °F (42 °C). Since 1981, the highest air temperature was 103.9 °F (39.9 °C) on July 20, 2011, and the highest daily average mean dew point was 75.0 °F (23.9 °C) on July 20, 1981. The average wettest month is July, which corresponds with the annual peak in thunderstorm activity. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was 5.85 inches (149 mm) on September 16, 1999. During the winter months, the average annual extreme minimum air temperature is 1.0 °F (−17.2 °C).[14] Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was −10.4 °F (−23.6 °C) on January 22, 1984. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur, with wind chill values < −9 °F (−23 °C). The average annual snowfall (Nov–Apr) is between 24 inches (61 cm) and 30 inches (76 cm). Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 12 inches (30 cm) of snow occur once every few years, particularly during nor’easters from December through February.
Climate data for Yardley, Elevation 43 ft (13 m), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2018
According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Yardley would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian Oak (104) with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern Hardwood Forest (25).[16] The plant hardiness zone is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 1.0 °F (−17.2 °C).[14] The spring bloom typically begins by April 7 and fall color usually peaks by November 3.
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