About Upper Dublin Township

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Mission

To work with each other and the community to make Upper Dublin Township the best place to live, work and play.

Values

People

We appreciate the talents of each person and encourage responsible decision making at the most appropriate level. We recognize the importance of personal and professional development.

Creativity

We encourage imaginative problem solving, innovation, resourcefulness and responsible risk taking.

Quality

We strive to provide superior services and are committed to continuous improvement. We are attentive to the changing needs of the people and community we serve.

Integrity

We seek honesty, accountability and trustworthiness. We admit – to ourselves, our supervisors, our elected officials, and our residents – when we’ve made a mistake and seek to correct it as
best we can.

Openness

We wish to be accessible and work as a team by sharing information, ideas, resources and responsibility. We encourage contact from our residents to better explain the services we provide, and to listen to their suggestions.

Respect

We welcome individual and professional differences and treat everyone – co-workers, supervisors, elected officials and residents – with dignity, courtesy and sensitivity.

History of Upper Dublin Township

Settled: 1698
Established: 1701
Incorporated: 1719
First Class Township: 1946

Upper Dublin dates back to the Colonies in 1684, when Edward Tanner named his land grant from William Penn "Upper and Lower Dublin." The "lower" portion has since been absorbed by Philadelphia. The "upper" portion has continued to exist around the original survey for the laying out and naming of Susquehanna Road.

Upper Dublin Township was established in 1701, when William Penn ordered a survey of all townships in the Commonwealth. It was first settled in 1698 and was incorporated in 1719 according to records from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission regarding Montgomery County municipalities. The county itself was formally created on September 10, 1784. The Township was granted its current status of First Class Township in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on January 1, 1946.

Originally the area started as a farming community with additional activity in the mining of limestone. Limekiln Pike today continues to be an important travel artery.

Historically the Township boasts of George Washington's headquarters at the Emlen House in 1777. This was during the Whitemarsh Encampment, prior to the fateful march to Valley Forge. George Emlen, a Philadelphia Quaker, had built this family summer house around 1745.

Government

Upper Dublin became a First Class Township in 1946. The elected representatives (Commissioners) serve four-year terms. The government is a Council/Manager type. There are seven Commissioners, one for each ward. The Township Manager runs the day-to-day operations with his staff.

There are ten departments:

Administration
Code Enforcement
Community Planning & Zoning
Finance
Fire Services
Human Resources
Library
Parks & Recreation
Police
Public Works

Fire protection is provided primarily by the Fort Washington Fire Company No. 1 volunteers, with dispatch from the Montgomery County central station.

Request scout merit badge reference sheets about our Local, State and Federal Governments via e-mail from Derek Dureka, Director of Parks and Recreation.

Location

Upper Dublin Township is located in eastern Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It is 13 square miles (8,320 acres) and is made up of portions of several community areas:

CITY	ZIP CODE
Abington	19001
Ambler*	19002
Ardsley	19038
Dresher**	19025
Fort Washington	19034
Jarrettown**	19025
Maple Glen	19025
North Hills	19038
Oreland	19075
Willow Grove	19090

*The Borough of Ambler is a separate entity and not a part of Upper Dublin Township.

**19025 is completely in Upper Dublin Township and not shared by any other municipality.

Land Use Distribution

Demographics

Population (2010 Census)

Residents: 25,569
Population Density: 1,966 per square mile
Households: 9,397

Age Structure (2010 Census)

Ages 0 to 4: 5.1%
Ages 5 to 19: 22.2%
Ages 20 to 24: 3.9%
Ages 25 to 44: 20.5%
Ages 45 to 64: 33.2%
Ages 65 and Older: 15.1%

Educational Level (2013 American Community Survey, ages 25 to 64 years)

High School Graduate or Higher: 97.6%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher: 69.9%

Income Levels (2013 American Community Survey)

Per Capita Income: $52,169
Median Household Income: $107,934

Township Branding

Township Seal:

upper dublin township seal - gold circle with crest in the middle representing growth, education, government and industry.

Township Logo:

Background:

A rebrand project began in early 2022 after the Board of Commissioners approved a website redesign in the 2022 budget. The purpose of the project was to reflect a push for a more modernized look and feel. The Township logo and seal were designed, analyzed and approved in late 2022. This was a process that involved Township staff working with a graphic designer and the Board of Commissioners, who ultimately approved both the logo and seal. Even though the Township's appearance will be different, the commitment to excellent service, fair government, and strong values remains unchanged.

The Board of Commissioners charged Township staff to transition to the new branding in the most efficient and economical way. You may continue to see Upper Dublin's former seal as the full transition to the new branding occurs over time.

The logo will be used for things like digital communications (including the website and social media), emails, event and program promotion, signs, etc. The Township seal is still the official government seal of Upper Dublin Township that will be seen on Township letterhead, meeting agendas and minutes, communications from the Board of Commissioners and Township Manager, etc.

FAQs:

What's new about the seal?
a. The seal now says "Upper Dublin Township," which is the official name of our municipality (formerly, the seal used "The Township of Upper Dublin").
b. The word "Community" replaced the word "Brotherhood" within the ribbon to be better inclusive of all residents of Upper Dublin Township.
c. A hand with leaves representing "growth," "foundation," and "prosperity" replaced the nuclear family icon in the shield.
d. Seven stars, representing the seven wards of Upper Dublin Township, replaced the olive branches.
e. The phrase "EST. 1719" was included as a marker of the Township's history.
Why use a logo in addition to the official seal?
After a discussion with a professional graphic designer, it was decided to develop and design a logo for the Township to use in addition to the official government seal. The purpose is to have something more relatable and recognizable for Township residents.
What is the meaning behind the logo?
a. The UDT letters are intertwined representing how the community is interwoven - everyone is a neighbor and friend, and all are forever connected.
b. The rectangular box around the UDT is representative of the orientation of the geographic boundary of Upper Dublin Township.
c. A cardinal was included as a relatable icon. A cardinal is widely used in the Upper Dublin Township community - from sports teams to community groups to the School District - including it in the Township logo was a natural and logical decision. Additionally, the symbolism of a cardinal is something by which the Township wanted to be represented: friendship, home, good luck and hope.
d. The phrase "Stronger Together" was included to represent how the Upper Dublin community unfailingly comes together in good times, like to celebrate UDT's 2019 Tricentennial, and times of adversity, especially after devastation caused by Hurricane Ida in September 2021.