Community Description of Bristol, PA

The urban area that I will be focusing on is Bristol PA, which is located right outside of Northeast Philadelphia. To view a satellite image of the area go to http://maps.google.com/maps. I feel that this is a unique area for several reasons, including its history, design, environment and community. Bristol is one of the oldest settlements in the United States, founded in 1681. Originally, Bristol was used as a major port area and dock because it is located along the Delaware River.

The age and history of the town there are environmental problems. The water was polluted because of the port and the related industry. Also, because there was always some type of industry located here, there was ground and air pollution. There were not environmental standards and regulations for many years for these businesses to follow. There are rail lines and bridges in this town. Since, this area is an old settlement; there are many limitations on mobility around the town. These limitations include uneven brick sidewalks. This makes traveling on the sidewalks difficult if a person uses a wheelchair, walker, or bike. In addition, many older buildings do not have wheelchair ramps or automatic doors. Some homes still have asbestos.

This was mainly an Italian and Irish community, but now has much diversity. This is a populated area. Whenever people live in an area, especially for long periods there are adverse affects on the environment. In recent times, there has been much development in the area. New commercial centers and parking lots are being built. This is taking away the little green space that is left.

This area also has numerous rivers, streams, lakes and quarries. In this region, there are several industrial plants, and the Tullytown landfill and incinerator. These industries pose as environmental and health hazards. Also, the land value of homes within very close proximity of these is low. People who live in these homes receive special incentives and tax breaks. There is need to have these styles of business and companies, but the location of them are poorly positioned now because of the fast growing community.

One of these plants is Rohm Haas. Rohm Haas is zoned heavy industrial and is located in Bristol. This site has been established since 1919. They manly manufacture adhesives, specialty coatings, electronic material and salts. They are a major contributor of air and water pollution in the area. For instance, they release 1.5 tons of volatile organic compounds into the water. Besides Rohm Haas, there are many light and medium-zoned industries. These industries range from chemical laboratories to book warehouses. The Tullytown dump is also located within close proximity of residential areas and waterways.

http://www.rohmhaas.com/bristol/aboutus/whatwemake.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol,_PA

www.kginn.com/images/