In 1682,
William Penn sold nearly 10,000 acres of land to
Nicholas More. The land, referred to by Penn as the Manor of Moreland, Moreland Township was situated to the north of
Dublin Township, and westward of
Byberry Township. The rise of Moreland Township in Philadelphia County was five miles, its greatest length; two miles in width; area, 3,720 acres (15 km). One of the principal villages was Smithfield, afterwards called
Somerton, which was partly in Moreland and partly in Byberry. In 1784,
Montgomery County was created from parts of Philadelphia County, and subsequently, Moreland Township was divided into two townships, one in each county and each called Moreland. Thus from 1784-1854, there were two tangential Moreland Townships in the Philadelphia region. In 1854, Moreland Township of Philadelphia County ceased to exist as it was incorporated into the
City of Philadelphia following the passage of the
Act of Consolidation, 1854.
Moreland Township of Montgomery County continued to exist until 1917 when it was split into
Upper Moreland Township and
Lower Moreland Township. ==References==