Located in central Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Upper Gwynedd Township depicts living at its best with a unique combination of history and progress. Upper Gwynedd Township encompasses 8.05 square miles. The City of Philadelphia is approximately 28 miles southeast with easy access by way of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Schuylkill Expressway, Interstate 476, Routes 202 and 309. Upper Gwynedd Township is a prime area to reside due to the fact that it is close enough to the city for commuting yet far enough to experience country living. Originally founded in 1891, Upper Gwynedd Township was organized as a First-Class Township in 1963. This designation as First-Class Township comes from the First-Class Township Code, which outlines the powers granted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the Township. The Township's authority is restricted to those powers specifically authorized by the Commonwealth. Encompassed in Upper Gwynedd Township's boundaries is the Gwynedd Preserve. The Preserve consists of 240 acres and is located off of Swedesford Road near Township Line Road. The Preserve supports a diverse variety of habitats in the wild including ponds and wetlands, open meadows, wildflower meadows, hedgerows, deciduous forests, and conifer plantations. The Preserve is open to the public and visitors can wander the trails during daylight hours. The North Penn School District provides many opportunities for Township residents. Gwynedd Square Elementary, Gwyn-Nor Elementary, and Pennbrook Middle School are all within the Township Boundaries. Both elementary schools have won State awards for student academic performance. Within Upper Gwynedd Township boundaries is Corpus Christi parochial school. Located at Supplee Road and Sumneytown Pike, Corpus has students in grades kindergarten through 8th with the kindergarten class attending a full day of school. Students attending come from the North Penn, Souderton, Methacton, and Perkiomen Valley School Districts.