In 1682, William Penn sold nearly 10,000 acres of land to Nicholas More.

[1] The land, referred to by Penn as the Manor of Moreland,[1] was located on the main branches of the Poquessing and Pennypack Creeks in the most northern portion of Philadelphia county.

In 1718, the Court of Quarter Sessions created the Township of Moreland from previous More family holdings as well as two strips of land between the Byberry and County Line Roads.

The rise of Moreland Township in Philadelphia County was five miles, its greatest length; two miles in width; area, 3,720 acres (15 km2).

Thus from 1784-1854, there were two tangential Moreland Townships in the Philadelphia region.