Philadelphia Main Line

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The Main Line, around 1895.
La Ronda Estate (1929–2009) in Bryn Mawr, by architect Addison Mizner.
(photo: Lower Merion Historical Society, William Morrison Collection)

The Main Line is an unofficial historical and socio-cultural region of suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, comprising a collection of affluent towns built along the old Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad which ran northwest from downtown Philadelphia parallel to Lancaster Avenue (US Route 30). The rail line, from which the area affectionately got its name, was central to creating the Main Line communities which in the 19th century became home to many sprawling country estates built by Philadelphia's wealthiest families, many of whom had one house in the city and another larger country home on the Main Line. Long considered a bastion of "old money", today the Main Line is a collection of exclusive and affluent towns including Lower Merion Township (the 5th most affluent township in the country)[1] and Radnor Township (the 20th most affluent township in the country).[2] These Main Line townships are home to many elite ZIP codes including Gladwyne (the 7th richest ZIP code in the country)[3] and Villanova (the 20th richest ZIP code in the country).[4] Currently Amtrak's Keystone Corridor and SEPTA's Paoli/Thorndale Line service the route from Center City Philadelphia, serving the original Main Line communities and beyond.

With many towns located on steep cliffs along the Schuylkill River, the breathtaking scenery of rolling hills, open meadows and winding roads add to the glory of this beautiful area. The Main Line is known for its multimillion-dollar stone Colonial homes, exclusivity, unsurpassed golf, and upscale shopping at celebrated destinations like Suburban Square in Ardmore and the King of Prussia Mall, the largest mall in the country. The area is also home to many of the best public and private schools in the nation which contributes to the high quality of life found on the Main Line.

Contents

History [edit]

Wayne Station on SEPTA's Paoli/Thorndale line after renovations in 2010.

The Main Line region, before 17th century European colonization, was part of Lenapehoking, the longtime homeland of the matrilineal Lenni Lenape Native Americans (the "true people", or "Delaware Indians"). The Main Line area was first resettled by Europeans in the 1600s, after William Penn sold a tract of land, called the Welsh Tract, to a group of Welsh Quakers in London in 1681. This accounts for the many Welsh place names in the area.[5]

The Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad was constructed during the early nineteenth century as part of the Main Line of Public Works that spanned Pennsylvania. Later in the century, the railroad, which owned much of the land surrounding the tracks, encouraged the development of this picturesque environment by building way stations along the portion of its track closest to Philadelphia. The benefits of what was touted as "healthy yet cultivated country living" attracted Philadelphia's social elite, many of whom had one house in the city and another larger "country home" on the Main Line.

In the 20th century, many of these families relocated to the Main Line suburbs, part of the national trend of suburbanizaton. As a result, the Main Line saw rapid investment, prosperity, and growth, becoming greater Philadelphia's most affluent and fashionable region. The gracious estates with sweeping lawns and towering maples, the débutante balls and the Merion Cricket Club, which drew crowds of 25,000 spectators to its matches in the early 1900s, were the perfect setting for the classic 1940 Grant/Hepburn/Stewart motion picture The Philadelphia Story.[6]

The railroad placed stops approximately two minutes apart, starting with Overbrook. The surrounding communities became known by the railroad station names which started at Broad Street Station in Center City Philadelphia and went on to 32nd St. Station, and then the Main Line stations: Overbrook, Merion, Narberth, Wynnewood, Ardmore, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, Rosemont, Villanova, Radnor, St. Davids, Wayne, Strafford, Devon, Berwyn, Daylesford, and Paoli. Malvern was added to regular suburban service later. At least five of these station buildings, along with the first Bryn Mawr Hotel, were designed by Wilson Brothers & Company. Broad Street Station was replaced with Suburban Station in 1930, and 30th Street Station replaced 32nd Street three years later. Suburban service now extends to Malvern, Exton, Whitford, Downingtown, and Thorndale.[7] The train that served these stations was known as the "Paoli Local", and that name became a near-synonym for the Main Line itself.

The actual railroad line then continued on to Chicago, with major stations at Lancaster, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. The railroad, since taken over by Amtrak, is still in service, although its route is slightly different from the original. It also serves the Paoli/Thorndale Line of the SEPTA Regional Rail system.

The Main Line today [edit]

Memorial mile post on U.S. Route 30, in front of the Anthony Wayne Theater with AT&T tower in background.

Today the Main Line is another name for the western suburbs of Philadelphia along Lancaster Avenue (U.S. Route 30) and the former Pennsylvania Railroad Main Line, extending from the city limits to traditionally Bryn Mawr and ultimately Paoli, Pennsylvania[8] comprising an area of approximately 200 square miles (520 km2). The upper/upper middle class enclave outside of Philadelphia has historically been one of the bastions of "old money" in the Northeast along with places such as Long Island's Gold Coast, Westchester County, New York, Middlesex County, Massachusetts and Fairfield County, Connecticut. It is home to some of the wealthiest places in the United States, such as Gladwyne, which has the 14th highest per-capita income in the country with a population of 1,000 or more. The eastern section of Villanova was also ranked 39th in The Elite 100 Highest Income Neighborhoods in America with a median household income of $366,904.[9]

With diverse topography, steep cliffs along the Schuylkill River, rolling hills, and open meadows, the region has benefited from the early planning of William Penn. The Main Line is known for its multimillion-dollar stone Colonial homes, exclusivity, and upscale shopping at celebrated destinations like Suburban Square in Ardmore and the King of Prussia Mall, one of the largest in the country. There is some disparity on the Main Line, with smaller homes and walkable village life in Ardmore, Bala Cynwyd, and Narberth contrasting with the more established suburban landscape. There are also established African-American and Irish residential areas, in enclaves paralleling Lancaster Avenue said to have once housed people serving on the estates of the wealthy. The Main Line is also home to a large Jewish community, concentrated predominantly in Lower Merion after World War II.[citation needed] Social segregation is quite apparent due to the old social elite limiting access of Jewish people to housing due to "gentleman's agreements" to the towns principally bordering Philadelphia. Small enclaves of African-Americans have existed for generations in Bryn Mawr and in Ardmore.[citation needed] Many renowned colleges are located on the Main Line, including Cabrini College, Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College, Immaculata University, Eastern University, Villanova University, and Saint Joseph's University. In addition, the Main Line hosts some of the most famous and exclusive private schools in the United States, including Malvern Preparatory School, The Haverford School for Boys, Devon Preparatory School for boys, Episcopal Academy, Valley Forge Military Academy, and Villa Maria Academy, Agnes Irwin School, the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, Country Day School of the Sacred Heart for girls and Baldwin School for girls, and Friends' Central School, Akiba Hebrew Academy (Now called Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy), Shipley School for both boys and girls, and Merion Mercy Academy, a private Catholic all girls high school.

Communities on the Main Line [edit]

The Main Line proper is a line of communities extending northwest from the City of Philadelphia. From Philadelphia, the stations on what is now referred to as the Paoli/Thorndale (formerly "R5") Line are: Overbrook,[10] Merion, Narberth, Wynnewood, Ardmore, Haverford and Bryn Mawr, which inspired the mnemonic "Old Maids Never Wed And Have Babies". The contemporary definition of the Main Line now encompasses many communities past Bryn Mawr. They are sometimes referred to as the upper Main Line and include Rosemont, Villanova, Radnor, St. Davids, Wayne, Strafford, Devon, Berwyn, Daylesford, Paoli, and Malvern. In recent years, the service has extended even further west than Malvern.

Some communities, most notably Gladwyne, Bala Cynwyd, and Penn Valley, are included in what is commonly accepted as the Main Line, as they are typical Main Line communities. Neither, however, is located on the rail line for which the area is named and therefore may be considered culturally rather than geographically on the Main Line.

The Main Line by community:

The Main Line by municipality:[11]

Demographics [edit]

There is collective data for the Main Line, so all data is by ZIP code. In comparison, the median family income and home price for the state of Pennsylvania are $68,646 and $155,000, respectively.[12][13] The following ZIP codes are those within the previously mentioned municipalities that make up the Main Line. All data, with the exception of average home price, are as of the 2000 census.[14] For comparison, the median family income of Beverly Hills, California is $110,040.

ZIP code Towns/Aliases Population Median family income Average home price
19003 Ardmore 12,902 $80,990 $450,000[15]
19004 Bala Cynwyd 9,299 $98,183 $474,777[16]
19010 Bryn Mawr, Rosemont, Garrett Hill 21,485 $110,956 $866,346[17]
19035 Gladwyne* 4,105 $202,196[18] $1,495,423[19]
19041 Haverford* 7,058 $104,924[20] $1,106,031.[21]
19066 Merion 5,951 $118,083 $635,481[22]
19072 Narberth, Penn Valley 9,824 $106,057 $718,746[23]
19085 Villanova, Ithan 9,189 $174,511 $1,435,844[24]
19087 Wayne, Radnor, St. Davids, Strafford, Chesterbrook 30,892 $105,680 $737,025[25]
19096 Wynnewood, Penn Wynne 13,299 $111,683 $500,719[26]
19301 Paoli 6,804 $87,946 $526,731[27]
19312 Berwyn 10,911 $110,083 $741,338[28]
19333 Devon 7,408 $101,279 $1,355,923[29]
19355 Malvern, Frazer 22,605 $90,606 $850,250[30]

Transportation [edit]

SEPTA and Amtrak share the four track "Main Line" railroad grade between Philadelphia and Thorndale.

The Main Line is served by numerous different modes of transportation among which are three commuter rail lines operated by SEPTA. Connecting the region directly with center city Philadelphia are the Paoli/Thorndale Line which shares the former Pennsylvania Railroad four track Keystone Corridor grade with Amtrak, and the Manayunk/Norristown Line which operates over the former Reading Railroad Norristown grade. The light rail Norristown High Speed Line runs over the Philadelphia and Western Railroad line between 69th terminal in Upper Darby to Norristown.[31] Amtrak's intercity Keystone Service (New York to Harrisburg) and Pennsylvanian (New York to Pittsburgh) also serve the region with stops at the jointly operated Amtrak/SEPTA stations at Ardmore and Paoli.

The main thoroughfare through the Main Line is U.S. Route 30 which follows Lancaster Avenue (formerly the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike) running east to west and serving as the backbone of the region by connecting a large majority of its towns and municipalities. Other highways serving the area are the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) which connects it to Philadelphia, and the "Blue Route" (I-476) which runs north to south connecting the region with the Northeast Extension and the Pennsylvania Turnpike to the north, and to Philadelphia International Airport and I-95 to the south.

Recreation and attractions [edit]

Rider jumping in a sidesaddle class at the Devon Horse Show.
  • The Appleford Estate: A 300-year-old 24-acre (97,000 m2) estate located in Villanova. Today it is carefully maintained as an arboretum and a bird sanctuary. Its gardens were designed by renowned landscape architect Thomas Sears and include woods, meadows, formal gardens, brick walkways, rhododendron tracts, a stream, pond, and waterfall. Visitors are welcome to visit free of charge and the house is available as a rental for special events.[32]
  • Bryn Mawr Film Institute: A non-profit community theater founded in 2002 in the old Bryn Mawr theater building, built in 1926, which it is in the process of significantly restoring and renovating. The institute offers showings of classic movies of the 20th century, opera, film education courses, and film discussions.[33]
  • Chanticleer Garden: located in Wayne
  • The Devon Horse Show: The oldest and largest multi-breed horse show in the U.S.
  • Harriton House: Located in Bryn Mawr, it was built in 1704 by a Welsh Quaker named Rowland Ellis. He named the estate "Bryn Mawr", meaning "high hill" in Welsh, which is where the community gained its name. The house's best known occupant was Charles Thomson, the first and only secretary of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia.[34]
  • King of Prussia Mall: An upscale shopping mall which is arguably America's largest shopping complex at one location.
  • Valley Forge National Historic Park: The site where the Continental Army spent the winter of 1777–1778 during the American Revolutionary War.
  • Friends of the Willows Cottage: The mission of the Friends of the Willows Cottage is to preserve, restore and facilitate the adaptive reuse of the historic gatehouse of the Willows estate in Radnor Township, Pa.
  • The Woodmont Estate

Sporting and social clubs [edit]

Looking down the first fairway at Merion Golf Club.

Private Clubs played an important role in the development of the Main Line, offering social gathering places, facilities for sports such as cricket, golf, tennis, squash, and horseback riding, for the families relocating from Philadelphia to the suburban region. Many of the clubs are known for their award winning golf courses, grass tennis courts, exclusivity, and social functions. Some of these clubs include:

Education [edit]

One of the best assets of the Main Line is its numerous nationally ranked public and private schools. The school districts that serve the Main Line are Lower Merion School District in Montgomery County, Radnor Township School District and School District of Haverford Township in Delaware County, and Tredyffrin/Easttown School District and Great Valley School District in Chester County. In addition to the Main Line's nationally ranked public schools, the region is also home to some of the best and most exclusive private schools in the country. This list is by no means complete.

Public High Schools

Private Schools

Parochial Schools

  • Archbishop John Carroll High School
  • SS Colman-John Neumann School (Pre-K~8)
  • St. Katharine of Siena School (Pre-K~8)
  • St. Margaret's School (Pre-K~8)
  • St. Monica's School (Pre-K~8)
  • St. Norbert's School (Pre-K~8)
  • St. Patrick's School (Pre-K~8)

Higher education [edit]

Rhoads Hall at Bryn Mawr

Main Line in books, movies, music and television [edit]

Cover of The Philadelphia Story

Film [edit]

Literature [edit]

Music [edit]

Television [edit]

Notable Main Liners, past and present [edit]

See also [edit]

Portal icon Philadelphia portal

Notes [edit]

  1. ^ "Top-Earning Towns". Money.cnn.com. 2010-07-14. Retrieved 2012-07-23. 
  2. ^ "Top-earning towns: 20. Radnor Township, PA". CNN Money. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 2012-07-23. 
  3. ^ "America’s Richest Zip Codes 2011". Bloomberg. 
  4. ^ "America’s Richest Zip Codes 2011". 
  5. ^ D'Apéry, Tello J. (1936). Overbrook Farms. Its historical background, growth and community life. Philadelphia: Magee Press. p. 4. 
  6. ^ Fodor's Philadelphia & the Pennsylvania Dutch Country, 16th Edition (Fodor's Gold Guides), New York, p. 106.
  7. ^ Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority ("SEPTA")—Thorndale and Paoli to Central Philadelphia train schedule
  8. ^ Philly NRHS – PRR History
  9. ^ The Elite 100: America’s Highest Income Neighborhoods
  10. ^ The community of Overbrook is a neighborhood within the city limits of Philadelphia and is generally not regarded as being part of the Main Line.
  11. ^ Local Information. Main Line Chamber of Commerce. Accessed 15 October 2009.
  12. ^ BrainyZip
  13. ^ Zip-codes.com
  14. ^ U.S. census
  15. ^ Ardmore Real Estate Market Today
  16. ^ Bala Cynwyd Real Estate Market Today
  17. ^ Bryn Mawr Real Estate Market Today
  18. ^ 19035 Zip Code Detailed Profile
  19. ^ Gladwyne Real Estate Market Today
  20. ^ 19041 Zip Code Detailed Profile
  21. ^ Haverford Real Estate Market Today
  22. ^ Merion Real Estate Market Today
  23. ^ Narberth Real Estate Market Today
  24. ^ Villanova Real Estate Market Today
  25. ^ Wayne Real Estate Market Today
  26. ^ Wynnewood Real Estate Market Today
  27. ^ Paoli Real Estate Market Today
  28. ^ Berwyn Real Estate Market Today
  29. ^ Devon Real Estate Market Today
  30. ^ Malvern Real Estate Market Today
  31. ^ Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
  32. ^ Appleford Estate, history
  33. ^ Bryn Mawr Film Institute
  34. ^ Harriton House history

Further reading [edit]

External links [edit]

 
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