Villanova, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Villanova is a community in the United States Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It straddles Lower Merion Township
of Montgomery County
and Radnor Township
of Delaware County
. It is located at the center of the Pennsylvania Main Line
, a series of highly affluent Philadelphia suburban towns located along the original east-west railroad tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad. It is served by the SEPTA Paoli/Thorndale Line
regional rail train and Norristown High Speed Line
.
The center of the village straddles Lancaster Pike where it intersects Spring Mill. This village center contains the area's post office for zip code 19085, an office building, the Wilmington Trust Company's Pennsylvania headquarters, and several smaller shops. The Royal Bank of Pennsylvania also maintains an office at this site.
, from which the community gains its name. The university campus extends from County Line Road along Spring Mill Road south to Lancaster Pike, US Route 30, and then east to just beyond Wildcat Stadium, home of the Villanova University football team. In addition to the undergraduate college Villanova University includes a well-recognized graduate school, a nursing school, a school of continuing studies, numerous certificate programs, and Villanova University Law School.
Public school children in Villanova attend Gladwyne Elementary School in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania
, Welsh Valley Middle School in Penn Valley, Pennsylvania
, and Harriton High School in Rosemont, Pennsylvania
, all part of the Lower Merion School District
.
Although the Agnes Irwin School
borders Villanova University, and many Villanova residents attend it, it is located in the Rosemont community in Radnor Township.
Other schools in the area include all-boys Haverford School, located in Bryn Mawr in Haverford Township all-boys. Episcopal Academy called among locals as "EA" in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, all-girls Baldwin School and the Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
, and the coeducational Shipley School in Bryn Mawr. Rosemont School of the Holy Child on Montgomery Avenue is a nearby Catholic elementary school.
and Country Fair, which is held annually during the last week of May at the fairgrounds in Devon, Pennsylvania.
The median income for a household in the community was $159,538, and the median income for a family was $174,511. The per capita income for the community was $50,204. About 1.5% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line. The estimated median house/condo value in 2009 is $1,435,844.
In 2009, the eastern section of Villanova was ranked the 39th wealthiest neighborhood in America with a median household income of $366,904.
Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania
Lower Merion Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and part of the Pennsylvania Main Line. As of the 2010 census, the township had a total population of 57,825...
of Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
and Radnor Township
Radnor Township, Pennsylvania
Radnor Township is a township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 30,878. Radnor Township lies along the Main Line, a collection of highly affluent Philadelphia suburbs....
of Delaware County
Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....
. It is located at the center of the Pennsylvania Main Line
Pennsylvania Main Line
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 , a road...
, a series of highly affluent Philadelphia suburban towns located along the original east-west railroad tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad. It is served by the SEPTA Paoli/Thorndale Line
Paoli/Thorndale Line
The Paoli/Thorndale Line is a SEPTA Regional Rail line running from Center City Philadelphia to Thorndale in Chester County.-Route:This branch utilizes one of the oldest sections of what is now Amtrak's Keystone Corridor, an electrified 104-mile two to four-track high-speed route between Harrisburg...
regional rail train and Norristown High Speed Line
Norristown High Speed Line
The Norristown High Speed Line is an interurban line system operated between Upper Darby and Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA by SEPTA...
.
The center of the village straddles Lancaster Pike where it intersects Spring Mill. This village center contains the area's post office for zip code 19085, an office building, the Wilmington Trust Company's Pennsylvania headquarters, and several smaller shops. The Royal Bank of Pennsylvania also maintains an office at this site.
Schools and colleges
The most notable feature of Villanova is Villanova UniversityVillanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
, from which the community gains its name. The university campus extends from County Line Road along Spring Mill Road south to Lancaster Pike, US Route 30, and then east to just beyond Wildcat Stadium, home of the Villanova University football team. In addition to the undergraduate college Villanova University includes a well-recognized graduate school, a nursing school, a school of continuing studies, numerous certificate programs, and Villanova University Law School.
Public school children in Villanova attend Gladwyne Elementary School in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania
Gladwyne, Pennsylvania
Gladwyne is a suburban community in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States along the Main Line. The population was 4,050 at the 2000 census...
, Welsh Valley Middle School in Penn Valley, Pennsylvania
Narberth, Pennsylvania
Narberth is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,282 at the 2010 census.-History:Narberth is located on a parcel of land originally deeded to Edward Rees , who arrived from Wales in 1682. A portion of this original tract became the farm of Edward R...
, and Harriton High School in Rosemont, Pennsylvania
Rosemont, Pennsylvania
Rosemont is a community in Pennsylvania on the Pennsylvania Main Line lying partly in Radnor Township, Pennsylvania and partly in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania.Part of the geographic area is served by the Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, ZIP code...
, all part of the Lower Merion School District
Lower Merion School District
Lower Merion School District, or LMSD, is a public school district located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The school district includes residents of both Lower Merion Township and the Borough of Narberth. Established in 1836, LMSD is one of the oldest districts in Pennsylvania...
.
Although the Agnes Irwin School
Agnes Irwin School
The Agnes Irwin School is an all-girls', non-sectarian, day school for students in grades PreK-12. The School has been a leader in girls' education since 1869, when it was founded by Miss Agnes Irwin of Philadelphia. Agnes Irwin, a great-great-granddaughter of Benjamin Franklin, later became the...
borders Villanova University, and many Villanova residents attend it, it is located in the Rosemont community in Radnor Township.
Other schools in the area include all-boys Haverford School, located in Bryn Mawr in Haverford Township all-boys. Episcopal Academy called among locals as "EA" in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, all-girls Baldwin School and the Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Bryn Mawr from Welsh for "big hill") is a census-designated place in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, just west of Philadelphia along Lancaster Avenue and the border with Delaware County...
, and the coeducational Shipley School in Bryn Mawr. Rosemont School of the Holy Child on Montgomery Avenue is a nearby Catholic elementary school.
Hospitals
The Bryn Mawr Hospital, at South Bryn Mawr Avenue and Haverford Road, is one of the three nationally-ranked community teaching hospitals that serve the Main Line; it is located less than one mile (1.6 km) from the Villanova district line. The hospital has historically been associated with Philadelphia's Jefferson Medical College for many years. The Bryn Mawr Hospital is the chief beneficiary of the area's preeminent social and sporting event, the Devon Horse ShowDevon Horse Show
The Devon Horse Show, also known as The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair is an annual horse show which has been held late May through early June in Devon, Pennsylvania since 1896. ....
and Country Fair, which is held annually during the last week of May at the fairgrounds in Devon, Pennsylvania.
Demographics
Villanova is neither an incorporated area nor a census-designated place, all the data is for the ZIP code 19085. As of the census of 2000, there were 9,189 people and 1,932 households residing in the community. The population density was 1,565 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the community was 92.5% White, 3.4% Asian, 1.9% African American, 1.40% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 2.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.The median income for a household in the community was $159,538, and the median income for a family was $174,511. The per capita income for the community was $50,204. About 1.5% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line. The estimated median house/condo value in 2009 is $1,435,844.
In 2009, the eastern section of Villanova was ranked the 39th wealthiest neighborhood in America with a median household income of $366,904.
Notable residents
- Colby CohenColby CohenColby Cohen is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League as a prospect for the Boston Bruins.-Amateur:...
(born 1989) – ice hockey player - Fran DunphyFran DunphyFran Dunphy is an American college basketball coach. He is currently the head men's basketball coach at Temple University. He succeeded John Chaney in 2006.- Coaching career :...
– Temple University men's basketball coach - Julius ErvingJulius ErvingJulius Winfield Erving II , commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is a retired American basketball player who helped launch a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and play above the rim....
(Dr. J) – former NBA star - Dikembe MutomboDikembe MutomboDikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo , commonly referred to as Dikembe Mutombo, is a retired Congolese American professional basketball player who last played for the Houston Rockets of the NBA...
– former NBA star - Andy ReidAndy ReidAndrew Walter "Andy" Reid is the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL, a post he has held since 1999. Since 2001, he has also been the team's executive vice president of football operations...
– current head coach of the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia EaglesThe Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
Points of interest
- Villanova UniversityVillanova UniversityVillanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
- Appleford/Parsons-Banks ArboretumAppleford/Parsons-Banks ArboretumAppleford/Parsons-Banks Arboretum is a non-profit arboretum and country estate located at 770 Mount Moro Road, Villanova, Pennsylvania....
- Arboretum VillanovaArboretum VillanovaArboretum Villanova is the former name of a 222 acre arboretum located throughout the campus of Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania. It is open to the public daily without charge....
- Friends of the Willows Cottage