Wayne, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Wayne is an unincorporated
community located on the Main Line
, centered in Delaware County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. While the center of Wayne is in Radnor Township
, Wayne extends into both Tredyffrin Township
in Chester County
and Upper Merion Township in Montgomery County
. Considering the large area served by the Wayne post office, the community may extend slightly into Easttown Township
, Chester County, as well.
The center of the Wayne business district is the intersection of Lancaster Avenue
and Wayne Avenue, its main street
. The historic Wayne station
is located one block north of this intersection. The Wayne business district also includes a post office, a cinema, a hotel, a library, the new Radnor Middle School
, and several banks, stores, restaurants, and other commercial establishments. Other institutions and attractions in Wayne include the Valley Forge Military Academy (with a monument from the Battle of the Bulge
located by the parade ground) and the headquarters of Traffic Pulse (NAVTEQ Traffic), a world wide traffic information provider.
Wayne was originally named Louella, after founder J. Henry Askin's daughters Louisa and Ella.
Wayne's development began when a railroad stop called Cleaver's Landing was established. It was renamed Wayne Station after General Anthony Wayne
. Parcels in the area totaling 293 acres (1.2 km²) were bought by banker J.H. Askin, where he built a mansion named "Louella" after his daughters Louisa and Ella. "Louella" was described as an 80-room stone building with a large porch overlooking manicured lawn. His and surrounding land were bought in 1880 by banker A.J. Drexel
and newspaper editor G.W. Childs
, to form a larger development they called Wayne Estate. More homes and a hotel were then built. In a brochure from 1887 about their development they noted they had provided Wayne with "water, light and drainage — the three great conveniences of a large city — by the most approved modern methods." They described Wayne Estate as follows:
. The central business district of Wayne is located at the intersection of Lancaster
and Wayne Avenues in Radnor Township
, Delaware County
, Pennsylvania
. The area served by the Wayne zip code
(19087) is large and encompasses areas both in Radnor Township and in the neighboring adjacent municipalities of Upper Merion
in Montgomery County
and Tredyffrin
in Chester County
, including the communities of Radnor
, Strafford
, St. Davids
, and Chesterbrook
.
, while pupils in the Tredyffrin portion attend schools in Tredyffrin/Easttown School District
. Those in the northeastern portion of the community in Upper Merion Township attend the Upper Merion Area School District
.
Students in Radnor Township attend Radnor High School
. Students in Tredyffrin Township attend Conestoga High School. Students in Upper Merion Township attend Upper Merion Area High School
.
The Valley Forge Military Academy and College
is also located in Wayne.
The Wayne Art Center was established in 1930 as the first art center on the Main Line.
, all the data is for the ZIP code
19087. As of the census
of 2000, there were 30,892 people and 12,662 households residing in the community. The population density
was 2,079 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the community was 92.1% White, 3.9% Asian
, 2.8% African American
, 0.30% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 1.6% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino of any race.
The median income for a household in the community was $85,058, and the median income for a family was $105,680. The per capita income
for the community was $47,220. About 1.6% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
community located on the 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...
, centered in 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....
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. While the center of Wayne is in 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....
, Wayne extends into both Tredyffrin Township
Tredyffrin Township, Pennsylvania
Tredyffrin Township + Dyffryn ) is a township located in eastern Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 29,332 at the 2010 census. Originally settled in the late 17th century, Tredyffrin is bounded by Delaware and Montgomery counties...
in Chester County
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
and Upper Merion Township in 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...
. Considering the large area served by the Wayne post office, the community may extend slightly into Easttown Township
Easttown Township, Pennsylvania
Easttown Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 10,477 at the 2010 census.-History:The land that eventually became Easttown Township was once part of the Welsh Tract, a large expanse of land promised by William Penn to a group of Welsh Quaker...
, Chester County, as well.
The center of the Wayne business district is the intersection of Lancaster Avenue
U.S. Route 30 in Pennsylvania
In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, U.S. Route 30 runs east–west across the southern part of the state, passing through Pittsburgh and Philadelphia on its way from the West Virginia state line east to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge over the Delaware River into New Jersey...
and Wayne Avenue, its main street
Main Street
Main Street is the metonym for a generic street name of the primary retail street of a village, town, or small city in many parts of the world...
. The historic Wayne station
Wayne (SEPTA station)
Wayne Station is a commuter rail station located in the western suburbs of Philadelphia atNorth Wayne Avenue & West Avenue, Wayne, Pennsylvania. It is served by most Paoli/Thorndale Line trains....
is located one block north of this intersection. The Wayne business district also includes a post office, a cinema, a hotel, a library, the new Radnor Middle School
Radnor Middle School
Radnor Middle School is the only public middle school in Radnor Township, Pennsylvania and is part of the Radnor Township School District. It is located at 150 Louella Avenue...
, and several banks, stores, restaurants, and other commercial establishments. Other institutions and attractions in Wayne include the Valley Forge Military Academy (with a monument from the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
located by the parade ground) and the headquarters of Traffic Pulse (NAVTEQ Traffic), a world wide traffic information provider.
History
Wayne's development began when a railroad stop called Cleaver's Landing was established. It was renamed Wayne Station after General Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne was a United States Army general and statesman. Wayne adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of brigadier general and the sobriquet of Mad Anthony.-Early...
. Parcels in the area totaling 293 acres (1.2 km²) were bought by banker J.H. Askin, where he built a mansion named "Louella" after his daughters Louisa and Ella. "Louella" was described as an 80-room stone building with a large porch overlooking manicured lawn. His and surrounding land were bought in 1880 by banker A.J. Drexel
Anthony Joseph Drexel I
Anthony Joseph Drexel was an American financier, banker, partner of J.P. Morgan and founder of Drexel University.-Birth:...
and newspaper editor G.W. Childs
George William Childs
George William Childs was an American publisher who co-owned the Philadelphia Public Ledger newspaper with financier Anthony Joseph Drexel.-Early life:...
, to form a larger development they called Wayne Estate. More homes and a hotel were then built. In a brochure from 1887 about their development they noted they had provided Wayne with "water, light and drainage — the three great conveniences of a large city — by the most approved modern methods." They described Wayne Estate as follows:
The suburban village known as Wayne, on the Pennsylvania RailroadPennsylvania RailroadThe Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
, fourteen miles from Philadelphia, differs so much from the ordinary town allowed to grow up hap-hazard and to develop conveniences as population increases, that it is necessary, in describing it as it appears, to keep in mind some facts about its history.
Wayne is not an accidental aggregation of cottages; it is a town built by design, and provided at the start with all the conveniences to which residents of cities are accustomed and which they are so apt to miss and long for when they go into the country or even into the suburbs of a great city. The scheme of the town was well thought out and planned before any of the new cottages were built, and, as it was undertaken by liberal gentlemen of abundant means, no expense was spared in the preliminary municipal work.
Geography
Wayne is located on the Main LinePennsylvania 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...
. The central business district of Wayne is located at the intersection of Lancaster
U.S. Route 30 in Pennsylvania
In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, U.S. Route 30 runs east–west across the southern part of the state, passing through Pittsburgh and Philadelphia on its way from the West Virginia state line east to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge over the Delaware River into New Jersey...
and Wayne Avenues in 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....
, 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....
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The area served by the Wayne zip code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
(19087) is large and encompasses areas both in Radnor Township and in the neighboring adjacent municipalities of Upper Merion
Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania
Upper Merion Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 28,395 at the 2010 census.Located from Philadelphia, it consists of the villages of King of Prussia, Swedeland, Swedesburg, Gulph Mills, and Wayne....
in 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 Tredyffrin
Tredyffrin Township, Pennsylvania
Tredyffrin Township + Dyffryn ) is a township located in eastern Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 29,332 at the 2010 census. Originally settled in the late 17th century, Tredyffrin is bounded by Delaware and Montgomery counties...
in Chester County
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
, including the communities of Radnor
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Radnor is a wealthy Main Line township. It is an unincorporated community in Radnor Township of Delaware County and Tredyffrin Township of Chester County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It lies near the communities of Villanova and St...
, Strafford
Strafford, Pennsylvania
Strafford is an unincorporated community in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, located partly in Tredyffrin Township, Chester County, and partly in Radnor Township, Delaware County. It is served by its own stop on the SEPTA Paoli/Thorndale Line regional rail train. It is also...
, St. Davids
St. Davids, Pennsylvania
St. Davids is an unincorporated community in Radnor Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is served by its own train station. St. Davids is home to the main campus of Eastern University, a four-year, liberal arts university affiliated with the American Baptist Churches...
, and Chesterbrook
Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania
Chesterbrook is a census-designated place in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,589 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Chesterbrook is located at ....
.
Education
Pupils in the Radnor Township portion of Wayne attend schools in Radnor Township School DistrictRadnor Township School District
Radnor Township School District is a school district that serves Radnor Township, Pennsylvania and has 3 elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. It is known for housing that uncontrollable demon known as Mrs. Richard. The depths of hell could contain her attitude...
, while pupils in the Tredyffrin portion attend schools in Tredyffrin/Easttown School District
Tredyffrin/Easttown School District
Tredyffrin/Easttown School District is a school district based in Tredyffrin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania in the United States....
. Those in the northeastern portion of the community in Upper Merion Township attend the Upper Merion Area School District
Upper Merion Area School District
The Upper Merion Area School District serves Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Bridgeport, Pennsylvania, and West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania...
.
Students in Radnor Township attend Radnor High School
Radnor High School
Radnor High School is the only public high school in Radnor Township, Pennsylvania and is part of the Radnor Township School District. It lies along the Pennsylvania Main Line, a collection of highly affluent Philadelphia suburbs...
. Students in Tredyffrin Township attend Conestoga High School. Students in Upper Merion Township attend Upper Merion Area High School
Upper Merion Area High School
Upper Merion Area High School is a high school of the Upper Merion Area School District located at 435 Crossfield Road in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania....
.
The Valley Forge Military Academy and College
Valley Forge Military Academy and College
Valley Forge Military Academy & College is an American all male preparatory boarding school and coeducational junior college in the military school tradition...
is also located in Wayne.
The Wayne Art Center was established in 1930 as the first art center on the Main Line.
Demographics
Wayne is neither an incorporated area nor a census-designated placeCensus-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
, all the data is for the ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
19087. As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 30,892 people and 12,662 households residing in the community. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,079 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the community was 92.1% White, 3.9% Asian
Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
, 2.8% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.30% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 1.6% of the population were Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino of any race.
The median income for a household in the community was $85,058, and the median income for a family was $105,680. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the community was $47,220. About 1.6% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.
Notable Residents, past and present
- Catherine ClarkCatherine ClarkCatherine Jane Clark is a Canadian television broadcaster, and the daughter of former Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark and Maureen McTeer.-Life and career:Clark was born in Ottawa, Ontario...
- Larry FitzgeraldLarry FitzgeraldLarry Darnell Fitzgerald, Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League, and currently ranks fourth all-time in league history in receiving yards per game for a career , behind Andre Johnson, Torry Holt, and Marvin Harrison...
- Mark HerzlichMark HerzlichSandon Mark Herzlich, Jr. is an American football linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was signed by the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2011...
- Karl KirchweyKarl KirchweyKarl Kirchwey is a prize–winning American poet who has lived in both Europe and the United States and whose work is strongly influenced by the Greek and Roman past. He often looks to the classical world for inspiration with themes which have included loss, loneliness, nostalgia and modern...
- Ned MartinNed MartinEdwin Martin was an American sportscaster, known primarily as a play-by-play announcer for Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox from to...
- Anna MoffoAnna MoffoAnna Moffo was an Italian-American opera singer and one of the leading lyric-coloratura sopranos of her generation...
- Lisa RaymondLisa RaymondLisa Raymond is an American professional tennis player who has achieved notable success in doubles tennis. On June 12, 2000, she reached the world number one ranking in doubles...
- Jerry SpinelliJerry SpinelliJerry Spinelli is an author of children's novels on adolescence and early adulthood. He is best known for the novels Maniac Magee and Wringer....
- Thomas F. WilsonThomas F. WilsonThomas F. Wilson is an American actor, writer, musician, painter, voice-over artist and stand-up comedian. He is best known for playing Biff Tannen in the Back to the Future trilogy and Coach Ben Fredricks on NBC's Freaks and Geeks.-Early life:Thomas Francis Wilson, Jr. was...
- Richard M. Helms
Points of interest
- Chanticleer GardenChanticleer GardenChanticleer Garden is an estate and botanical garden located at 786 Church Road, Wayne, Pennsylvania. It is open Wednesday through Sunday, April through October; an admission fee is charged. The gate is crested with carved stone roosters, or chanticleers in French...
- Radnor Trail System
- Anthony Wayne Theatre - Art Deco-style theatre
External links
- The Suburban and Wayne Times
- Wayne Business Association
- Wayne Station, on the Paoli/Thorndale LinePaoli/Thorndale LineThe 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...
, from the SEPTA Regional RailSEPTA Regional RailThe SEPTA Regional Rail system consists of commuter rail service on thirteen branches to over 150 active stations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States and its suburbs. Service on most lines runs from 5:30 AM to midnight...
website - Wayne Presbyterian Church, established 1870
- Explore Wayne, PA
History
- Pages from a 1997 Bryn Mawr CollegeBryn Mawr CollegeBryn Mawr College is a women's liberal arts college located in Bryn Mawr, a community in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, ten miles west of Philadelphia. The name "Bryn Mawr" means "big hill" in Welsh....
student research project on Wayne Estates: - Chesterbrook retells the story of Wayne for the 20th century
- Wayne Hotel
- On the History of Radnor Township and Wayne
- Anthony Wayne Theatre