Radnor Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
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.
Villanova University
, Cabrini College
, the Valley Forge Military Academy and College
and Eastern University
are all located within Radnor Township.
. The township was part of the Welsh Tract
and was named for Radnorshire
in Wales
. In 1717, the Welsh Friends erected a Quaker meetinghouse (Radnor Friends Meetinghouse
) near what is now the intersection of Conestoga Road and Sproul Road at the geographic center of the township. The new town, "Radnorville", later known as the community of "Ithan" after nearby Ithan Creek
, grew around the meetinghouse. The Welsh influence waned in the late 18th century as many left the area due to high taxation. Stone monuments were erected in various locations throughout the township in the late 20th century to commemorate the township's Welsh heritage.
Other historic structures in Radnor Township include the Sorrel Horse, a former tavern
located on Conestoga Road that sheltered George Washington
and Lafayette
during the Continental Army's retreat back to Philadelphia from the Battle of Brandywine
. The inn is now part of the facility of the Agnes Irwin School
.
Lancaster Pike, the first toll road
in the United States
, connected the cities of Philadelphia and Lancaster, Pennsylvania
, passing through Radnor Township, opened in 1794. That road is now part of the Lincoln Highway
(U.S. Route 30 in Pennsylvania
). The Columbia Railroad, later part of the Pennsylvania Railroad
also passed through in 1832. Thus, Radnor is one of the towns associated with the local moniker "Main Line." A separate railroad passing through Radnor Township, the Philadelphia and Western Railroad
, was opened in the early 20th century. The "Main Line" railroad facilities and a portion of the P&W facilities are still used by SEPTA (the Philadelphia area's transit authority), and the "Main Line" railroad tracks are also used by AMTRAK
.
In the 1880s, George W. Childs bought property in the community of Louella in the western part of Radnor Township, renamed the area Wayne, Pennsylvania
(after American Revolutionary War
hero Anthony Wayne
) and organized one of the United States
's first suburban developments.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the township has a total area of 13.8 square miles (35.7 km²). 13.8 square miles (35.6 km²) of it is land and 0.07% is water.
of 2000, there were 30,878 people, 10,347 households, and 6,373 families residing in the township. The population density
was 2,244.3 inhabitants per square mile (866.4/km²). There were 10,731 housing units at an average density of 779.9 per square mile (301.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 89.55% White, 5.67% Asian, 3.09% African American
, 0.08% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races
, and 0.98% from two or more races. 2.03% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 10,347 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples
living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the township the population was spread out with 19.5% under the age of 18, 24.0% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the township was $86,812, and the median income for a family was $113,601. Males had a median income of $71,308 versus $42,652 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $39,813. About 2.4% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.
, whose graveyard, and buildings begun in 1715, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The headquarters of TV Guide
magazine and Airgas
are located here.
Pupils in Radnor Township attend Radnor Township School District
. Radnor High School
is the sole public high school of the district.
contains a boarding school program for seventh through twelfth grades.
The Agnes Irwin School
is an all-girls school for prekindergarten through twelfth grade.
St. Katharine of Siena is a Catholic school
in Wayne for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
The Hill Top Preparatory School
is a school located in Ithan for learning-disabled students in sixth through twelfth grade.
, Eastern University
, and Cabrini College
are located within Radnor Township. Valley Forge Military Academy and College operates a two-year junior college.
Township (Pennsylvania)
A township in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a state of the United States of America, is one of four types of municipalities in the state . Townships were established based on convenient geographical boundaries and vary in size from six to forty square miles...
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...
. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 30,878. Radnor Township lies along 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...
, a collection of highly affluent Philadelphia suburbs.
Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
, Cabrini College
Cabrini College
Cabrini College is a coeducational Roman Catholic residential college in the Philadelphia metropolitan area of Radnor Township, Pennsylvania, founded by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1957. It was one of the first colleges in the United States to make community service a...
, 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...
and Eastern University
Eastern University
Eastern University is a private university in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, United States affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA, with an interdenominational student body...
are all located within Radnor Township.
History
Radnor Township was founded 1682 as a land grant from William PennWilliam Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
. The township was part of the Welsh Tract
Welsh Tract
The Welsh Tract, also called the Welsh Barony, was a portion of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania settled largely by Welsh-speaking Quakers. It covers 40,000 acres to the west of Philadelphia...
and was named for Radnorshire
Radnorshire
Radnorshire is one of thirteen historic and former administrative counties of Wales. It is represented by the Radnorshire area of Powys, which according to the 2001 census, had a population of 24,805...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. In 1717, the Welsh Friends erected a Quaker meetinghouse (Radnor Friends Meetinghouse
Radnor Friends Meetinghouse
Radnor Friends Meetinghouse is a historic Quaker meeting house on Sproul and Conestoga Roads in Ithan, Pennsylvania.The current meeting house was built in 1717 with an addition made several years later. An earlier meeting house may have existed on the site as early as 1693...
) near what is now the intersection of Conestoga Road and Sproul Road at the geographic center of the township. The new town, "Radnorville", later known as the community of "Ithan" after nearby Ithan Creek
Ithan Creek
Ithan Creek is a tributary of Darby Creek in Radnor Township and Haverford Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Darby Creek is a tributary of the Delaware River. The village of Ithan along the creek was the first European settlement in modern-day Radnor Township in the seventeenth century....
, grew around the meetinghouse. The Welsh influence waned in the late 18th century as many left the area due to high taxation. Stone monuments were erected in various locations throughout the township in the late 20th century to commemorate the township's Welsh heritage.
Other historic structures in Radnor Township include the Sorrel Horse, a former tavern
Tavern
A tavern is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food, and in some cases, where travelers receive lodging....
located on Conestoga Road that sheltered George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
and Lafayette
Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette
Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette , often known as simply Lafayette, was a French aristocrat and military officer born in Chavaniac, in the province of Auvergne in south central France...
during the Continental Army's retreat back to Philadelphia from the Battle of Brandywine
Battle of Brandywine
The Battle of Brandywine, also known as the Battle of the Brandywine or the Battle of Brandywine Creek, was fought between the American army of Major General George Washington and the British-Hessian army of General Sir William Howe on September 11, 1777. The British defeated the Americans and...
. The inn is now part of the facility of 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...
.
Lancaster Pike, the first toll road
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, connected the cities of Philadelphia and Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
, passing through Radnor Township, opened in 1794. That road is now part of the Lincoln Highway
Lincoln Highway
The Lincoln Highway was the first road across the United States of America.Conceived and promoted by entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, the Lincoln Highway spanned coast-to-coast from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, originally through 13 states: New York, New Jersey,...
(U.S. Route 30 in Pennsylvania
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...
). The Columbia Railroad, later part of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
also passed through in 1832. Thus, Radnor is one of the towns associated with the local moniker "Main Line." A separate railroad passing through Radnor Township, the Philadelphia and Western Railroad
Philadelphia and Western Railroad
The Philadelphia and Western Railroad was a high-speed, third rail-operated, commuter-hauling interurban electric railroad operating in the western suburbs of the U.S. city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One of its lines is now SEPTA's R100 Norristown High Speed Line; the other has been abandoned...
, was opened in the early 20th century. The "Main Line" railroad facilities and a portion of the P&W facilities are still used by SEPTA (the Philadelphia area's transit authority), and the "Main Line" railroad tracks are also used by AMTRAK
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
.
In the 1880s, George W. Childs bought property in the community of Louella in the western part of Radnor Township, renamed the area Wayne, Pennsylvania
Wayne, Pennsylvania
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...
(after American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
hero 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...
) and organized one of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
's first suburban developments.
Geography
Radnor Township is located at 40°2′0"N 75°22′18"W (40.033433, -75.371843).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the township has a total area of 13.8 square miles (35.7 km²). 13.8 square miles (35.6 km²) of it is land and 0.07% is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
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 30,878 people, 10,347 households, and 6,373 families residing in the township. 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 2,244.3 inhabitants per square mile (866.4/km²). There were 10,731 housing units at an average density of 779.9 per square mile (301.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 89.55% White, 5.67% Asian, 3.09% 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...
, 0.08% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.98% from two or more races. 2.03% 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
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race.
There were 10,347 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the township the population was spread out with 19.5% under the age of 18, 24.0% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males.
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 township was $39,813. About 2.4% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.
Arts and culture
Places of worship include St. David's Episcopal ChurchSt. David's (Radnor) Episcopal Church
St. David's Episcopal Church, often known as St. David’s at Radnor or, less often, as Old St. David's, is a parish of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, founded in the early 18th century and named after the Patron Saint of Wales. A Book of Common Prayer, given as a gift to Lydia...
, whose graveyard, and buildings begun in 1715, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Economy
Lincoln Financial Group is headquartered in Radnor Township. In 2007 the company moved 400 employees, including its top executives, to Radnor from Philadelphia.The headquarters of TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
magazine and Airgas
Airgas
Airgas, Inc. , headquartered in Radnor Township, Pennsylvania, through its subsidiaries, is the largest U.S. distributor of industrial, medical and specialty gases , and hardgoods ....
are located here.
Public schools
Radnor 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...
. 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...
is the sole public high school of the district.
Private schools
Valley Forge Military Academy and CollegeValley 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...
contains a boarding school program for seventh through twelfth grades.
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...
is an all-girls school for prekindergarten through twelfth grade.
St. Katharine of Siena is a Catholic school
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
in Wayne for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
The Hill Top Preparatory School
Hill Top Preparatory School
The Hill Top Preparatory School is a grade fifth through twelve preparatory day school for students with learning disabilities. It is located in Rosemont, Pennsylvania.-History:...
is a school located in Ithan for learning-disabled students in sixth through twelfth grade.
Colleges and universities
Villanova UniversityVillanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
, Eastern University
Eastern University
Eastern University is a private university in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, United States affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA, with an interdenominational student body...
, and Cabrini College
Cabrini College
Cabrini College is a coeducational Roman Catholic residential college in the Philadelphia metropolitan area of Radnor Township, Pennsylvania, founded by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1957. It was one of the first colleges in the United States to make community service a...
are located within Radnor Township. Valley Forge Military Academy and College operates a two-year junior college.