Belmont District, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Belmont District
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Belmont School in Belmont, September 2010
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 Belmont District
Location in Pennsylvania
Belmont District
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Philadelphia |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area codes | 215, 267, and 445 |
The Belmont District was a special area, or district, that existed for a very short time in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was created on April 14, 1853, from the northern part of Blockley Township. However, it didn't last long. On February 2, 1854, the district became part of the larger City of Philadelphia. This happened because of a law called the Act of Consolidation, 1854.
Even though Belmont District no longer exists as a separate legal area, its name is still used today. It refers to a neighborhood in that same area of Philadelphia. This is a common thing in Philadelphia, where names of old towns or districts often become the names of neighborhoods, even if they aren't official towns anymore.
History of Belmont District
The Belmont District was officially created by a law passed by the Pennsylvania government on April 14, 1853. It included the part of Blockley Township that was next to the Schuylkill River. This area stretched from the northern border of West Philadelphia all the way to the northern border between Philadelphia and Montgomery counties. Its western border was also along that county line. The district barely had time to get organized before the Act of Consolidation of February 2, 1854, ended its existence as a separate governing body.
The name Belmont came from Belmont, which was a large country home belonging to the Peters family. This mansion is now part of Fairmount Park. The house was built by William Peters around 1743. The name "Belmont" was chosen because it described the beautiful location of the property. It also hinted at the lovely views of the river and its valley. Later, the property became the home of Judge Richard Peters, Jr., who was a judge for the United States District Court. He lived there until he passed away on August 22, 1828.
The Belmont School is another important landmark in the area. It was recognized for its historical importance and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
