Belmont Hills, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Belmont Hills
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Belmont Hills welcome sign
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 Belmont Hills
Location in Pennsylvania
Belmont Hills
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Montgomery |
| Township | Lower Merion |
| Elevation | 302 ft (92 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Zip Code |
19004
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| Area codes | 484 and 610 |
Belmont Hills is a neighborhood in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. It's part of Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It's also a suburb of Philadelphia.
Belmont Hills is a special community. It has its own elementary school, a public pool, a fire department, and a public library. This area is known for its many hills. The name 'Belmont' actually means 'Beautiful Mountain'. So, Belmont Hills means 'Beautiful Mountain Hills'!
Contents
How Belmont Hills Got Its Name
Before the Reading Railroad was built, this area was called Rocky Hill. Later, it was known as West Manayunk. In the 1950s, the community officially changed its name to Belmont Hills.
A Look at Belmont Hills' History
The Story of Belmont Hills School
The Ashland Avenue School first opened in 1919. It taught students from kindergarten through eighth grade. Twenty years later, it became a school for grades K-6.
In 1952, the school was renamed Belmont Hills School. The grades changed again in 1978, becoming K-5. The school closed in June 1982 because there were too many elementary schools nearby. However, Belmont Hills Elementary School reopened in 1999.
The Belmont Hills Fire Company
In 1917, a group of citizens started a fire fighting service. This was in the area then known as West Manayunk. At first, they used a chemical wagon pulled by hand. A year later, they bought a horse-drawn wagon. This helped the firefighters save energy for fighting fires.
By 1919, the West Manayunk Fire Company was officially recognized. It became a township fire company in Lower Merion. Joseph Reilly was appointed as its first chief. In 1920, the fire company bought land on South Washington Avenue. This is where the Belmont Hills Fire Company stands today.
The Women's Auxiliary was formed to support the firefighters. The company also got its first motorized fire truck. In 1926, the West Manayunk Fire Station was finally built. It housed two modern La France fire trucks. Ten years later, the fire station was made bigger.
The name officially changed to Belmont Hills Fire Company in the late 1950s. In the late 1960s, the company became a heavy rescue squad. This was partly because of the new Schuylkill Expressway nearby. They were needed to help with more serious accidents.
The Quarry Explosion of 1948
In 1948, there was a big explosion at a quarry near Rock Hill Road. The blast was so strong that a 30-pound stone flew onto a lawn. This happened on Maple Avenue, close to the quarry. Luckily, no one was hurt. However, many residents reported broken windows and cracked ceilings in their homes.
Zip Code Change
In 1975, Belmont Hills changed its zip code. It went from the Manayunk 19127 zip code to the Bala Cynwyd 19004 zip code. This change helped to show the town's correct location within Montgomery County.
Shopping and Main Streets
Belmont Hills does not have a main shopping area. The closest thing to a main street is Marywaters Ford Road/Ashland Avenue. This road enters the town from the west. It passes by the public pool, the library, and McMorran Park. The road is only about 0.6 miles long.
