Bristol Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Bristol Township used to be a special type of local government area called a township. It was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. This township doesn't exist anymore. It became part of the City of Philadelphia in 1854, after a law called the Act of Consolidation, 1854 was passed.

Today, the area it covered is mostly known as the Olney-Oak Lane section of Philadelphia. The southern border is a little different now. It's located in what we call North Philadelphia today. However, some people think Olney-Oak Lane is different from the rest of North Philadelphia. This is because it has its own unique buildings, culture, and history of how it grew.

History of Bristol Township

Bristol Township was located in the northern part of Philadelphia County. It was right where Philadelphia County met Montgomery County. Its shape wasn't perfectly regular. To the northwest, it bordered Springfield Township in Montgomery County. To the northeast, it was next to Cheltenham Township, also in Montgomery County.

It stretched along Cheltenham Township until it reached Oxford Township. Its eastern border was mainly Tacony Creek. To the south, it was partly bordered by the Wingohocking and Northern Liberties Township. To the west and southwest, it was next to Germantown Borough and Germantown Township.

An old road called the Old York Road ran through the township. It went through places like Branchtown and Milestown (which is now East Oak Lane). From there, it continued into Bucks County. Bristol Township was about five and a half miles long at its longest point. It was about three miles wide at its widest point. The total area was about 5,650 acres, which is about 23 square kilometers. The name "Bristol" comes from the city of Bristol in England.

Neighborhoods Today

The area that was once Bristol Township now includes several neighborhoods in Philadelphia. These include:

• East Oak Lane
• Feltonville
• Fern Rock
• Koreatown
• Logan
• Melrose Park
• Ogontz
• Olney
• West Oak Lane
• Cedarbrook

More Information

You can find more details about the history of Philadelphia's townships and their consolidation.

• Information courtesy of ushistory.org
• Incorporated District, Boroughs, and Townships in the County of Philadelphia, 1854 By Rudolph J. Walther - an excerpt from a book on the ushistory.org website.
• Ellet, Charles, Jr. Map of the County of Philadelphia from Actual Survey, 1843.