Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Borough of Bryn Athyn
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
Location of Bryn Athyn in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
|
|
 Borough of Bryn Athyn
Location in Pennsylvania
Borough of Bryn Athyn
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Montgomery |
| Incorporated | 1916 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.93 sq mi (5.00 km2) |
| • Land | 1.93 sq mi (5.00 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 292 ft (89 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 1,272 |
| • Density | 658.73/sq mi (254.32/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
19009
|
| Area code(s) | 215, 267, and 445 |
| FIPS code | 42-09696 |
| Website | http://www.brynathynboro.org |
Bryn Athyn is a small town in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It's officially called the "Borough of Bryn Athyn." About 1,272 people lived there in 2020.
The town was created in 1916 for religious reasons. It was formed from Moreland Township and is now surrounded by Lower Moreland Township.
The name "Bryn Athyn" was meant to mean "Hill of Unity" by the people who founded it. "Bryn" is a Welsh word for "hill." The meaning of "athyn" isn't fully clear.
Bryn Athyn is located about 60.1 miles (96.7 km) southeast of Allentown. It is also about 19.9 miles (32.0 km) north of Philadelphia.
Contents
Geography of Bryn Athyn
Bryn Athyn covers a total area of about 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2). All of this area is land, with no large bodies of water.
People of Bryn Athyn
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 392 | — | |
| 1930 | 766 | 95.4% | |
| 1940 | 800 | 4.4% | |
| 1950 | 913 | 14.1% | |
| 1960 | 1,057 | 15.8% | |
| 1970 | 970 | −8.2% | |
| 1980 | 947 | −2.4% | |
| 1990 | 1,081 | 14.1% | |
| 2000 | 1,351 | 25.0% | |
| 2010 | 1,375 | 1.8% | |
| 2020 | 1,272 | −7.5% | |
In 2010, most people in Bryn Athyn were White (92.5%). There were also smaller groups of Black or African American (2.7%) and Asian (2.5%) residents. About 1.2% of the people were of Hispanic or Latino background.
In 2000, there were 1,351 people living in Bryn Athyn. The average household had about 3 people. Many households (41.4%) had children under 18 living with them. The median age in the town was 33 years old.
Cool Places to Visit
Bryn Athyn Historic District
The Bryn Athyn Historic District is a special area with four important historic buildings. It's recognized as a National Historic Landmark District.
- Cairnwood Estate was once the home of a rich businessman named John Pitcairn. Famous architects designed the building and its beautiful gardens. Today, it's used for special events.
- Bryn Athyn Cathedral is a large church built in the early 1900s. It's known for its amazing stained glass windows and unique design. John Pitcairn helped pay for its construction.
- Glencairn was the home of Raymond Pitcairn, John Pitcairn's son. This castle-like building is now a museum. It has a collection of religious art and items from all over the world. You can visit it to learn about different cultures and religions.
- Cairncrest was built for John Pitcairn's other son, Harold Pitcairn. Harold was a pioneer in aviation, meaning he helped invent early flying machines. This building now holds the main offices for the General Church of the New Jerusalem.
Academy of the New Church and Bryn Athyn College
Bryn Athyn is also home to the Academy of the New Church. This organization includes several schools:
- The Academy of the New Church Secondary Schools (for high school students).
- Bryn Athyn College, where students can earn college degrees.
- A divinity school, which trains religious leaders.
- The Swedenborg Library, named after Emanuel Swedenborg, whose writings are important to the New Church religion.
Getting Around Bryn Athyn
_just_south_of_Alnwick_Road_and_Tomlinson_Road_in_Bryn_Athyn,_Montgomery_County,_Pennsylvania.jpg)
Roads
The main road in Bryn Athyn is Pennsylvania Route 232, also known as Huntingdon Pike. It runs north and south through the town. Byberry Road is another important road that runs along the northern edge of the borough.
Public Transportation
Bryn Athyn used to have a train station for commuters. However, train service stopped in 1983. The old train station building is now used as the Bryn Athyn post office.
While there have been talks about bringing train service back, plans were dropped in 2014. Instead, officials decided to turn the old train tracks into a walking and biking path called the Pennypack Trail.
You can still get around using the Route 24 bus. This bus travels along Huntingdon Pike in Bryn Athyn. It connects to Frankford Transportation Center in Northeast Philadelphia.
The 1921 Train Accident
On December 5, 1921, a serious train accident happened in Bryn Athyn. Two passenger trains crashed head-on. The crash caused a fire, and 27 people died, with about 70 injured. Many people died from the fire because the train cars were made of wood and burned quickly. Also, rescue workers had trouble reaching the trains because they were in a hard-to-reach area. This accident led to new rules that banned wooden train cars to prevent similar tragedies.
Education in Bryn Athyn
Bryn Athyn has its own school district, called the Bryn Athyn School District. However, this district does not operate any public schools. This is because most children in Bryn Athyn attend private schools.
About 90% of school-aged children in Bryn Athyn go to private schools within the district. The rest are either homeschooled or attend schools in nearby towns.
Famous People from Bryn Athyn
- Stephen Gyllenhaal, a director and the father of actors Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal.
- Harold Frederick Pitcairn, an inventor and pioneer in aviation.
See also
In Spanish: Bryn Athyn para niños
