Collegeville, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Collegeville, Pennsylvania
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Kuster Mill, built 1702 and located in nearby Skippack Township
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Location of Collegeville in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
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 Collegeville, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Collegeville, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Montgomery |
| Settled | 1684 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.61 sq mi (4.17 km2) |
| • Land | 1.57 sq mi (4.07 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2) |
| Elevation | 207 ft (63 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,043 |
| • Density | 3,208.02/sq mi (1,238.75/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
19426, 19473
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| Area code(s) | 610 |
| FIPS code | 42-15192 |
Collegeville is a small town, also known as a borough, in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It is a suburb located near Philadelphia, right by the Perkiomen Creek. Collegeville became an official borough in 1896. It is famous for being home to Ursinus College, which first opened its doors in 1869. In 2010, about 5,089 people lived here.
Contents
History of Collegeville
How Collegeville Got Its Name
The land where Collegeville now stands was first bought by William Penn in 1684. This area was known as "All the land lying on the Pahkehoma." In 1799, the Perkiomen Bridge was built. Money for the bridge came from a special lottery approved by the state.
When the first post office opened here in 1847, it was called Perkiomen Bridge. A school for younger students, Todd's School, started in 1832. It was later renamed Freeland Public School in 1844. In 1848, Henry A. Hunsicker built a bigger school called "Freeland Seminary of Perkiomen Bridge." The village around this school became known as Freeland.
In 1851, Abraham Hunsicker, Henry's son, started the Pennsylvania Female College. This college was for women. When trains arrived in 1868, there was a debate about the station's name. People in the area even burned down the toll booth on the Perkiomen Bridge! To avoid trouble, the rail company named the station "Collegeville." This name was chosen because the station was closer to the Pennsylvania Female College. Ursinus College was founded a year later in 1869. So, the name "Collegeville" actually came from the Pennsylvania Female College, not Ursinus College. The Pennsylvania Female College closed in 1880. Collegeville officially became a borough in 1896.
The historic Perkiomen Bridge and Perkiomen Bridge Hotel are important landmarks. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography and Climate
Collegeville is located in Pennsylvania. The borough covers about 1.6 square miles (4.17 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Collegeville has a hot-summer humid continental climate. This means it has warm, humid summers and cold winters. Average monthly temperatures range from about 31°F (-0.5°C) in January to 75.7°F (24.3°C) in July.
Economy and Businesses
Collegeville and the areas around it are growing quickly. The town is home to Ursinus College. Many local businesses also operate here.
Outside the borough, large companies have important facilities. Pfizer and Dow Chemical share a big research and development campus. GlaxoSmithKline also has a research facility nearby. For shopping and dining, the Providence Town Center is a popular open-air mall just outside Collegeville.
Collegeville is also where the main office for the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference of the United Church of Christ is located.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 611 | — | |
| 1910 | 621 | 1.6% | |
| 1920 | 681 | 9.7% | |
| 1930 | 878 | 28.9% | |
| 1940 | 976 | 11.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,900 | 94.7% | |
| 1960 | 2,254 | 18.6% | |
| 1970 | 3,191 | 41.6% | |
| 1980 | 3,406 | 6.7% | |
| 1990 | 4,227 | 24.1% | |
| 2000 | 4,992 | 18.1% | |
| 2010 | 5,089 | 1.9% | |
| 2020 | 5,043 | −0.9% | |
| Sources: | |||
In 2010, the population of Collegeville was 5,089 people. Most residents, about 89.4%, were White. About 4.0% were Black or African American, and 3.8% were Asian. Around 2.4% of the population had Hispanic or Latino family backgrounds.
In 2000, there were 1,408 households in Collegeville. About 38.3% of these households had children under 18 living there. The average household had 2.67 people. The median age in the borough was 35 years old.
The median income for a household in Collegeville was $77,499. For families, the median income was $90,733.
Education in Collegeville
Schools for Younger Students
Public Schools
Students in Collegeville attend schools in the Perkiomen Valley School District. Some areas nearby are part of the Methacton School District or Spring-Ford Area School District.
Private Schools
There is one private Catholic school called Holy Cross Regional Catholic School. It teaches students from kindergarten to 8th grade. Holy Cross was created in 2012 when two other schools merged. Older students can attend Pope John Paul II High School in nearby Royersford.
Colleges and Universities
Ursinus College is a four-year college located right in Collegeville. It was founded in 1869. For community college courses, residents can go to Montgomery County Community College. This college has campuses in Blue Bell and Pottstown.
Libraries and Community Learning
The Montgomery County Library & Information Network Consortium (MCLINC) helps provide library services. This includes bookmobiles that visit different areas. There are also physical libraries serving Collegeville. These include the Perkiomen Valley Library in Schwenksville and libraries in Eagleville, Royersford, Norristown, and Phoenixville.
Past Schools in Collegeville
Before Ursinus College, Collegeville had other schools that are no longer open.
- Todd’s School started in 1832 as a primary and secondary school. It was later known as Freeland Public School.
- The Freeland Seminary of Perkiomen Bridge was a college-level school established in 1848. Its land was later bought to create Ursinus College. The old Freeland Public School building is now Isenberg Hall, a residence hall at Ursinus College.
- Pennsylvania Female College, a college for women, was founded in 1851 and closed in 1880.
Transportation
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Collegeville has about 17.24 miles of public roads. Most of these roads are maintained by the borough itself.
PA 29 is the main highway that goes through Collegeville. It runs north towards Allentown and south towards Malvern. PA 29 also connects to US 422. US 422 goes east to King of Prussia and Philadelphia, and west to Pottstown and Reading.
SEPTA operates bus Route 93 in Collegeville. This bus travels along Main Street and Ridge Pike. It connects Collegeville to Norristown and Pottstown.
Attractions and Fun Things to Do
Collegeville offers many fun activities and places to visit. You can find various shops and restaurants here. Some unique attractions include skydiving and horseback riding. The town is also known for its popular car show.
Famous People from Collegeville
Many interesting people have connections to Collegeville:
- Horace Ashenfelter: An Olympic gold medalist in steeplechase from 1952.
- The Bloodhound Gang: A rock band known for their song "The Bad Touch."
- CM Punk: A mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler who lived here.
- Jen Carfagno: A meteorologist and TV broadcaster.
- Tim Cooney: A former baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals.
- Joe DeRosa: A stand-up comedian, actor, and writer.
- Elin Hilderbrand: A popular romance novelist.
- Michael R. Matz: An Olympic equestrian rider and a winning horse trainer.
- Gary Player: A very famous professional golfer, considered one of the best ever.
- J.D. Salinger: A famous American author who attended Ursinus College in 1938.
Images for kids
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Kuster Mill, built 1702 and located in nearby Skippack Township
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Location of Collegeville in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
See also
In Spanish: Collegeville (Pensilvania) para niños
