Congo, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Congo, Pennsylvania
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Union Jack's Olde Congo Hotel.
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 Congo, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Montgomery |
| Township | Douglass |
| Elevation | 427 ft (130 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
19504
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| Area code(s) | 610 and 484 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1172326 |
Congo is a small village located in Douglass Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA. It's found where Hoffmansville Road and Congo Road meet, a bit northeast of a town called Boyertown. A stream called Swamp Creek flows through it, eventually joining the Perkiomen Creek. People living here use the same ZIP Code as the nearby town of Barto, which is 19504.
Why is it Called Congo?
The village wasn't always called Congo. Before the 1880s, its name was Cedarville.
A Name Change for the Post Office
The U.S. Post Office decided to change the name. This was because there were at least three other post offices in Pennsylvania with "cedar" in their names. It was confusing for mail delivery!
How the Congo Name Was Chosen
At that time, the Congo Basin in Africa was often in the news. Different European countries were arguing over who owned parts of it. They even held a big meeting called the Berlin Conference to sort things out. Because the Congo Basin was a popular topic, someone decided to name the village "Congo."
The Congo post office closed around 1925. However, the community has kept the name "Congo" ever since.
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Barto, Bechtelsville | Bally | Niantic | |
| Colebrookdale Township, Berks County |  |
New Hanover Township | ||
 Congo  |
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| Boyertown, Gilbertsville | Layfield | Sassamansville |
