Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
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Bala Cynwyd Library, part of the Lower Merion Library System
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 Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Montgomery |
| Township | Lower Merion |
| Settled | 1682 |
| Elevation | 302 ft (92 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 9,285 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Zip Code |
19004
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| Area codes | 484 and 610 |
Bala Cynwyd is a community in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, United States. It's located near the western edge of Philadelphia. This area is part of the Philadelphia Main Line, which is a group of towns along a historic railroad line.
Bala Cynwyd used to be two separate towns, Bala and Cynwyd. They became one community mainly because the U.S. Post Office started serving both with the same ZIP Code, 19004. In 2020, the combined population was 9,285 people. Even though they are now one community, Bala and Cynwyd still have their own train stations on SEPTA's Cynwyd Line.
This area is in the Welsh Tract of Pennsylvania. It was settled in the 1680s by Welsh Quakers. They named the community after towns in Wales: Bala and Cynwyd. Bala Cynwyd is mostly a residential area with many single-family homes. Some of the oldest and most beautiful stone mansions were built here between 1880 and the 1920s.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 9,285 | — | |
Contents
History of Bala Cynwyd
The oldest shopping area in Bala Cynwyd is along Montgomery Avenue at Bala Avenue. This area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was settled soon after William Penn arrived in Pennsylvania in 1682. Some of its commercial buildings are from the early 1800s.
Bala Avenue is an older shopping street known for its children's clothing stores, women's shops, the Bala Theater, and small restaurants. Another part of the original shopping district extends south along Montgomery Avenue, connecting to the commercial center of Merion.
Bala Cynwyd has many different houses of worship. Saint John's Episcopal Church was founded in 1863. Saint Matthias Catholic Church is also nearby. The area is also home to Modern Orthodox and Conservative Jews who live near Lower Merion Synagogue and Congregation Adath Israel.
Community Life in the 20th Century
The Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd started in 1906. This club helps keep the neighborhood a great place to live and builds community spirit. Every year, they host an Independence Day celebration on July 4. It starts at the Union Fire Association and ends at the Bala Cynwyd Playground. The parade is fun, with children on decorated bicycles, people in costumes, clowns, floats, fire trucks, and police.
The Lower Merion Historical Society moved its main office to the old Cynwyd Academy building. This building is next to Bala Cynwyd Middle School.
Troop 1 in Bala Cynwyd is one of the groups that claims to be the first Boy Scout Troop in the United States.
Bala Cynwyd has been a major center for broadcasting in the Philadelphia area for a long time. In 1952, the CBS television station WCAU-TV built its headquarters here. Later, ABC station WPVI-TV moved to a studio across the street. Many radio stations are also located in Bala Cynwyd, including Beasley Broadcast Group's WBEN-FM, WMGK, WMMR, and WPEN.
The Bala Cynwyd On City Avenue shopping center opened in 1957. It has stores like Acme Markets, Olive Garden, and LA Fitness.
From 1946 to 1960, the National Football League (NFL) had its main office in Bala Cynwyd.
Two important historical sites in Bala Cynwyd are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are the Lower Merion Academy-Cynwyd Elementary School-Bala Cynwyd Junior High School Complex and West Laurel Hill Cemetery.
Schools in Bala Cynwyd
Bala Cynwyd is part of the Lower Merion School District. The district's main office is in Ardmore. Children living in Bala Cynwyd usually go to Cynwyd Elementary School, Belmont Hills Elementary School, and Bala Cynwyd Middle School. For high school, students can choose between Lower Merion High School in Ardmore and Harriton High School in Rosemont.
Other schools in Bala Cynwyd include Kohelet Yeshiva High School. Kosloff Torah Academy is an Orthodox Jewish, private all-girls high school. The private, Catholic Merion Mercy and Waldron Mercy Academies are also nearby. The bilingual French International School of Philadelphia teaches children from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade in both French and English.
Bala Cynwyd Library
The Bala Cynwyd Public Library is part of the Lower Merion Library System. It is a modern building on Old Lancaster Road. The library has over 221,000 items, modern computer facilities, and a special children's library on the second floor. The entire library system has over 1.4 million items.
Notable People from Bala Cynwyd
Many interesting people have connections to Bala Cynwyd:
- Hobey Baker, who has a famous NCAA men's hockey award named after him.
- Chuck Barris, a game show creator and host.
- Kobe Bryant, a famous NBA Basketball player, went to Bala Cynwyd Middle School and Lower Merion High School.
- Madeleine Dean, a U.S. representative.
- Robert Fagles, a translator.
- Alexander Haig, a United States Army general and later United States Secretary of State.
- Skip James, a blues musician, is buried here.
- Mirah, a singer-songwriter.
- Jane Norman, an actress known for playing Pixanne in a children's TV show.
Places of Interest to Visit
- Merion Memorial Park is a historic cemetery. Many important Black Philadelphians are buried here. Its sections are named after famous people who fought against slavery and for civil rights.
- The Cynwyd Heritage Trail is a 2-mile (3.2 km) long park and walking path. It connects Lower Merion Township to Manayunk using the Manayunk Bridge over the Schuylkill River.
- West Laurel Hill Cemetery is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Bala Cynwyd in Movies
- Bala Cynwyd was the hometown of the fictional character Vida Boheme, played by Patrick Swayze, in the 1995 movie To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.
- A home invasion in the 2000 movie Unbreakable was set in Bala Cynwyd.
