Fort Washington, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fort Washington
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Quaker Manor House
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 Fort Washington
Location in Pennsylvania
Fort Washington
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Montgomery |
| Township | Upper Dublin Whitemarsh |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.7 sq mi (7 km2) |
| • Land | 2.7 sq mi (7 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 233 ft (71 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 5,446 |
| • Density | 2,020/sq mi (779/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
19034
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| Area codes | 215, 267, and 445 |
Fort Washington is a community located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It's like a small town, but it's officially called a census-designated place. This means it's an area that the government counts as a distinct community for statistics. Fort Washington is also a suburb of the big city of Philadelphia. In 2010, about 5,446 people lived there.
Contents
History of Fort Washington
Early Settlement
Long ago, in the 1700s, many German families came to settle in the Fort Washington area. One of these settlers was Philip Engard, who arrived in 1728. He bought a large piece of land, about 100 acres, near what is now Susquehanna Road.
Over time, this area became known as Engardtown. The road that is now Fort Washington Avenue was originally called Engardtown Road. The house Philip Engard built in 1765 is still recognized today as an important historical building in the area.
Fort Washington During the American Revolutionary War
Fort Washington played a big role during the American Revolutionary War. After a battle in Germantown in October 1777, George Washington and his Continental Army set up camp here. They stayed in Fort Washington before heading to Valley Forge for the winter.
From December 5 to 8, 1777, a battle called the Battle of White Marsh happened here. It was fought between the American and British armies. During this time, George Washington stayed at the Emlen House, which was built in 1745. The British commander, General William Howe, watched the American lines from a church bell tower nearby. Today, much of the area where the American defenses were is part of Fort Washington State Park.
The Great Train Wreck of 1856
Fort Washington was also the site of a very serious train accident in American history. On July 17, 1856, two trains from the North Pennsylvania Railroad crashed into each other. This happened near a station called Sandy Run.
Many people were hurt or lost their lives in this accident. A sad part of this event was that many of those affected were children. They were traveling from Philadelphia for a Sunday school picnic in a park in the Fort Washington area.
Becoming Part of Upper Dublin Township
On January 1, 1946, the area of Fort Washington became part of a larger government area called the Township of Upper Dublin. Some parts of Fort Washington also became part of Whitemarsh Township. This change helped organize the local government for these communities.
Population and People
Fort Washington is a diverse community. According to the 2010 census, most people living there were White. There were also significant numbers of people who identified as Black or African American, and Asian. A small percentage of the population also had Hispanic or Latino family backgrounds.
Families in Fort Washington are often married couples living together. Many households have children under 18 years old. The community has a mix of age groups, from young children to older adults.
Places to Visit
Fort Washington has several interesting places to explore:
Getting Around
You can get to Fort Washington using public transportation. The SEPTA Regional Rail's Lansdale/Doylestown Line has a stop at the Fort Washington station. There is also a bus service called OurBus that connects Fort Washington to New York City. The bus stop is right next to the train station, making it easy to travel.
Famous People from Fort Washington
Some notable people have lived in Fort Washington:
- Norman Grubb - A missionary.
- Suzy Kolber - A well-known sports personality on ESPN.
See also
In Spanish: Fort Washington (Pensilvania) para niños
