Gladwyne, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gladwyne
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Gladwyne post office
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 Gladwyne
Location in Pennsylvania
Gladwyne
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Montgomery |
| Township | Lower Merion |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.9 sq mi (13 km2) |
| • Land | 4.9 sq mi (13 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 338 ft (103 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,096 |
| • Density | 836/sq mi (323/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
19035
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| Area codes | 610 and 484 |
Gladwyne is a lovely suburban community located in Lower Merion Township, which is in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It's part of the famous Philadelphia Main Line area. In 2018, Gladwyne was known as one of the wealthiest areas in the country based on its ZIP Code.
About 4,096 people lived in Gladwyne in 2020. Since Gladwyne isn't an official city or town, all its information comes from the 19035 ZIP Code area.
Gladwyne has many important places for its residents. You can find four churches, a synagogue, and a public library here. There are also two schools, the Gladwyne fire company, and a civic association that helps the community. For fun, there's the Stony Lane Swim Club, playgrounds, and parks. You can also find local businesses and shops.
The historic Guard House Inn is a well-known spot in Gladwyne. The community is also home to the Philadelphia Country Club and the Merion Cricket Club. Gladwyne has done a great job of protecting its natural spaces. Many people have donated land, which has helped keep the area from becoming too crowded with new buildings. This means Gladwyne still has a mix of old farms, colonial buildings, and older homes, which is different from many other suburban areas.
A banker named James Crosby Brown helped preserve a large piece of land. He divided his 185-acre estate into smaller lots that couldn't be divided further. This helped set an example for protecting land in the future. The Lower Merion Conservancy is a group that works to protect the local history and nature. They have their office in Gladwyne's Rolling Hill Park.
Contents
History of Gladwyne
Gladwyne was first settled by Welsh Quakers starting in 1682. Before 1891, it was called "Merion Square." The name was changed to Gladwyne to avoid confusion with other "Merion" places nearby. The new name, Gladwyne, doesn't have a special meaning in the Welsh language.
Many years ago, there were 24 mills operating along Mill Creek in the area. The main road through Gladwyne still follows the creek's path. After the American Civil War, wealthy people from Philadelphia started building their summer homes here. This was made easier by the new Pennsylvania Railroad's Main Line.
In the 1960s, the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) was built. This made Gladwyne even more popular because it was close to the highway. It was also located perfectly between King of Prussia, a big business center, and Center City Philadelphia. To welcome new families, the Gladwyne Elementary School was built in 1958. The Gladwyne Free Library, which is part of the Lower Merion Library System, was also updated and made bigger.
Even with these changes, the heart of Gladwyne village has stayed much the same. It was first built where Youngsford and Righter's Mill Roads meet. This has helped Gladwyne keep its historic charm while still having modern conveniences. Today, it has a supermarket, pharmacy, restaurants, and a tavern. The Gladwyne Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, recognizing its important history.
Gladwyne's Geography
Gladwyne covers an area of about 4.9 square miles (12.8 square kilometers). All of this area is land. The landscape of Gladwyne is mostly made up of rolling hills.
Gladwyne's People
In 2000, about 4,050 people lived in Gladwyne. There were 1,476 households, with 1,057 of them being families. Most people in the community were Caucasian. A small percentage were Asian or African American. About 1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many households (32.2%) had children under 18 living with them. Most families (67.3%) were married couples. The average household had 2.53 people, and the average family had 3.98 people.
The population included people of all ages. About 22.8% were under 18, and 28.2% were 65 or older. The average age in Gladwyne was 48.8 years.
Education in Gladwyne
Children who live in Gladwyne usually go to schools in the Lower Merion School District. Some children also attend private schools.
The local public schools for Gladwyne students are:
- Gladwyne Elementary School (located in Gladwyne)
- Welsh Valley Middle School (in Penn Valley)
- Harriton High School (in Bryn Mawr)
Gladwyne also has private schools like Gladwyne Montessori and the Wetherill School. There are many other excellent private schools in the area, such as Shipley School, Agnes Irwin School, Baldwin School, Haverford School, and Episcopal Academy.
Notable People from Gladwyne
Many interesting and famous people have lived in Gladwyne:
- Henry H. Arnold – The only American to become a General of the Air Force.
- Richie Ashburn – A Hall of Fame baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies. A baseball field in Gladwyne Park is named after him.
- Ralph L. Brinster, PhD – A biologist who helped create ways to work with early mouse embryos.
- John Thompson Dorrance – The chemist who invented condensed soup and was president of the Campbell Soup Company.
- J. Presper Eckert – He designed and patented the first general-purpose computer.
- Allen Iverson – A famous NBA basketball player who played for the Philadelphia 76ers.
- Mark Josephson, M.D. – A leading heart doctor and writer.
- Kyle Korver – An NBA basketball player who played for the Philadelphia 76ers and Atlanta Hawks.
- Mitchell Lazar – A well-known scientist and head of endocrinology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
- Carter Merbreier – The creator and co-host (Captain Noah) of the children's TV show, Captain Noah and His Magical Ark.
- Patricia Merbreier – The co-host (Mrs. Noah) and puppeteer for Captain Noah and His Magical Ark.
- Martin Meyerson, PhD – A city planner and former president of the University of Pennsylvania.
- Albert Nipon – An American fashion designer.
- Teddy Pendergrass – A famous R&B singer.
- J. Howard Pew – The son of the founder of the Sun Oil Corporation.
- Jonathan M. Raines – An American psychiatrist.
- M. Night Shyamalan – A well-known film director.
- Gil Stein – A former president of the NHL (National Hockey League).
- Robert Summers, PhD, and Anita Summers, PhD – Economists at the University of Pennsylvania.
- Chase Utley – A star MLB baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies.
- Silas L. Warner, M.D. – An American psychiatrist and writer.
Points of Interest in Gladwyne
Gladwyne has several interesting places to visit:
- 1690 House (built 1683): This is the oldest building still standing in Lower Merion Township. It includes parts of a log cabin built by John Roberts.
- Bridlewild Trail: A network of trails that stretches for 22 miles (35 km) through several preserved areas. It's open for residents, horses, and pets on leashes.
- Cedar Crest: This was once the large home and property of John T. Dorrance, Jr. It is now called "Linden Hill."
- Henry Foundation for Botanical Research: A special garden dedicated to studying plants.
- Rolling Hill Park: A 102-acre (0.41 km2) park along Mill Creek. It has old mill ruins and was bought by Lower Merion Township.
- Idlewild Farm Complex: A 47-acre (19 ha) farm with buildings that was given to Natural Lands, a conservation group.
- Saunders Woods: A 25-acre nature preserve that includes a colonial house and barn.
- Woodmont: This was the large home and property of Alan Wood, Jr. It is now a special place for the evangelist Father Divine.
See also
In Spanish: Gladwyne para niños
