Havertown, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Havertown
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Unincorporated community
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Old Haverford Friends Meetinghouse
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 Havertown
Location in Pennsylvania
Havertown
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Delaware |
| Township | Haverford |
| Founded | 1681 |
| Elevation | 276 ft (84 m) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
19083
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| Area codes | 610 and 484 |
Havertown is a friendly suburban community in Haverford Township, Pennsylvania, United States. It's about 9 miles west of downtown Philadelphia. Havertown got its name from the U.S. Post Office in 1946. Before that, different parts of the area had their own names, like Brookline and Manoa. This area was originally part of the "Welsh Tract," land bought by William Penn.
Contents
Exploring Havertown's Past
Haverford Township was started by Welsh Quakers in 1681. They bought the land from William Penn. The settlers named their new home after Haverfordwest in Wales.
Havertown has many historic places. The Grange Estate hosted important figures like George Washington and General Lafayette. Nitre Hall helped the United States by making gunpowder during the War of 1812.
Other historic sites in Havertown include the Federal School and Lawrence Cabin. These places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Haverford Township Historical Society helps keep track of the township's important historic spots.
Old Roads and Pathways
Some of Havertown's roads are very old. Haverford Road was one of the first roads planned by the government. Darby Road, also known as Coopertown Road, dates back to 1687. Mill Road might be one of the oldest roads used by people. Eagle Road got its name from the Spread Eagle Tavern. It helped Quaker settlers find their way to the Haverford Meeting House.
Railroads and New Communities
Before World War I, Haverford was mostly made up of large farms. By 1902, maps showed that land ownership had changed a lot. In 1895, a trolley company started service, which led to big changes.
The trolley line helped new communities grow. A commercial rail line also served local businesses until the 1960s.
Llanerch: A Planned Community
Llanerch was the first planned community in Haverford Township. It was built by railroad companies. They built houses for people who would use their train lines to get to work. In 1897, Llanerch had twelve houses and a church. The first school in Llanerch opened in 1905.
Brookline: A Full-Service Neighborhood
Brookline was a very well-planned community. After World War I, the Manor Real Estate Company, connected to the railroads, created "Brookline Manor." This plan included everything a community needed. It had a wide boulevard with shops, churches, and schools.
The Boulevard had stores like a bakery, barbers, and a movie theater. Churches like the Methodist Church and Saint Faith Episcopal Church were also along the Boulevard. The Brookline School met the educational needs of the community.
The Brookline Fire Company was built in 1916. Nearby were the Brookline Library and Haverford High School. In the past, the Brookline Country Club and a small airport were also in the area.
Transportation was very convenient. The Red Arrow Trolley line ran from Ardmore to Philadelphia, making it easy for people to travel. A bus line also helped people get around. These electric trolley lines were replaced by buses in 1966.
The Irish in Havertown
Irish people came to Haverford Township in three main waves. The first group arrived in the 1800s to work in the mills. Dennis Kelly, an Irish immigrant, owned mills and helped build the first Catholic church in the area in 1822.
The second wave of Irish immigrants came with the planned communities like Brookline around 1925. New Catholic churches and schools were built, making it easier for Catholic families to settle there.
The third and largest group arrived after World War II. They moved into new housing developments like Beechwood and Chatham Park. Today, many people in Haverford Township have Irish ancestry.
Bubble Gum History
Havertown is famous for being the birthplace of Swell Bubble Gum. It started in 1947. The factory closed in 2004 and was torn down. In 2013, a new YMCA building was built on that site.
Arts and Community Fun
Haverford Music Festival
The Haverford Music Festival is a fun, all-day event for families. It was started by the Haverford Township Civic Council. The festival takes place every year in the Oakmont Business District of Havertown. It began in 2011.
In 2012, over 15,000 people came to enjoy more than 30 bands on three stages. Money raised from the festival helps fund community programs in Haverford Township. For example, proceeds from the 2011 festival helped make the Oakmont Business District more beautiful.
Parks and Outdoor Activities
Havertown has over 30 outdoor parks and playing fields. There are also other fun places for residents. These include the Haverford Township Free Library and the Haverford Township Skatium, which is an ice rink.
Some popular parks in Havertown are Llanerch Park, Karakung Field/Drive, and the Haverford Reserve/Freedom Playground.
Learning and Schools
Havertown is served by the School District of Haverford Township. It has one high school, one middle school, and five elementary schools. Chestnutwold Elementary School reopened in 2008 after being refurbished. Oakmont Elementary became the district offices.
Manoa Elementary School moved to a new location in 2009. Lynnewood Elementary also opened a newly refurbished school in 2021. The sports teams at Haverford High School are called the "Fords," and their mascot is a Model T Ford.
Cardinal John Foley Regional School is the Catholic school in the area. It was formed in 2012 when two other Catholic schools merged.
Community Services
Safety and Protection
The Haverford Township Police Department keeps the town safe. Five volunteer fire companies also work together as the Haverford Township Bureau of Fire to protect the community.
Environmental Care
The Havertown Superfund site was once a wood treatment facility. From 1947 to 1991, chemicals were dumped into a well there. These chemicals flowed into Naylor's Run Creek and eventually into the Delaware River.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) started cleaning up the site in 1976. It was added to the National Priorities List in 1983, meaning it was a top cleanup project. The EPA handed control to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in 2013.
Even though many people live near the site, they use public water, so their drinking water is safe. The site is now considered safe for human health in the short term. A storage facility and a YMCA were built on parts of the cleaned-up site. Work to treat contaminated groundwater and monitor the site is still ongoing.
Famous People from Havertown
Havertown has been home to many interesting people:
- Marguerite de Angeli, an award-winning children's book author.
- Howard Benson, a music producer nominated for two Grammy awards.
- Jan Berenstain, one of the creators of the Berenstain Bears books.
- Jerry Crawford, a former umpire in Major League Baseball.
- Joey Crawford, an NBA referee.
- Shag Crawford, a major league umpire and father of Jerry and Joey Crawford.
- Jimmy Dykes, a baseball player and manager.
- Kyle Eckel, an NFL player.
- John Facenda, a Philadelphia newscaster and narrator for NFL Films.
- Sinead Farrelly, a footballer for the Republic of Ireland national team.
- Rick Fisher, a lighting designer who won two Tony Awards.
- Michael Fitzgerald, a racing driver.
- Stephen Freind, a Republican representative in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
- Alex G, a singer-songwriter.
- Frank Gasparro, the Chief Engraver of the US Mint.
- Julie Gold, a composer who won a Grammy for "From a Distance."
- Randy Grossman, a tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl champions.
- Brendan Hansen, an Olympic swimmer with four medals.
- Joshua Humphreys, a famous shipbuilder.
- Ross Katz, a film producer.
- Billy King, a former General Manager for the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers.
- John LeClair, who played for the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers.
- Joe Lunardi, an ESPN expert on college basketball brackets.
- Glen Macnow, a Philadelphia radio personality.
- Marcus McElhenney, an Olympic bronze medalist in rowing.
- Mary Lou Metzger, a singer and dancer on the Lawrence Welk Show.
- Ryan Mulhern, a former hockey player for the Washington Capitals.
- David Ricketts, a composer, guitarist, and producer.
- Robin Roberts, a Phillies pitcher and Hall of Famer.
- Michael Sembello, a composer and guitarist who wrote "Maniac" for the Flashdance film.
- Jean Shiley-Newhouse, a 1932 Olympic gold medalist.
- Mike Tollin, a film producer and director.
- Sam Venuto, a former running back in the National Football League.
- Tom Verica, an actor.
- Mark Yudof, a former president of the University of California.
