Miquon, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Miquon, Pennsylvania
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Battle of Barren Hill, 20 May 1778.
Miquon includes Barren Hill and the area south of it. |
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 Miquon, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Miquon, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States of America |
| State |  Pennsylvania |
| County |  Montgomery |
| Township | Whitemarsh Springfield |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
19444
19428 |
| Area code(s) | 610 |
Miquon is a small community in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is an unincorporated community, which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Instead, it's part of two larger areas: Whitemarsh Township and Springfield Township.
Miquon is located between the Roxborough area of Philadelphia and the Spring Mill area. Its borders are roughly Barren Hill Road, Ridge Pike, Manor Road, and the Schuylkill River. Depending on which part of Miquon you are in, you might have a 19428 ZIP code (shared with Conshohocken) or a 19444 ZIP code (shared with Lafayette Hill).
The name "Miquon" comes from the language of the Lenni-Lenape people. They were the very first people to live in this area.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
Revolutionary War History
Miquon played a small but important role during the American Revolutionary War. A famous event called the Battle of Barren Hill happened nearby on May 20, 1778. About 16,000 British soldiers tried to trap the Marquis de Lafayette and his 2,200 Continental troops.
Lafayette and his soldiers were very clever. They managed to escape through Miquon, crossing the river, and safely returning to their camp at Valley Forge.
Paper Mills and Railroads
In the 1800s, Miquon became a busy place for making paper. The W. C. Hamilton Paper Company had large mills along the Schuylkill River. They made paper there for many years, until the mid-1900s.
Later, in 1999, the old paper mill buildings were turned into modern offices. This new complex was named River Park I and River Park II. In 2012, River Park II became the home of AIM Academy, a private school.
The old Reading Railroad tracks also run through Miquon, right along the river. Around 1880, the railroad opened a passenger station in Miquon at Manor Road. It was called Lafayette Station. The building for this station was designed by a famous architect named Frank Furness. It served as the local train station until 1910 and the building is still standing today.
Miquon Today
Miquon has a newer train station, built around 1910. It was renamed "Miquon Station" in 1921. This station is located a bit southeast of the old Lafayette Station. The old Reading Railroad tracks are now used by the Manayunk/Norristown Line, which is part of the SEPTA regional rail system.
Important Places in Miquon
- The Miquon School: This is a well-known independent elementary school.
- Miquon Station: This is the current train station that serves the community.
- ACE Conference Center and Golf Club: This club owns a lot of land in Miquon, over 300 acres (about 1.2 square kilometers). It's the largest landowner in the area.
Notable People Connected to Miquon
- Derek Bok: He was the president of Harvard University for many years. His mother was Margaret Plummer Bok.
- Margaret Plummer Bok: She helped start The Miquon School in 1932.
Images for kids
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Miquon station
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Miquon station in 2012. River Park I is in the background.
