Oaks, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oaks, Pennsylvania
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 Oaks, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Oaks, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Montgomery |
| Township | Upper Providence |
| Elevation | 121 ft (37 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
19456
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| Area code(s) | 610 and 484 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1182847 |
Oaks is a small community in Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It's about 18 miles (30 km) northwest of Philadelphia. Oaks is special because it's located where the Perkiomen Creek meets the Schuylkill River.
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History of Oaks
The two rivers, the Perkiomen Creek and the Schuylkill River, were very important to Oaks long ago. In 1825, the Schuylkill Navigation Company finished building the Schuylkill Canal and Brower's Locks in Oaks. This canal system was used a lot for travel and moving goods. The village of Oaks was named after the person who designed the canal, Thomas Oakes.
Later in the 1800s, railroads became more popular than canals. The Perkiomen Railroad built the Oaks station in 1868. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, also known as the Reading Railroad, later took over this short line. The village of Oaks grew up around this train station.
Oaks Today
Today, Oaks is part of a busy suburban area. Many of its old buildings are still standing. These include the original general store, the locktender's house (where the canal lock operator lived), and many historic homes.
Even though trains no longer run through the center of Oaks, a train station built in 1918 is still there. You can find it at the corner of Egypt Road and Station Avenue.
Growth and Development
In 1985, a major road called US Route 422 was finished. This road connects Oaks to nearby towns like King of Prussia and Reading. This new road helped the area grow.
For a while, Oaks didn't develop as much as its neighbors. This was because it had limited connections to its wastewater treatment plant. But plans for a new plant started, and new stores and a large movie theater were built near the highway. In 2008, the bigger Oaks Wastewater Treatment Plant was completed. This led to more homes and stores being built. The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center also opened around this time.
There was also interest in bringing back train service to Oaks. Two projects, the Schuylkill Valley Metro and the Greenline, were planned but later cancelled.
Fun Things to Do in Oaks
Oaks has many fun places to visit. You can explore the Lower Perkiomen Valley Park, which is about 107-acre (0.43 km2) big. There are also great trails for walking and biking, like the Schuylkill River Trail and the Perkiomen Trail.
If you like art, you can visit the West Collection of artwork. It's open to the public at the main building of SEI Investments. Oaks is also home to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, which hosts many different events.
For indoor fun, check out Arnold's Family Fun Center. It's the biggest indoor entertainment center in the region! Another cool place to visit is the American Treasure Tour. The ZIP code for Oaks is 19456.
Sports Teams
Oaks has been home to some sports teams. The Valley Forge Freedom was a hockey team that played in the Mid-Atlantic Hockey League. The Philadelphia Hawks is an Australian Rules Football team that plays its home games at Lower Perkiomen Valley Park.
Famous People from Oaks
- Jacob G. Francis, who started Elizabethtown College
- Harry Whittier Frees, a photographer known for his pictures of animals dressed in human clothes
