Oreland, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oreland
Census-designated place
Oreland Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Oreland Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Montgomery
Townships	Springfield
Area
• Total	1.51 sq mi (3.91 km2)
• Land	1.51 sq mi (3.91 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	259 ft (79 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	6,210
• Density	4,115.31/sq mi (1,588.71/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	19075
Area codes	215, 267, and 445
FIPS code	42-57024

Oreland is a community in Pennsylvania, United States. It's known as a census-designated place (CDP), which means it's an area identified by the census bureau for statistical purposes. Oreland is located in Springfield and Upper Dublin townships. It's just outside the Chestnut Hill and Mount Airy areas of Philadelphia. The area has a ZIP code of 19075. In 2020, about 6,210 people lived there.

Exploring Oreland's Location

Oreland is found at coordinates 40.114510 degrees North and -75.179880 degrees West. This helps pinpoint its exact spot on a map.

Land Area of Oreland

According to the United States Census Bureau, Oreland covers a total area of about 1.5 square miles (3.9 square kilometers). All of this area is land, meaning there are no large bodies of water within its boundaries.

Oreland's Rich History

Oreland has a long and interesting history, dating back to the time of William Penn. It was part of one of his original land grants.

Discovering Lime and Ore Deposits

In 1686, a man named Thomas Fitzwater made an important discovery. He found huge amounts of lime on his land in Oreland. Lime is a material used in building and farming. He built a special oven, called a kiln, to process the lime.

By 1693, even William Penn himself noticed the success of Fitzwater's kiln. Penn ordered a road to be built from the Delaware River port directly to the kiln. This road was named Limekiln Pike. It's still in use today and was one of the first roads in the area. Both the lime and other ore deposits found here gave Oreland its name.

From Mining to Modern Suburb

For many years, mining and farming were the main activities in Oreland. But in the 20th century, things changed. Oreland started to become a residential suburb. This means it became a place where many people live and commute to nearby cities like Philadelphia for work. It remains a residential area today.

Railroads and Transportation

The village of Oreland was officially planned in 1889. It was built near the North Pennsylvania Railroad, which ran along the east side of town. Today, this is part of SEPTA's Lansdale/Doylestown Line, a commuter train service.

Another railway, the Plymouth Railroad, used to connect Conshohocken to Oreland. Most of its tracks were removed in the 1980s. The old path where the trains ran is now used by children, runners, and bikers. It starts near the Oreland Station Apartments and goes towards Flourtown.

Emlen House: A Historic Landmark

A special bronze tablet, placed in 1928, marks the location of Emlen House. This house was once the headquarters for George Washington. He stayed there from November 2 to December 11, 1777, during the American Revolutionary War. The house is located where Oreland and Whitemarsh meet.

In the early 1900s, the house was known as "Mistfield Farm." Later, in 1956, it was bought by Edward Piszek. He was the founder of Mrs. Paul's Kitchens, a company known for frozen seafood. The Piszek family owned the house until 2013.

Famous People from Oreland

Oreland has been home to several notable individuals:

• Jim Curtin: A former American soccer player. He is currently the head coach for the Philadelphia Union soccer team. He played most of his career for the Chicago Fire.
• Tommy Conwell: The lead singer of the band Tommy Conwell & The Young Rumblers.
• Adam Goren: The only member of the synth-punk band, Atom and his Package.
• Wayne Hardin: A well-known former college football coach. He coached for Navy and Temple University. Coach Hardin is recognized in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Schools Serving Oreland Students

Students in Oreland attend schools based on which township they live in.

Public Schools in Springfield Township

For students living in the Springfield Township part of Oreland, the public schools are:

• Springfield Elementary School (with Enfield Campus and Erdenheim Campus)
• Springfield Middle School
• Springfield Township High School

Only Enfield Elementary and Springfield Middle School are actually located in Oreland. The other schools are in the nearby town of Erdenheim. Oreland is one of four towns that are part of the Springfield Township Public School District.

Public Schools in Upper Dublin Township

For students living in the Upper Dublin Township part of Oreland, the public schools are:

• Jarrettown Elementary School
• Sandy Run Middle School
• Upper Dublin High School

Catholic Schools in Oreland

• Martin Saints Classical High School: This is a growing small Roman Catholic high school. It follows a classical style of education. The school is a private institution that rents space on the second floor of Holy Martyrs church. It is managed separately from the parish.

Oreland's Population and Community

In 2010, there were 5,678 people living in Oreland. These people lived in 2,138 households, with 1,601 of them being families. The population density was about 3,883.7 people per square mile. There were 2,188 homes in the area.

Diversity in Oreland

The community of Oreland is diverse. In 2010, about 79.71% of the population was White, 14.58% African American, and 2.73% Asian. About 2.45% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Age Groups in the Community

The population in Oreland includes people of all ages. In 2010, about 26.0% of the residents were under 18 years old. About 13.0% were 65 years of age or older. The average age of residents was 39.6 years.

Nearby Communities and Areas

	Fort Washington	Dresher	North Hills
	Flourtown		Glenside
		Oreland
	Erdenheim	Wyndmoor	Laverock

See also

In Spanish: Oreland para niños