Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania
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Plymouth Friends Meetinghouse
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 Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Montgomery |
| Township | Plymouth, Whitemarsh |
| Founded | 1686 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.91 sq mi (10.12 km2) |
| • Land | 3.91 sq mi (10.12 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 184 ft (56 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,452 |
| • Density | 1,906.86/sq mi (736.24/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
19462
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| Area code(s) | 610 and 484 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1184137 |
Plymouth Meeting is a special community in Pennsylvania, United States. It's called a census-designated place (CDP) because the government counts its population separately. It's located in Montgomery County, spread across two areas called Plymouth and Whitemarsh Townships. This town was first settled way back in 1686.
In 2020, about 7,452 people lived in Plymouth Meeting. It's home to the Colonial School District, a popular shopping center called the Plymouth Meeting Mall, and many offices. Did you know that IKEA's U.S. headquarters are here? Plymouth Meeting is also a major meeting point for big highways like the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-276) and the Mid-County Expressway (I-476). This makes it a busy place for businesses and shops.
Plymouth Meeting is about 47 kilometers (29 miles) southeast of Allentown. It's also about 18.7 kilometers (11.6 miles) northwest of Philadelphia, a much larger city.
Contents
History
Early Settlers and the Meetinghouse
Plymouth Meeting was first settled by a group called the Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers. They sailed from England and arrived in Philadelphia in 1686. They built the Plymouth Friends Meetinghouse in 1708, which is still standing today! The town got its name from their hometown, Plymouth, in England.
In 1754, an inn called the Seven Stars opened here. It was a popular spot for travelers. Later, in 1975, it was taken down to build a highway.
Revolutionary War Events
During the American Revolutionary War, in May 1778, the Plymouth Friends Meetinghouse was used as a temporary hospital for soldiers. General George Washington was nearby at Valley Forge. He heard that British soldiers were planning to attack. So, he sent Marquis de Lafayette with about 2,100 troops to stop them.
Lafayette's troops camped near the meetinghouse the night before the Battle of Barren Hill. The next morning, a huge British force of 16,000 soldiers arrived. They tried to trap Lafayette's troops. But Lafayette knew the local roads well. He used this knowledge to help his soldiers escape with very few injuries. It was a clever move!
Abolitionism and Social Change
The Quakers, who founded Plymouth Meeting, were against slavery. By 1830, there was only one enslaved person left in Plymouth Township. Families like the Maulsbys and Corsons were early abolitionists. They helped enslaved people escape to freedom, making their homes part of the Underground Railroad.
In 1850, a new law called the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 made it very risky to help escaped slaves. People could go to prison or pay a large fine. But local resident George Corson continued to help. He even built a special building called Abolition Hall in 1856. This hall could hold up to 200 people. It became a place where famous speakers like Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and William Lloyd Garrison gave speeches against slavery.
Later, in the late 1800s, Abolition Hall became the art studio of a painter named Thomas Hovenden. He was married to George Corson's daughter. Hovenden was known for painting realistic scenes of American life, especially from the farmlands of Plymouth Meeting. His paintings of the American Civil War era look almost like photographs. One of his most famous paintings, "Breaking Home Ties," can be seen in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Growth and Transportation
Plymouth Meeting continued to grow in the 1900s. Important roads like Germantown Pike were built a long time ago. Germantown Pike was first planned in 1687 as a "cart road" from Philadelphia.
In the early 1800s, the Hickorytown Hotel was a well-known spot. It was a training place for soldiers and where local elections were held.
Industries also grew here. The Hickorytown Forge was an early metalworking business. The Plymouth Iron Company was formed in 1863 and made nails.
Railroads played a big part in connecting Plymouth Meeting to other places. The Plymouth Railroad was built in 1836 to serve lime kilns, which were important for making building materials. Other railroads like the Philadelphia, Germantown, and Norristown Railroad (now SEPTA's Manayunk/Norristown Line) and the Schuylkill Valley Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad also passed through.
In the 1890s, electric trolley lines were built. These trolleys carried people between towns like Chestnut Hill and Norristown. They were replaced by buses in the 1920s and 1930s as more cars came into use.
Modern Development
The first school in Plymouth Township was started by the Quakers in 1780. Later, public schools were established in the 1800s.
In 1922, Plymouth became a "township of the first class," which meant it had a more modern local government. Over the years, the township adopted rules for things like plumbing, building, and planning new neighborhoods. In 1972, Plymouth Township adopted a Home Rule Charter. This allows the local government to make its own decisions unless state laws say otherwise.
Several historic places in Plymouth Meeting, including the Plymouth Friends Meetinghouse and Hovenden House, Barn and Abolition Hall, were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
Geography
Plymouth Meeting is mostly located in Plymouth Township. A smaller part is in Whitemarsh Township. The total area of Plymouth Meeting is about 3.8 square miles (10.12 square kilometers), and it's all land.
Even though Plymouth Township is close to the Schuylkill River, most of the riverfront is used by businesses. However, a bike trail is being built to give people better access to the river.
Major highways like Interstate 476 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike run through the area. This makes it easy to get to other places, including the "Main Line" communities across the river.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1990 | 6,241 | — | |
| 2000 | 5,593 | −10.4% | |
| 2010 | 6,177 | 10.4% | |
| 2020 | 7,452 | 20.6% | |
Demographics is the study of a population. It looks at things like how many people live somewhere and what groups they belong to.
According to the 2020 census, Plymouth Meeting had a population of 7,452 people. In 2010, the population was 6,177. Most residents were White (82.2%), with smaller percentages of Black or African American (6.2%) and Asian (8.4%) people. About 2.1% of the population had Hispanic or Latino family backgrounds.
Notable People
- Joseph K. Corson: An American Civil War soldier who won the Medal of Honor.
- Jim Drucker: A former leader of professional basketball and arena football leagues. He also started a comic book company.
- Steve Schlachter: An American-Israeli basketball player.
Attractions
The historic Plymouth Friends Meetinghouse, built in 1708, is a very old and important building in the town.
Plymouth Meeting is also home to the Plymouth Meeting Mall. This mall has many stores, restaurants, and an AMC Theatres movie theater. Big stores like Boscov's, Burlington, Dick's Sporting Goods, Michaels, and Edge Fitness are located there.
Institutions
Plymouth Meeting is located in both Plymouth and Whitemarsh townships. The term "Plymouth Meeting" often refers to most of Plymouth Township. The local post office is actually in Whitemarsh Township, but it serves the Plymouth Meeting area. The high school for the area is called "Plymouth Whitemarsh."
La Salle University has a smaller campus in Plymouth Meeting. Villanova University also has its baseball fields here, at the Greater Plymouth Community Center. This community center has a walking trail, sand volleyball courts, indoor basketball courts, and a swimming pool. They even hold concerts in the summer!
Plymouth Township has many parks, covering about 149 acres. These parks offer great places for outdoor activities.
Education
The Colonial School District has its main office near Plymouth Meeting. This school district is known as one of the best in Pennsylvania. It has very good test results. Students from Plymouth and Whitemarsh townships, along with the borough of Conshohocken, all share the same high school.
For Catholic school students, there's Holy Rosary Regional Catholic School. It was formed in 2012 when three local Catholic schools joined together.
See also
In Spanish: Plymouth Meeting para niños
