Pottstown, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pottstown
Borough
Borough of Pottstown
High Street in Pottstown, June 2020
Flag Seal
Location of Pottstown in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
Pottstown Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Pottstown Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Montgomery
Founded	1752
Incorporated	February 6, 1815
Government
• Type	Council-manager
Area
• Total	4.94 sq mi (12.79 km2)
• Land	4.85 sq mi (12.57 km2)
• Water	0.09 sq mi (0.22 km2)
Elevation	203 ft (62 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	23,433
• Density	4,829.55/sq mi (1,864.88/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	19464-19465
Area codes	610 and 484
FIPS code	42-62416
Website	http://www.pottstown.org

Pottstown is a borough located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was first planned in 1752–53 and was originally called Pottsgrove. This name honored its founder, John Potts. The name changed to Pottstown when it officially became a borough in 1815. In 1888, the town grew much larger. Today, Pottstown is known as a center for farming and dairy production.

Pottstown is situated along the Schuylkill River. It is about 29 miles (47 km) south of Allentown and 40 miles (65 km) northwest of Philadelphia. It is considered part of the larger Philadelphia metropolitan area.

History of Pottstown

Pottsgrove Mansion, the historic home of John Potts.

The Pottstown Roller Mill, built in 1725.

The land where Pottstown now stands was originally given to William Penn. Early European settlers in the area included people from Germany, Sweden, and England. The town's future became closely linked to the iron industry after the first iron forge was built in 1714. Over time, blast furnaces for making iron and later steel opened in the area.

The Potts family, who were experts in iron production, were drawn to the area. They set up a forge and built a large home west of the Manatawny Creek. In 1761, John Potts founded a town on some of the land he owned. This area is also home to the nation's oldest mill, the Pottstown Roller Mill.

Pottsgrove grew steadily. In 1815, it officially became a borough named Pottstown. It was the second borough to be established in Pennsylvania, after Norristown.

The Philadelphia & Reading Railroad reached Pottstown in 1838. When the railroad was extended to Mount Carbon in 1842, it made it easier to move raw materials and finished goods. This helped Pottstown's economy grow a lot. In just a few years after the railroad extension, the population jumped from 600 to 1,850 people. Pottstown's metal production increased, and steel from the borough was even used in important projects like the Panama Canal and the Golden Gate Bridge.

In 1944, the borough started using a city manager form of government. By 1964, the town decided to change its local government again. At that time, it had one of the largest borough councils in the state, with 20 members. This number was reduced to seven members, representing different parts of the town.

Several historic places in Pottstown are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the High Street Historic District, the Old Pottstown Historic District, the Pottsgrove Mansion, the Grubb Mansion, the Jefferson Elementary School, the Pottstown Roller Mill, the Reading Railroad Pottstown Station, and the Henry Antes House.

Geography and Climate

The Schuylkill River Trail at the Pottstown Riverfront Park.

Pottstown is located at coordinates 40°14′59″N 75°38′25″W. The U.S. Census Bureau states that the borough covers a total area of 4.9 square miles (12.7 square kilometers). Most of this area, 4.8 square miles (12.57 square kilometers), is land. The remaining 0.1 square miles (0.22 square kilometers) is water.

What is Pottstown's Climate Like?

The climate in Pottstown has hot, humid summers. Winters are generally mild to cool. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Pottstown has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has warm temperatures and plenty of rain throughout the year. The area can still get heavy snowfall sometimes.

Who Lives in Pottstown?

In 2020, the population of Pottstown was 23,433 people. According to the 2010 census, the borough's population was 72.1% White, 19.5% Black or African American, and 8.0% of Hispanic or Latino background.

In 2000, there were 21,859 people living in Pottstown. About 29.1% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.36 people. The median age in the borough was 36 years old.

Getting Around Pottstown

PA 100 northbound in Pottstown.

Pottstown has about 74 miles (119 km) of public roads. Most of these roads are maintained by the borough itself.

The main east-west road in Pottstown is High Street. It continues east of the borough as Ridge Pike. Hanover Street is the main north-south road. The U.S. Route 422 freeway runs south of Pottstown. It goes east towards King of Prussia and Philadelphia, and west towards Reading.

Pennsylvania Route 100 goes north-south through the Pottstown area. It heads south to West Chester and north to Allentown. Pennsylvania Route 663 starts in Pottstown and goes east and northeast before leaving the borough. Pennsylvania Route 724 runs along the south bank of the Schuylkill River in Chester County.

The Charles W. Dickinson Transportation Center is the main hub for Pottstown Area Rapid Transit buses.

Local bus service in Pottstown is called Pottstown Area Rapid Transit (PART). PART runs five bus routes from Monday to Saturday. These buses operate out of the Charles W. Dickinson Transportation Center in downtown Pottstown. They also offer a special service for people with disabilities. SEPTA's Route 93 bus connects Pottstown to the Norristown Transportation Center in Norristown. There is also Amtrak Thruway bus service that connects Pottstown to Reading and Philadelphia.

Pottstown has its own airport, Pottstown Municipal Airport, for general aviation. Nearby is Heritage Field Airport in Limerick.

Passenger train service between Reading/Pottstown and Philadelphia stopped in 1981. There have been attempts to bring back commuter trains, but they haven't been successful yet. The old train station building is still there and is now used as a district justice office. Freight trains still use the tracks in Pottstown. The Colebrookdale Railroad is a special heritage railway that runs from Pottstown to Boyertown.

Education in Pottstown

Aerial view of The Hill School.

Libraries and Colleges

• The Pottstown Regional Public Library serves the community.
• Montgomery County Community College has a West Campus in Pottstown.

Public Schools

• The Pottstown School District serves students living within the borough.
• The Pottsgrove School District serves the townships surrounding Pottstown in Montgomery County.
• The Owen J. Roberts School District serves areas south of the borough in Chester County. This includes several townships like Warwick, East Nantmeal, and North Coventry. This district has five elementary schools, a middle school, and the Owen J. Roberts High School.

Private Schools

• The Hill School
• Wyndcroft School
• Saint Aloysius School
• West-Mont Christian Academy

Media and News

Newspapers

The Mercury

The Mercury is a local newspaper that has won two Pulitzer Prizes. One was for photography in 1979, and the other was for editorial writing in 1990.

Television

PCTV

PCTV (Pottstown Community TV) is run by the Borough of Pottstown. It provides local TV programming over Comcast Cable TV to many homes in western Montgomery County and nearby areas. PCTV has been around since 1983 and produces shows on three local cable channels. PCTV also broadcasts local high school sports like football, basketball, and baseball.

Radio

WPAZ broadcasts on 1370AM and serves the greater Philadelphia area. It plays traditional Christian music, including religious hymns and songs.

Notable People from Pottstown

Pottstown has been home to many interesting people, including:

• Jacob Albright, a founder of the United Methodist Church.
• Aaron Beasley, a former NFL cornerback.
• Howie Bedell, a former MLB outfielder.
• John R. Brooke, a Union general in the American Civil War and Spanish–American War.
• Naomi Childers, a silent-film actress.
• Jack Deloplaine, a former NFL running back.
• Brett Eppehimer, a professional basketball player.
• Nick Eppehimer, a professional basketball player.
• Loren Gray, a singer-songwriter and social media personality.
• Al Grey, a jazz trombonist.
• Calvin Grove, a professional boxer and former champion.
• Daryl Hall, a member of the famous band Hall & Oates.
• Dick Harter, a college and NBA basketball coach.
• Geof Manthorne, a cake artist from the TV show Ace of Cakes.
• Bobby Marshman, a racing driver.
• Keith "Bang Bang" McCurdy, a celebrity tattoo artist.
• Jim Mickle, a film director.
• Hildegard Peplau, a nursing theorist.
• John Potts, the ironmaster who founded Pottstown.
• Matthias Richards, a U.S. Congressman.
• Dave Ricketts, a former MLB catcher and coach.
• Dick Ricketts, a former NBA power forward and MLB pitcher.
• Marshall Rutter, a lawyer and supporter of choral music.
• George Seasholtz, a former NFL fullback.
• Amanda Smith, who founded Mrs. Smith's Pies.
• Billy Shantz, a former MLB catcher and manager.
• Bobby Shantz, a former MLB pitcher and MVP winner.
• Don Strock, a former NFL quarterback.
• Earl Strom, a former NBA referee.
• Frank D. Wagner, a Vice Admiral in the U.S. Navy.
• Irving Price Wanger, a Republican U.S. Congressman.
• Rian Wallace, a former NFL linebacker.
• Buck Weaver, a former MLB shortstop.
• Harry Joe Yorgey, a professional boxer.

See also

In Spanish: Pottstown para niños