Radnor, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Radnor
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The Radnor train station building
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| Motto(s):
"The Best Place to Live, Work and Do Business on the Main Line"
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 Radnor
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Montgomery, Delaware |
| Township | Upper Merion, Radnor Township |
| Elevation | 433 ft (132 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
19087
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| Area codes |
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Radnor is a community in Pennsylvania, USA. It's located about 13 miles west of Philadelphia. This area is part of the "Main Line" suburbs. Radnor gets its name from a place in Wales.
Radnor is home to Cabrini University. It also has a large area with many offices near the train station. The southern part of Radnor, near Lancaster Avenue, grew quickly with businesses in the 1980s. Today, it's a top spot for offices in suburban Philadelphia.
Contents
Radnor's Past: A Look at History
The community of Radnor began in 1686. It started around the Radnor Friends Meetinghouse. This meetinghouse was on Conestoga Road. During the Revolutionary War, General George Washington's army used it as an outpost.
In 1872, the Pennsylvania Railroad built its Main Line. This train line went through the southern part of Radnor. A train station was built about a mile south of the Meetinghouse.
For many years, Radnor was mostly a farming area. It stayed undeveloped even after World War II. The town center near the Meetinghouse was quiet and separate from busier towns like Wayne and Bryn Mawr.
However, in the 1980s, Radnor started to grow a lot. More homes and businesses were built. This growth came from Philadelphia's suburban expansion. Also, office parks began to appear near the train station. Big companies like Lincoln National Corporation moved their main offices here. Now, Radnor is known for its financial businesses around the train station.
In the 1970s, there were plans for the Blue Route highway to go through Radnor. This project caused a lot of concern in the community. People worried about more noise in their quiet town. Even though people tried to stop it, the highway was built. The Blue Route opened in the 1990s.
The SEPTA Paoli/Thorndale Line and Norristown High Speed Line cross paths in Radnor. But their stations are not at the exact crossing point. You need a short bus ride to switch between lines. There are plans to build a new transfer station where the lines meet. A shopping area is also planned there. Work was expected to begin in 2022.
Radnor's Location and Landscape
Radnor is like many Main Line communities. It is located in both Montgomery and Delaware Counties. The Delaware County part is very wealthy. It was developed before World War II. The Montgomery County part and the far southern part (south of the train line) were built much later.
Radnor does not have a main town center with many shops. But there are a few shops and restaurants just north of the train station. Nearby towns like Wayne, Bryn Mawr, and King of Prussia offer more shopping and fun activities.
Radnor is bordered by Wayne to the west. To the south is Villanova. Gladwyne is to the east. And Gulph Mills is to the northeast.
The community has train service from the Paoli/Thorndale Line of SEPTA Regional Rail. Major roads include Lancaster Avenue and Interstate 476. It is also close to Interstate 76. This highway gives easy access to King of Prussia and Center City Philadelphia.
Radnor has a humid continental climate. This means it has hot summers. It is cooler than Center City Philadelphia. This is because Radnor is higher up and avoids the "urban heat island" effect.
People of Radnor: Demographics
The people living in Radnor Township are diverse. About 76% are White, 9% are Asian, 6% are Hispanic, and 5% are African American. About 4% are of two or more races. The total population of the township is 31,875 people.
Radnor's Businesses: Economy
Radnor has the largest business area on the Main Line. Around the town's train station, you will find many office buildings. Several companies have their main offices in Radnor. These include:
- Brandywine Realty Trust, a real estate company
- Penn Virginia, an energy company
- Lincoln National, an insurance company
- VWR, a company that sells supplies
- Qlik, a technology company
- Mondrian Investment Partners, a financial company
The original town center around the Meetinghouse is not very developed. But nearby towns like Wayne and Bryn Mawr have many shops and restaurants. Radnor is also close to King of Prussia, which has a huge mall.
Learning in Radnor: Education
Public schools in Radnor are managed by the Radnor Township School District.
There are also several universities nearby. These include:
- Cabrini University
- Eastern University
- Villanova University
Radnor in Books and Movies
Radnor has been featured in popular culture:
- The play The Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry is set in Radnor.
- Judy Blume's young adult novel, Blubber, also takes place in Radnor.
- Radnor High School was the inspiration for Rydell High School in the movie Grease. The director, Randal Kleiser, went to Radnor High School in 1964.
