West Oak Lane, Philadelphia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Oak Lane
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Aerial view of West Oak Lane
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| Country |  United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Philadelphia |
| City | Philadelphia |
| Area code(s) | 215, 267 and 445 |
West Oak Lane is a cool neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It's a part of the United States. Most of the homes here were built between the 1920s and 1930s. Some areas, like those near Cedarbrook, were built after World War II.
This area was mostly home to white families until the mid-1960s. Now, West Oak Lane is a strong middle-class community for African American families.
The houses in West Oak Lane look different from other nearby areas. You'll find larger homes, some of which stand alone. The streets are often lined with trees, and many houses have small yards. In 2015, the average price for a home here was about $122,941. This shows the neighborhood is a great place to live.
Contents
Where is West Oak Lane?
West Oak Lane has clear borders that help you know where it is.
- To the north, it's next to Cheltenham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
- To the east, it borders East Oak Lane, Philadelphia along Broad Street.
- To the south, Washington Lane separates it from Cedarbrook, Philadelphia and Stenton.
- To the west, Stenton Avenue is the border. This side is next to East Germantown, Philadelphia and Ogontz, Philadelphia.
The neighborhood shares its ZIP Codes with other nearby areas. For example, the 19138 ZIP Code is also used by Ogontz and parts of Germantown. The 19126 ZIP Code is shared with East Oak Lane.
Schools in West Oak Lane
Kids in West Oak Lane go to public schools run by the School District of Philadelphia.
Several schools in the area are very old and important. They are even listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include:
- The Samuel W. Pennypacker School
- The William Rowen School
- The Gen. Louis Wagner Junior High School
Other schools you can find here are Hope Charter School, Prince Hall Elementary School, and West Oak Lane Charter School.
If you go to Wagner Junior High, you'll likely go to Martin Luther King High School next.
La Salle University is also very close. Its campus is right on the edge of West Oak Lane, Ogontz, and Germantown.
Getting Around West Oak Lane
SEPTA helps people travel around West Oak Lane. Route 6 is a bus route that used to be a streetcar line. It was once a popular way to get to Willow Grove Amusement Park. Now, it's a bus that connects the Olney Transportation Center to the south with the Cheltenham and Ogontz Loop to the north.
Other bus routes like 16, 22, 80 Express, H, and XH also serve the area. If you go to the very south of the neighborhood, you'll find Routes K and 55. They meet where Old York Road, Broad Street, and 66th Avenue come together.
Shopping and Fun
You can find many stores along Stenton and Ogontz Avenues. Ogontz Avenue is like the main street of the neighborhood. It has lots of businesses.
The Cheltenham Mall is at the end of Ogontz Avenue. The Cedarbrook Plaza mall is also very close, just a short drive or bus ride away. These places offer many options for shopping and things to do.
People in West Oak Lane
In 2013, about 42,390 people lived in West Oak Lane. This means there are many people living close together. The average household had about 2.8 people.
Many people in West Oak Lane work in important jobs like management or professional roles. Others work in service jobs, helping people every day. Some work in office jobs or in manufacturing. This shows a mix of different types of jobs in the community.
