Whitehall Borough, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Whitehall Borough
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 Whitehall Borough
Location in Pennsylvania
Whitehall Borough
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Philadelphia |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 215, 267, and 445 |
Whitehall Borough was once a small town, or "borough," located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. It was a separate community until 1854. That's when it became part of the much larger City of Philadelphia due to a law called the Act of Consolidation, 1854.
Contents
A Look Back: Whitehall's Story
Whitehall Borough got its name from a large, fancy house called White Hall. A person named Jesse Waln built this grand mansion in the area.
Becoming a Borough
On April 9, 1849, Whitehall officially became a borough. This means it gained its own local government. At first, it covered an area that today is known as East Frankford. This area was located between two creeks: the Little Tacony (also called Tackawanna) and Frankford Creek.
The borough included important places like the Frankford Arsenal. It also had the Frankford and Bridesburg train stations, which were part of the old Pennsylvania Railroad. Whitehall Borough was located in what used to be the Tacony and Northern Liberties Townships.
Changes to Whitehall's Size
In 1853, some of Whitehall's land was given to the nearby borough of Frankford. This part was between Torresdale Avenue and Frankford Creek. After this change, Whitehall Borough became much smaller, covering only about 0.471 square miles.
Joining Philadelphia
Whitehall Borough stopped being a separate town in 1854. This happened when the Act of Consolidation, 1854 was passed. This important law combined many smaller towns and boroughs, including Whitehall, into the big City of Philadelphia.
Learn More
- Incorporated Districts, Boroughs, and Townships in the County of Philadelphia, 1854 By Rudolph J. Walther
