drinkery

Paoli, Pennsylvania

Paoli is a census-designated place located in Chester County, Pennsylvania near Philadelphia. It is situated in portions of three townships: Easttown, Tredyffrin and Willistown. As of the 2000 census, it had a total population of 5,425.

Geography

Paoli is located at 40°2'27" North, 75°29'24" West (40.040874, -75.490009).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km²), all of which is land area.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,425 people, 2,361 households, and 1,437 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,710.2 people per square mile (1,047.3/km²). There were 2,468 housing units at an average density of 1,233.0/sq mi (476.5/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.93% White, 5.36% African American, 0.09% Native American, 2.64% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. 0.85% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,361 households out of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $55,800, and the median income for a family was $69,519. Males had a median income of $46,536 versus $34,702 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $30,570. 4.7% of the population and 3.6% of families were below the poverty line. 8.0% of those under the age of 18 and 4.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

History

The town of Paoli grew around a 1769 inn kept by Joshua Evans, whose father bought 500 acres (2 km²) from William Penn in 1719 near the current site of the Paoli Post Office. Evans named his inn after General Pasquale Paoli, a Corsican, after he had received the 45th and final toast at a St. Patrick's Day celebration.

In 1777, the Paoli massacre occurred nearby in Malvern, Pennsylvania.

Education

The Tredyffrin/Easttown School District serves the portions of Paoli in Tredyffrin and Easttown Townships. The section of Paoli in Willistown Township is served by Great Valley School District.

T/E students attend Conestoga High School, while GVSD students attend Great Valley High School.

Delaware Valley Friends School is a school for those with Learning Disabilities in Paoli. It is adjacent from Station Square, a business complex, the head of school is Katherine Shantz.

Dining

With a resurgence of new restaurants, Paoli offers a variety of dining options. TJ's Restaurant & Drinkery, next to the Post Office, has over 200 craft and Belgian beers and a menu dediciated to cooking with those beers. Cajun and jazz is offered at The Big Easy on Paoli Pike, just off Route 30. Fellini's Cafe, a BYOB, has a more upscale atmosphere; Le Saigon offers Vietnamese; Japanese, Chinese, Sushi, and Hibachi can be found at Wabi Sabi, the former Garnia Wa. Other newcomers include Basil with an exhaustive wine-by-the-glass menu, San Nicola next door with neuvo Italian cuisine, and the Paoli Diner, with a vast menu that even contains Greek specialties. The usual fast-food chains -- Subway, Einstein's Bagels, Wendy's, Bravo, Burger King, Boston Market-- peacefully co-exist with Our Deli, a community favorite whose location is staked out with a large, black bull in front. Pasta, sandwiches, and baked goods can be found at Elegance Bakery and the Queen of Hearts. Standard American fare can be found at Casey's Dugout, famous for their crab cakes, just over the line in Malvern.

Paoli also offers several choices for coffee, in Tradewinds, It's A Grind, Dunkin' Donuts, Einstein's Bagels, Starbucks, and Wawa.

Transportation

Paoli was on the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike, which was later absorbed into the Lincoln Highway, and became U.S. 30 still later. In a nod to the old days, most locals still call the route "Lancaster Pike".

For generations, Paoli was the western terminus of Pennsylvania Railroad commuter trains coming from Philadelphia on the Main Line. The "Paoli Local" became iconic in the western suburbs. Long-distance trains would also stop at Paoli station, but with the decline of long-distance train travel, those became less frequent, although Amtrak continues to use the station.

Commuters traveling by rail within Southeastern Pennsylvania use the Paoli station, although most local trains serving Paoli now terminate in Malvern, one stop to the west. Septa's R5 commuter rail runs between Thorndale and Philadelphia both ways every 30 minutes during the week. For local college students and city-working suburbanites, the R5 is their main artery to school and work each day. Station-to-Station, a trip from Paoli to downtown Philadelphia on the R5 takes approximately 45 minutes. Local buses traverse Route 30 all up and down the Main Line, and Paoli Pike is the main artery for buses heading to West Chester.