Phoenixville

[fee-niks-vil]

Phoenixville, borough (1990 pop. 15,066), Chester co., SE Pa., on the Schuylkill River; settled 1720, inc. 1849. Iron deposits in the region led to the early development of an iron industry and later (1886) to the manufacture of steel. Food processing and tool and die manufacture are important; other products include corrugated boxes, plastics, and adhesives. Phoenixville was the westernmost point in the state reached (1777) by the British during the Revolutionary War. Several 18th-century stone houses are there. Valley Forge is a few miles to the southeast.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia Copyright © 2004.
Licensed from Columbia University Press

Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

Phoenixville is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States, 28 miles (45 km) northwest of Philadelphia, at the junction of French Creek with the Schuylkill River. The population was 14,788 at the 2000 census.

History

Originally called Manovan, Phoenixville was settled in 1732 and incorporated as a borough in 1849. In its industrial heyday early in the twentieth century, it was an important manufacturing center and it was the site of great iron and steel mills such as the Phoenix Iron Works, boiler works, silk mill, underwear and hosiery factories, a match factory, and the famous (and now highly collectible) Etruscan majolica pottery. Like so many American towns and cities, Phoenixville owes its growth to its waterways. It is not only situated on the broad Schuylkill River, an historic thoroughfare to Native Americans and early settlers alike, but it is bisected by the fast-flowing French Creek, which was quickly harnessed for water power.

Much of this history was recognized by the creation of the Phoenixville Historic District, the largest National Register of Historic Places site in Chester County.

Attractions

Phoenixville is home to the Colonial Theatre, opened in 1903. In 1958, the theatre, along with some other parts of the borough, was featured in the motion picture The Blob. Beginning in 2000, Phoenixville has celebrated this with the annual Blobfest. Festivities include a reenactment of the scene featuring the Colonial. The Colonial Theatre is one of the nation's finest theaters for independent films. It runs special programs such as showing a series of classic films thematically related each weekend, an ongoing series of movies and events for children, and mom-friendly movie showings.

The Valley Forge Christian College, located in neighboring Schuylkill and Charlestown Townships, is a part of this community, using the land belonging to the former Valley Forge General Hospital. The hospital was built in 1942 to accommodate the wounded of World War II. It was scheduled to be closed around 1949, but remained open until after the Vietnam War, closing in 1975.

Every year the Phoenixville Jaycees host their annual Dogwood Festival. The festival begins in April with the crowning of the Dogwood Queen and the annual Dogwood Pageant. In the weeks following, a celebration for newly crowned Queen and her court occurs as the public is invited to join in at the Dogwood Ball. Typically the Dogwood Fair begins the third week in May at Reeves Park and continues for six days (Monday-Saturday). The fair is full of carnival rides, food vendors, and local entertainment and attracts over 90,000 individuals every year. To cap off the festival, Saturday brings the community together for the annual Dogwood Parade, the largest parade in Chester County. Reeves park is a classic community green with a bandshell to host concerts and special gatherings.

Since 2004 on the first Friday night of every month the downtown stores, restaurants and businesses and volunteer community groups hold special events. There are street musicians and entertainers every half block and the sidewalks are filled with local residents and those from the surrounding communities. In the summer there have been free outdoor concerts in the downtown which bring thousands of people to gather as a community. Local music venues as the Steel City Coffee House offer an intimate place to see nationally known and up and coming musical artists.

Also marking Phoenixville's renaissance is the highly successful addition of the Iron Hill Brewery and the re-opening of the unique.. Bridge Street, Phoenixville's main thoroughfare, is a hotbed of revitalization with the addition of new retail shops—where you can find a plethora of shops offereing one of a kind items.

Retail includes several gift shops, new and used bookstores such as the award-winning Wolfgang Books, multiple antique shops, music shop, liquor store, children's clothing, and more. Restaurants include Majolica, Iron Hill Brewery, The Columbia Hotel, the highly regarded Black Lab Bistro and several casual-style pizza and Irish bars including Molly Maguire's and P.J. Ryan's. Phoenixville is the home of Irish Joe's Cafe, named for 1950's era local boxer Irish Joe Rowan.

Phoenixville also houses Chester County's only Dive Rescue team. Dive Rescue 77 operates out of Phoenixville Fire Department station 66, on the North Side. They have plenty to do at times, as the Black Rock Dam on the Schuylkill makes a great place for boating but a bad place for swimming. Trails line both sides of Schuylkill. There is a workable, recently restored nineteenth century lock and gatekeeper's house just across the River. On the Phoenixville side not far from the boat launching area this is a small wildlife preserve that's a great spot for birding.

Phoenixville has several beds and breakfasts and is the western gateway to Valley Forge National Park.

Sports & Recreation

The Borough of Phoenixville has a strong Parks & Recreation Department. The Mission of the is to advance parks, recreation and environmental conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life of all people.

Phoenixville is also the home of White Horse Rugby. White Horse Rugby Football Club, a mens club that is a member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union EPRU and USA Rugby. White Horse Rugby was established in July of 2002 with the vision of revitilizing the local concept of a Rugby Club and approach to the game. White Horse Rugby also has a high school / U19 boys rugby team, the Mustangs.

Geography

Phoenixville is located at (40.130819, -75.519061).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.7 km²), of which, 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (4.27%) is water. Phoenixville was home to Showalter's Dairy until it closed in the early 1980s. Phoenixville is home of the highest recorded temperature in Pennsylvania, 111 degrees Fahrenheit, set in 1936.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 14,788 people, 6,460 households, and 3,675 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,120.0 people per square mile (1,590.4/km²). There were 6,793 housing units at an average density of 1,892.6/sq mi (730.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 86.94% White, 7.66% African American, 0.15% Native American, 2.42% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.17% from other races, and 1.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.92% of the population.

There were 6,460 households out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the borough the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 36.2% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $42,500, and the median income for a family was $54,424. Males had a median income of $40,319 versus $32,295 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $22,911. About 4.2% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

Notables

Mike Piazza, former catcher and designated hitter for Major League Baseball, is a graduate of Phoenixville Area High School.
André Thornton, former Major League Baseball player, is a graduate of Phoenixville Area High School.
Creighton Gubanich former Major League Baseball player with Boston Red Sox, is a graduate of Phoenixville Area High School.
The Fountain Inn in Phoenixville was the farthest point inland reached by the British in the Northern Colonies during the Revolutionary War.

John-Paul Lavoisier, soap opera actor on "One Life to Live" is a graduate of Phoenixville Area High School.
"The Sundance Kid", Harry A. Longabaugh, moved from Mont Clare, Pennsylvania, to Phoenixville at an early age. He worked on farms and attended school in Phoenixville. His parents & sister are buried in the Morris Cemetery in Phoenixville.
David White (Daniel David White). Although born in Colorado, the actor who portrayed Larry Tate in the TV series Bewitched was a 1933 graduate of Phoenixville High School.
Neal Olkewicz, born January 30, 1957 in Phoenixville, is a former American Football linebacker who played his entire eleven year career with the Washington Redskins from 1979 to 1989 in the National Football League.