Media, Pennsylvania Explained

Media
Settlement Type:Borough
Nickname:Everybody's Hometown
Mapsize:260px
Pushpin Map:Pennsylvania#USA
Pushpin Label:Media
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Media in Pennsylvania
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Pennsylvania
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Delaware
Established Title:Settled
Established Date:1681
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Robert A. McMahon
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:1.98
Area Total Sq Mi:0.77
Area Land Km2:1.98
Area Land Sq Mi:0.76
Area Water Km2:0.01
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:5901
Population Density Km2:2987.11
Population Density Sq Mi:7733.94
Timezone1:EST
Utc Offset1:−5
Timezone1 Dst:EDT
Utc Offset1 Dst:−4
Postal Code Type:ZIP Codes
Postal Code:19063, 19065, 19091
Area Codes:610 and 484
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:42-48480
Blank Name Sec2:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info Sec2:1180858
Blank2 Name Sec2:Wikimedia Commons

Media is a borough in and the county seat of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States.[2] It is located about west of Philadelphia. It is part of the Delaware Valley, also known as the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Media was incorporated in 1850 at the same time that it was named the county seat.[3] As of the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 5,991.[4]

History

The history of the area goes back to William Penn, but the area remained predominantly rural until the 20th century.[5]

17th century

Land in the area was sold and settled soon after William Penn was named proprietor of the colonial-era Province of Pennsylvania in 1681 by King Charles II of England. Peter and William Taylor bought the land where Media is now located, directly from Penn.[6] At the time, the land was located in Chester County. Providence Township was organized in 1684, and later divided into Upper Providence and Nether Providence townships by 1690, even though they only had 40 taxable properties at the time.[7] [8] The current borough, formed in 1850, sits between the two townships.

In 1683, the Court of Chester County approved the construction of "Providence Great Road", now Pennsylvania Route 252. The road, which runs north from Chester to within a few blocks of today's downtown, is shown on a 1687 map along with the names of local landowners.[9] It forms the eastern border of the borough.

Thomas Minshall, a Quaker, was an early Media resident, settling just outside the small village then known as "Providence", along Providence Great Road. The village then included a tailor shop, blacksmith shop, wheelwright shop, barn and other buildings.[10]

Minshall bought 625acres from William Penn and arrived in 1682. The Providence Friends Meetinghouse was established at his house in February 1688.

18th century

The original Friends Meetinghouse was built out of logs in 1699 or 1700, and the current building was completed in 1814. A house on Minshall's property, built around 1750, still stands and was given to the citizens of the borough in 1975.[11]

In 1789, Chester County, Pennsylvania was divided, with the eastern portion becoming Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

19th century

The area in the center of the new county remained rural through 1850. On March 11, 1850, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by Special Act of Assembly incorporated the Borough of Media, and made the sale of malt and spirituous liquors unlawful within its borders. At the same time, the county seat of Delaware County was moved to Media from Chester. The borough was formed from four farms purchased by the county, totaling only 480acres. The borders of the borough have not changed since that time.[12]

Streets were plotted in a rectangular grid around the location of the new courthouse, lots were sold at public auctions, and the construction of houses began. Sources agree that Minshall Painter, a descendant of Thomas Minshall, suggested the name "Media", but do not agree on the reason. The name most likely comes from the borough's median location in the direct center of Delaware County.[13]

20th century

In 1940, the Pennsylvania guide described Media by noting that "[t]he majority of its houses, almost all built since the American Civil War, sit far back on shaded lawns and seem somewhat gloomy. The borough has a large and prosperous business section and a few small industrial plants; many townspeople work in Philadelphia or Chester."[14]

The John J. Tyler Arboretum occupies part of Thomas Minshall's original 625acres. This farm and a nearby Village of Lima was used by the Underground Railroad.[15] The land was donated to a public trust in 1944 by an eighth-generation descendant. The arboretum was started as a private collection by brothers Jacob and Minshall Painter. In 1825, they began systematically planting over 1,000 varieties of trees and shrubs. Over twenty of their original trees survive, including a giant sequoia.[16]

Minshall Painter was also a leader of the Delaware County Institute of Science, which was formed on September 21, 1833, with just four other members: George Miller, John Miller, George Smith, M.D., and John Cassin. The institute was incorporated in 1836. About 1850, Painter gave the institute the land where its building currently stands at 11 Veterans Square, and the building was constructed in 1867.[17]

In the second half of the 19th century, Media was a summer resort for well-to-do Philadelphians. The borough's large vacation hotels included the Idlewild Hotel (1871) on Lincoln Street at Gayley Terrace, Chestnut Grove House or "The Colonial" (1860) on Orange Street, and Brooke Hall on Orange Street and Washington Avenue (now Baltimore Avenue). The Chestnut Grove was used for a year by nearby Swarthmore College due to a fire on its campus.[18]

The West Chester and Philadelphia Railroad was built through Media on October 19, 1854. Electrified service was opened on December 2, 1928. Up to 50 trains passed through each day. The railroad became part of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad and eventually the Penn Central. SEPTA took over operations in 1983. Woodrow Wilson spoke at the Media Station in 1912 during his first election campaign. Trolley transportation lines spread to and through Media in the 1890s and early 1900s.[19] [20]

The Media Theatre opened as a vaudeville house in 1927.[21] The first talkie film, The Jazz Singer, was shown there. It remained a popular cinema through the 1970s and 1980s. In 1994, the theater underwent a $1 million (~$ in) restoration by Walter Strine Sr. and re-opened as the Media Theatre for the Performing Arts.[22] Shows produced there have included The Full Monty, Carousel and Miss Saigon.

On March 8, 1971, the Citizens' Commission to Investigate the FBI raided an FBI "resident agency" in Media. They later released thousands of documents to major newspapers around the country. These documents revealed FBI tactics, like the recruitment of Boy Scouts as informants, and confirmed for the first time the existence of COINTELPRO, an FBI program to "expose, disrupt, misdirect, discredit, or otherwise neutralize" dissident groups in the United States.[23]

21st century

In June 2006, Media became the first town in the United States to follow over 300 towns in Europe in attaining fair trade certification. To meet the criteria for certification, Media passed a council resolution in support of fair trade, served fair-trade coffee and tea in local government meetings and offices, ensured that a range of fair-trade products were available in local restaurants and businesses, raised popular support and provided media coverage for the fair-trade campaign, and convened a fair-trade steering committee to ensure continued commitment.[24]

Local historic districts

Three locally recognized historic districts were designated by the borough in 1975.[25] These districts are:

Landmarks

Homes

Municipal/civic

Churches

Parks

There are several parks located within the borough of Media and shared with surrounding communities.[36]

Geography and climate

Media is located in central Delaware County at (39.918761, -75.388127).[38]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2km2, of which 0.01sqkm, or 0.42%, is water.[4] Media is situated on high ground (250to above sea level) draining west to Ridley Creek, a south-flowing tributary of the Delaware River.

Media has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) and the hardiness zone is 7a.[39]

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, the racial makeup of the borough was 82.9% White, 3.5% African American, 0.4% Native American, 5.7% Asian, 2.6% from Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.9% from two or more races, and 2.5% from Hispanic or Latino of any race.[40]

At the time of the 2010 Census, the racial makeup of the borough was 83.4% White, 10.6% African American, 0.1% Native American, 3.5% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.[41]

Media ZIP Code

The term "Media" is often used to include not only the borough of Media, but other municipalities but that share the ZIP Code. The borough of Media covers only 0.8sqmi and less than 6,000 residents, but the Media ZIP Code 19063 covers 23.08sqmi and a population of 35,704.[42]

According to the United States Postal Service, the following addresses are included in the 19063 ZIP Code: Elwyn, Garden City, Glen Riddle, and Rose Valley.[43] Other areas at least partially included in the 19063 zip code are Upper Providence Township; Nether Providence Township, the neighborhoods of South Media, Bowling Green, Pine Ridge and Ridgewood; and most of Middletown Township, including, Bortondale, Riddlewood, and Lima.[44]

Government

The borough of Media is run by a mayor and an elected council. Mayor Bob McMahon was first elected in 1992. Mark Paikoff is the president of the Media Borough Council, and Elizabeth Romaine is the vice-president. As of April 2024, the other Council members are Kevin Boyer, Lisa Gelman, Jen Malkoun, Tray Herman, and Joi Washington.[45]

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Media lies within the Rose Tree Media School District, created by a merger with the Rose Tree Union School District and Media Borough School District in 1966. Public school students living within borough boundaries attend Media Elementary School, located in Downtown Media, for grades K-5.[46] Springton Lake Middle School serves students in grades 6–8, and Penncrest High School serves students in grades 9–12.

The Media-Upper Providence Friends School is the only private school in the borough.

Mother of Providence Regional Catholic School in Wallingford is the area Catholic school of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It formed in 2012 from a merger of Nativity BVM School, which was Media's only pariochal school and St. John Chrysostom in Wallingford.[47] Nativity BVM school opened in 1912, with its last building occupied in 1949.[48] The Nativity BVM school administration chose not to file an appeal against the 2012 order to merge.[49] Some parents had lobbied for the continued operation of the school. The archdiocese had originally planned to make Nativity BVM the regional campus, but changed when St. John Chrystosom had appealed against that decision.[50] After the closure, Media Elementary School occupied the campus while renovations of the permanent Media Elementary occurred.[51]

Tertiary education

The following are in townships around Media, and have Media mailing addresses:

Transportation

Highways

As of 2018, there were of public roads in Media, of which were maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and were maintained by the borough.[56]

Route 252, Providence Road, is the only numbered highway presently traversing the borough. It follows a north-south alignment along the eastern border of Media.

U.S. 1 formerly ran through the borough until the "Media bypass" was completed in 1960.[57] The bypass has an unusual "volleyball" or three-level diamond interchange with Interstate 476. The former Route 1 through the center of Media is known by its older name, Baltimore Avenue, changing to "Baltimore Pike" outside the borough limits.

Airports

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), the 21st-busiest airport in the nation in 2022, is 11 miles' driving distance (about a 15-minute drive) from downtown Media, following Baltimore Pike east, then Interstate 476 south and Interstate 95 northeast.[58] [59]

SEPTA Trolley & Train

Notable people

Government and politics

Business

Sports

Entertainment

Science

Art

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ArcGIS REST Services Directory. United States Census Bureau. October 12, 2022.
  2. Web site: Find a County. 2011-06-07. National Association of Counties.
  3. Book: Ashmead, Henry Graham. History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. 1884. 2007-09-30. L. H. Everts & Co.. Philadelphia. Chapters XVI and XLVI. true. 2007-08-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20070807000839/http://www.delcohistory.org/ashmead/ashmead_pg587.htm#chapter46. dead.
  4. Web site: Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Media borough, Pennsylvania. U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. December 28, 2015. https://archive.today/20200213042155/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4248480. February 13, 2020. dead.
  5. Web site: A Brief History of Media: 1900 to 1950. Borough of Media. Community. February 10, 2014.
  6. Media: A Walking Tour, published by the Borough of Media, 1990
  7. Web site: History of Delaware County . 2007-04-04 . 2007-04-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070405092232/http://www.delcohistory.org/ashmead/ashmead_pg652.htm . dead .
  8. Web site: Nether Providence Through the Years (Delaware County Historical Society) . 2007-04-02 . 2007-04-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070402110636/http://www.delcohistory.org/nphs/ . dead .
  9. http://www.lowermerionhistory.org/atlas/1687.html The City of Philadelphia Two Miles in Length and One in Breadth (Lower Merion Historical Society)
  10. Web site: History. Media Historical Society. 20 March 2016.
  11. Web site: Minshall House . 2014-02-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714090534/http://www.mediaborough.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/minshall_brochure.pdf . 2014-07-14 . dead .
  12. Web site: Mayberry. Jodine. Media, Pennsylvania. Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia. Rutgers University. 20 March 2016.
  13. Book: Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. 1905. U.S. Government Printing Office. 204.
  14. Book: Federal Writers' Project. Pennsylvania: A Guide to the Keystone State. 1940. Oxford University Press. 1st. 416. New York.
  15. Loretta Rodgers, "The Trackless Train: Tracking Delco's Role in the Underground Railroad" (Feb. 27, 1989), Delaware County Daily Times
  16. Web site: Tyler Arboretum History . 2008-02-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080224015810/http://www.tylerarboretum.org/tylers_history.htm . 2008-02-24 . dead .
  17. Web site: History. Delaware County Institute of Science. 20 March 2016.
  18. Web site: 1881 Parrish Hall Burns. Swarthmore Sesquicentennial. Swarthmore College. 20 March 2016.
  19. Web site: A Brief History of Media: 1850 to 1900. Media Borough. 20 March 2016.
  20. Web site: A Brief History of Media: 1900 to 1950. Media Borough. 20 March 2016.
  21. http://mediatheatre.org/about/history/ The Media Theatre for the Performing Arts - History
  22. Web site: Restoration of an important landmark. 2016. www.mediaborough.com. Media Borough.
  23. Book: Medsger, Betty. The Burglary: The Discovery of J. Edgar Hoover's Secret FBI. January 2014. Random House. 9780307962966. 592. registration.
  24. Web site: How does a town become Fair Trade?. Media Fair Trade. 20 March 2016.
  25. Web site: Code - Historic Districts. Borough of Media, PA. July 27, 2016.
  26. Web site: Lefevre. Michel. Historic District Designation in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. July 27, 2016. Harrisburg, PA. 30. 2007. August 4, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160804010625/http://www.phmc.pa.gov/Preservation/About/Documents/Historic-District-Designation.pdf. dead.
  27. Book: Glasgow, William Melancthon. History of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in America. Hill & Harvey. 1888. Baltimore, MD. 512–513. Rev Samuel Maxwell Gayley. the New York Public Library.
  28. Web site: Bible Encyclopedias - Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature - Gayley Samuel Maxwell. 2016. www.studylight.org. October 27, 2016.
  29. Book: Wilson, 1864, Joseph M.. The Presbyterian Historical Almanac and Annual Remembrancer of the Church, Volume 6. Presbyterian Church. 1864. Philadelphia, PA. 150–158. New York City Library.
  30. http://www.paveteransmuseum.org Pennsylvania Veteran's Museum
  31. http://visitmediapa.com/history/ Media History
  32. http://www.bethisraelmedia.org/NewSite/NewHistory.htm History
  33. Web site: Media Presbyterian Church History. 2010. www.mediapresbyterian.org. June 16, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160527042638/http://www.mediapresbyterian.org/about-us/history. May 27, 2016. dead.
  34. Web site: Walking Tour. Media Borough. August 28, 2017.
  35. Web site: Religious Organizations in Media. Borough of Media, Pennsylvania. Welcome to Media Borough. April 9, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20081003213816/http://www.mediaborough.com/about/religion.asp. October 3, 2008. dead.
  36. Web site: Parks in Upper Providence Township. 2016. Upper Providence Township. February 29, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160306173621/http://www.upperprovidence.org/dep_Park_Map.php. March 6, 2016. dead.
  37. Web site: Friends of Glen Providence Park. 2016. www.glenprovidencepark.org. February 29, 2016.
  38. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. 2011-04-23. 2011-02-12.
  39. Web site: Interactive Map USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map . planthardiness.ars.usda.gov . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120128011725/http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/InteractiveMap.aspx . 2012-01-28.
  40. Web site: QuickFacts Media borough, Pennsylvania . Census . 26 October 2023.
  41. http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST13&prodType=table
  42. Web site: American Fact Finder, 19063. U.S. Census Bureau. August 1, 2016. https://archive.today/20200213004211/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/cf/1.0/en/zip/19063/ALL. February 13, 2020. dead.
  43. Web site: USPS.com. Look up a ZIP Code. United States Postal Service. August 1, 2016.
  44. Web site: 19063. United States Zip Codes. August 1, 2016. Note that this is not an official USPS website, but it includes a map.
  45. https://www.mediaborough.com/314/Borough-Council Media Borough Council Members
  46. Web site: copy of street names with schools. Rose Tree Media School District. 2020-04-23. 2020-08-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20200804223746/https://www.rtmsd.org/Content2/-district-boundaries. dead. - Direct link to excel file - Elementary schools are listed with townships.
  47. Web site: 2012 Catholic grade school consolidations/closings. Catholicphilly.com. 2012-07-15. 2020-04-22.
  48. Web site: Home. https://web.archive.org/web/20040609061121/http://www.nativitybvmschool.org/. dead. 2004-06-09. Nativity BVM School. 2004-06-09. 2020-05-03.
  49. Web site: Wolfe, Jeff. Nativity BVM School will not appeal merger . Delco Times. 2012-01-30. 2020-05-03.
  50. Web site: Serbin, John L.. 'Shocked' parents rally at Nativity BVM in Media after learning of reversal. Delco Times. 2020-05-03. 2020-05-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20200503222745/https://www.delcotimes.com/news/shocked-parents-rally-at-nativity-bvm-in-media-after-learning/article_9b936c62-3550-5d83-9159-c17f6ab3f9e8.html. dead.
  51. Web site: Serbin, Susan L.. Media Elementary makes seamless move into former Nativity BVM school . Delco Times. 2012-08-22. 2020-05-03.
  52. Web site: Locations. Delaware County Community College. 2023-10-29. Marple Campus Marple Township (Media mailing address).
  53. Web site: Zoning Map. Upper Providence Township. 2020-04-23.
  54. Web site: Directions. Pennsylvania Institute of Technology. 2020-04-23. 800 Manchester Avenue Media, PA 19063-4089. - Compare the address location to the map. The contact page states "Get directions to P.I.T.’s campus in Media, PA." but in fact the campus is not in the Media borough limits. Note that the city of Houston stated in 1996 that: "The U.S. Postal Service establishes ZIP codes and mailing addresses in order to maximize the efficiency of their system, not to recognize jurisdictional boundaries."
  55. Web site: Zoning Map. Middletown Township. 2023-10-29. - The map indicates the location of the schools, "Penn State University" and "Williamson Trade School".
  56. Web site: Media Borough map. PennDOT. March 12, 2023.
  57. http://www.phillyroads.com/roads/US-1S_PA/ US Expressway 1
  58. http://www.aci.aero/aci/aci/file/Press%20Releases/2008/TOP30_Aircraft%20Movements_2007.pdf Statistics: Top 30 World Airports
  59. https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl&q=Media,%20PA%20to%20PHL Google Map directions
  60. News: Marker celebrates Peace Activist Mildred Olmsted's life. Neborak. Anne. June 5, 2016. October 02, 2015. www.delconewsnetwork.com. July 1, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160701190007/http://www.delconewsnetwork.com/articles/2015/10/02/life/doc560eadf33417e824904545.txt. dead.
  61. Web site: Media Fellowship House thanks Bill Whitaker. 26 August 2021.
  62. Web site: Lew Krausse Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. February 17, 2021.
  63. "Dave Anderson, "SPORTS OF THE TIMES; Tug McGraw Changes Lanes", The New York Times, Feb 19, 1985."
  64. I Got a Name: The Jim Croce Story. Da Capo Press, 2012
  65. Web site: Bio: Carpenter Paul Dimeo of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition . 2008-05-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080201170136/http://realitytv.about.com/od/extrememakeoverhome/a/PaulDimeo.htm . 2008-02-01 . dead .
  66. Web site: http://www.spaceagepop.com/millerdl.htm. D. L. Miller AKA Dave Miller, David L. Miller, Dick L. Miller, and Leo Muller.
  67. Bauer. Tyler M.. Tchantchaleishvili. Vakhtang. August 2018. The Person Behind the Inventor of the Heart-Lung Machine: John H. Gibbon Jr, MD (1903-1973). Artificial Organs. 42. 8. 765–775. 10.1111/aor.13280. 30178889. 52147068. 0160-564X. free.
  68. Web site: Schwarz Gallery : Charles Lewis Fussell. 2016. www.schwarzgallery.com. March 1, 2016.

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