Villanova, Pennsylvania Explained

Villanova, Pennsylvania
Settlement Type:Census-designated place and unincorporated community
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Pennsylvania
Subdivision Type2:Counties
Subdivision Name2:Delaware
Montgomery
Subdivision Type3:Townships
Subdivision Name3:Lower Merion
Radnor
Pushpin Map:USA Pennsylvania#USA
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Villanova in Pennsylvania
Coordinates:40.0372°N -75.3492°W
Elevation Ft:466
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:8213
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone1:EST
Utc Offset1:-5
Timezone1 Dst:EDT
Utc Offset1 Dst:-4
Postal Code Type:ZIP Code
Postal Code:19085
Area Code:610 and 484
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:2812905

Villanova is a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It straddles Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County and Radnor Township in Delaware County.[1] It is located at the center of the Philadelphia Main Line, a series of Philadelphia suburbs located along the original east–west railroad tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad. It is served by the SEPTA Paoli/Thorndale Line regional rail train and the Norristown High Speed Line.

The center of the village straddles U.S. Route 30 (Lancaster Avenue) where it intersects Pennsylvania Route 320 (Spring Mill Road). This village center contains the area's post office for ZIP Code 19085, an office building, the Wilmington Trust Company's Pennsylvania headquarters, and several smaller shops.

It was first listed as a CDP in the 2020 census with a population of 8,213.[2]

History

The Bridge in Radnor Township No. 2 and Camp-Woods are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Climate

Villanova has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and average monthly temperatures range from 30.9 °F in January to 75.6 °F in July.[3] The local hardiness zone is 7a.

Demographics

2020 census

Villanova CDP, Pennsylvania – Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.!Race / Ethnicity!Pop 2020[4] !% 2020
White alone (NH)6,66881.19%
Black or African American alone (NH)4175.08%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)120.15%
Asian alone (NH)7969.69%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)100.12%
Some Other Race alone (NH)130.16%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)1151.40%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)1822.22%
Total8,213100.00%

Prior to 2020, Villanova was neither an incorporated area nor a census-designated place. Using data for ZIP code 19085, per the census of 2000, there were 9,189 people and 1,932 households residing in the community. The population density was 1,565 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the community was 92.5% White, 3.4% Asian, 3.9% African American, 1.40% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 2.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The median income for a household in the community was $159,538, and the median income for a family was $174,511. The per capita income for the community was $50,204. About 1.5% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line. The estimated median house/condo value in 2009 is $1,435,844.[5]

Education

Colleges

The most notable feature of Villanova is Villanova University, from which the community gains its name. The university campus extends from County Line Road along Spring Mill Road south to Lancaster Pike, US Route 30, and then east to just beyond Villanova Stadium, home of the Villanova University football, men's and women's lacrosse, women's field hockey and men's and women's track teams. The university's indoor arena, Finneran Pavilion, is home to the school's NCAA Division I 1985, 2016, and 2018 national champion men's basketball teams. In addition to the undergraduate college, Villanova University includes a well-recognized graduate school, a nursing school, a school of continuing studies, numerous certificate programs, and Villanova University Law School.[6]

Schools

Public school children in Villanova who live in Radnor Township are in the Radnor Township School District.[7] They attend Radnor Elementary School in Radnor, Radnor Middle School in Wayne, and Radnor High School in St. Davids.

Children who live in the Lower Merion Township portion of Villanova are in the Lower Merion School District.[8] They attend Gladwyne Elementary School in Gladwyne, Black Rock Middle School in Villanova, and Harriton High School in Rosemont.

Other private schools in the area include the all-boys Haverford School, located in nearby Haverford and the Episcopal Academy called among locals as "EA" in Newtown Square. There are several all-girls schools in Bryn Mawr, including the Baldwin School, the Agnes Irwin School, the Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, and the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, as well as the coeducational Shipley School. Rosemont School of the Holy Child on Montgomery Avenue is a nearby Catholic grade school.[9]

Infrastructure

Hospitals

Bryn Mawr Hospital, at South Bryn Mawr Avenue and Haverford Road, is one of the three nationally ranked community teaching hospitals that serve the Main Line; it is located less than one mile (1.6 km) from the Villanova district line. The hospital has historically been associated with Philadelphia's Jefferson Medical College for many years. Bryn Mawr Hospital is the chief beneficiary of the area's preeminent social and sporting event, the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, which is held annually during the last week of May at the fairgrounds in Devon.[10]

Notable people

Points of interest

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Villanova CDP, PA. U.S. Census Bureau. 2024-04-10.
  2. Web site: Villanova CDP, Pennsylvania. United States Census Bureau. May 25, 2022.
  3. Web site: PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University .
  4. Web site: P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Villanova CDP, Pennsylvania . United States Census Bureau.
  5. News: Forbes Magazine zipcode rankings . Forbes.com . August 14, 2009 . September 24, 2011.
  6. Web site: Villanova University website . Villanova.edu . September 24, 2011.
  7. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Delaware County, PA. U.S. Census Bureau. 2024-08-09. - Text list
  8. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Montgomery County, PA. U.S. Census Bureau. 2024-08-09. - Text list
  9. Jones, Richard Dick, ed. Lower Merion: The First Three Hundred Years. Ardmore: Lower Merion Historical Society, 2001.
  10. Web site: Main Line Health website . Mainlinehealth.com . September 24, 2011.
  11. News: Novice Director, a Veteran of Comedy. Josh. Eells. New York Times. August 7, 2009. August 5, 2016.
  12. Web site: Pirro . J. F. . 2022-12-01 . Jim Gardner Prepares for Retirement After 45 Iconic Years at 6abc . 2023-01-10 . Main Line Today . en-US.
  13. 'Harvard Alumni Directory (Harvard Alumni Association, 1948), p. 1795: "Read, Conyers... Mt. Moro Rd., P.O. Box 593, Villanova, Pa."
  14. https://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/michael-smerconishs-house/view/google/ Michael Smerconish house