Phoenixville

Phoenixville is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania. It is located 28 miles (45 km) northwest of Philadelphia at the junction of French Creek and the Schuylkill River. In its industrial heyday early in the twentieth century, it was an important manufacturing center. The first nail factory in the U.S., the French Creek Nail Works, was established in Phoenixville (then called Manavon) in 1790. In 1958, the theatre, along with some other parts of the borough, was featured in the motion picture The Blob. Since 2000, Phoenixville has celebrated the "rebirth" of the town with the burning of a large wooden phoenix. In March 2010, Philadelphia magazine listed Phoenixville as one of "10 Awesome Neighborhoods To Call Home" In February 2021, TravelMag listed Phoenixvile as oneof "The Most Charming Towns and Small Cities in Pennsylvania" The town is home to 10 craft breweries, a distillery, and winery tasting rooms. The Black Rock Bridge, Gay Street School, Oakes Reach Section, are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Colonial Theater, opened in 1903, is one of the local hotspots that survived both the economic downturn and Phoenixville's recent revitalization. A Whole Lot of LuLu, a twice-annual vintage and handmade market, is held here. One economic revitalization has been the increase in the cost of living for residents in the town. The town has a diverse local economy that largely includes many local artisans and restaurants.

History

Phoenixville was settled in 1732 and incorporated as a borough in 1849. The first nail factory in the U.S., the French Creek Nail Works, was established in Phoenixville (then called Manavon) in 1790. The Black Rock Bridge, Gay Street School, and Schuylkill Navigation Canal, Oakes Reach Section are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Phoenix Iron & Steel Company, later The Phoenix Steel Corporation, was shut down for the last time in 1987. The town is located on the broad SchUylkill River, a historic thoroughfare to Native Americans and early settlers. It is also bisected by the fast-flowing French Creek, which was quickly harnessed for water power. 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. 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. It has a rotating display of historical artifacts in its museum. The city is home to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which has a collection of more than 2,000 works of art. It also hosts the National Museum of American History, which is open to the public on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and has a museum with a rotating collection of historical items.

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. A Whole Lot of LuLu, a twice-annual vintage and handmade market, is held here. Phoenixville is in close proximity to Valley Forge National Historical Park and the Perkiomen and Schuylkill River trails. In March 2010, Philadelphia magazine listed Phoenixville as one of "10 Awesome Neighborhoods To Call Home". In 2018, Phoenixville was named #10 in the nation for most breweries per capita. The bonfire at the Firebird Festival is used to harden clay birds crafted over the preceding weeks. The town has celebrated the "rebirth" of the town with the burning of a large wooden phoenix since 2004. In February 2021, TravelMag listedPhoenixville asone of "The Most Charming Towns and Small Cities in Pennsylvania" The town is located on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The turnpike is one of the most scenic routes in the state, with views of the Allegheny Mountains, the Delaware River, and the Susquehanna River. The borough is located near the Pennsylvania-Pennsylvania border, and is close to the Pennsylvania and New Jersey state line. It is also close to Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania. The city has a population of about 2,000 people, with a population growth rate of about 1.7% per year.

Economy

Phoenixville has a diverse local economy that largely includes many local artisans and restaurants. Customers Bank, the nation's fourth-best community bank for return on equity in 2011, is headquartered in downtown Phoenixville. Steel City and the Colonial Theater survived both the economic downturn and Phoenixville's recent revitalization. One impact of economic revitalization has been the increase in the cost for residents living in Phoenixville which was partially the result of increased demand for housing caused by the growth of local restaurants, breweries and boutiques in town. In 2017, several community leaders and residents voiced support for the approval of Steel Town Village which was an affordable housing community. Some opposed the project, but Borough Council approved the project. The focus of the task force is to create affordable housing options for families and seniors/individuals with a fixed income. The Council's website states: "In Chester County, we recognized that the community was changing and Phoenixvile needed to keep pace with the evolving demographics of its wonderful town. Our community saw an increase in homelessness as well as limited housing options... with a limited income" The Affordable Housing Council of Phoenixville was formed in 2011. The council's website says: "Our community saw a need for affordable housing... for families, seniors, and individuals with alimited income" It was created in 2011 to address the issue of homelessness and to provide affordable housing for those with limited income. In 2013, the council created an Affordable Housing Task Force to study what personal financial issues existed in the community and to propose solutions.

Geography and climate

Phoenixville is located at 40°751N 75°319W (40.130819, -75.519061) The record high in Pennsylvania was recorded in Phoenixville, on July 910, 1936, at 111°F. Phoenixville is home of the highest recorded temperature in Pennsylvania, 111 °F (44 °C), set on July 10, 1936. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²) of which 3.6 square miles is land and 0.52 km² (4.27%) is water. It has a Köppen climate classification: Dfa (hot-summer humid continental) immediately bordering upon Cfa (humid subtropical) hardiness zone: 6b/7a depending upon elevation [1] The borough is located in Chester County, Pennsylvania. It is also located in Montgomery County and Schuylkill County. The borough has an average annual rainfall of 46" (1.2 m) and an average yearly snowfall of 21" (2.5 cm) It is located on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, one of the busiest highways in the United States. The town has a population of 2,816 (2,822 people) and is located near the Pennsylvania-Pennsylvania border. It also has a small number of unincorporated communities, including East Pikeland Township and Upper Providence Township.

Transportation

Several major railroads once served Phoenixville. The main line of the Reading Company entered the east side of town via a station above Bridge Street. Regular commuter trains last stopped at the Phoenixville Station in 1981. Norfolk Southern Railway currently utilizes the busy line on a daily basis as part of its Harrisburg Line. Interest to resume passenger rail service was spurred by the Schuylkill Valley Metro (SVM) project, which was rejected by Federal Transit Administration in 2006. Another project, called the Greenline, has since been proposed an alternative to the SVM. It would give Phoenixville a rail link to Philadelphia via Paoli and the Paoli/Thorndale Line of regional rail. Phoenixville is currently served by SEPTA's Route 99 bus, which connects with the Manayunk/Norristown Line Regional rail service at the Norristown Transportation Center. It is also served by the Route 139 bus which connects the King of Prussia mall with Limerick. The town is located at the intersection of three state highway routes: 23, 29, and 113. It has a population of 2,000. It was once home to the Phoenix Iron Works, which is no longer in use. It also was the site of the Pickering Valley Railroad, which joined the Reading in 1906. The line passes under the north side of the town in the Black Rock Tunnel, the third railroad tunnel constructed in the U.S. in the 1990s. It used to connect with the Main Line at Paoli. Passenger service ended in 1928 and regular freight service ceased in 2004.

Governance

Phoenixville is governed by a mayor and by eight council members, two for each of four wards: Middle, East, North, and West. Each ward is further divided into three numbered election precincts. The precincts do not have government representatives. Phoenixville is in Pennsylvania's 6th federal Congressional District (represented by Chrissy Houlahan) and in the state senate 19th State Senatorial District (represented by Andy Dinniman) The 2021 mayoral election results: Peter Urscheler (Dem/Rep) 3,222 94.21% of the vote. The current mayor of Phoenixville, Peter UrScheler, is a Democrat. The borough council members are: East Ward - Jeremy Dalton, and Cathy Doherty. North Ward: Edwin Soto, Christopher Bauers (beginning January, 2018, Rich Kirkner). West Ward: James C. Kovaleski - President. Dana Dugan - Vice-President. Borough Council meets on the second Tuesday of every month. Police, Personnel, & Public Safety Committee meets 1st Monday at 6:30pm. Finance Committee meets 3rd Tuesday at 6pm (Jan.-June) & 7pm (July-Dec). Parks and Recreation Committee meets 4th Tuesday at6pm. Policy Committee meets 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7pm. Council members: Middle Ward - Michael Kuznar, and Jonathan Ewald, and North Ward - Edwin. Soto. The ward elections are held every four years.

Education

Phoenixville is served by the Phoenixville Area School District, which has three elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. High school students can choose to attend the Technical College High School Pickering Campus for specific hands-on training in particular fields of study. The School District also serves the surrounding municipalities of East Pikeland and Schuylkill Townships. Phoenixville is home to the University of Valley Forge, a private school, and a charter school. It is also home to Phoenixville Renaissance Academy, a Montessori School, and the Holy Family School, a Charter School. The town is located on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which runs from New Jersey to Pennsylvania. It has a population of about 3,000 people, with the majority of its residents living in or near the town of Phoenixville. It also has a number of non-autistic schools, such as a private day care center and a daycare center, as well as private schools and charter schools for private and public school students. The city is also the home of the National Guard Air Force Base, which is based in Phoenixville and has a base of operations in the nearby town of Westfield, Pennsylvania. The Phoenixville School District was established in the 1950s. It was the first school district in the state, and has been in operation since the 1960s. The school district has a history of more than 100 years. The district also has three charter schools, including one that opened in the 1970s.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 16,440 people, 7,590 households. The Borough's age demographics were 6.3% under the age of 5, 79.9% (12,822) from 18 to 65, and 11.6% (1,870) from 65 and older. The median income for a household in the Borough was $56,704, and the median incomes for a family was $71,005. The racial makeup of the borough was 78.0% White, 8.6%, African American, 0.2% American Indian, 3.5% Asian, 0,2% Pacific Islander, 2.6%. The Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.4% of the population. The borough is located on the New Jersey Turnpike, which connects to New Jersey and New Jersey via the Raritan River and the Susquehannock River. It has a population of 16, 440, with 6,793 housing units at an average density of 1,892.6/sq mi (730.6-km²). The borough's population is expected to grow to 17,000 by the end of the decade. It is the most populous borough in New Jersey, followed by the City of New York City and the County of New Jersey. It also has one of the highest percentages of African Americans in the state, with 7.7% of its population living in or near the borough.

Religion

42.5% of residents are Catholic, 36.7% reported none, 12.2% Mainline Protestant, 6.3% Evangelical Protestant, 1.2%, 0.9% Black Protestant, 0.1% Orthodox. Phoenixville is home to 34 designated places of worship of several different religions. The city has a population of 3,816. It is located on the Ohio River, near the border with Ohio. The town's population is 3,081. It has a total population of 2,822. It was the site of the World War II Battle of the Bulge. The population of Phoenixville was 2,716 in 1950, and it has a current population of 1,814. It had a population in 1950 of 2.7 million, and is now home to 3,715. It also has a history of World War I and II. The community has a reputation for being a good place to live and work. The area has a high percentage of people of African descent. The majority of the population is African-American, and the majority of people are of African American descent. In 2010, the city had a total of 3.8 million people. The number of people living in the town was 1,717. The rate of unemployment is 0.7%. The city's unemployment rate is 1.8%. It is the highest in the state of Ohio, with the national rate of 0.8% in 2010.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Phoenixville, Chester County, Pennsylvania = 27.7. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 16. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 10. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Phoenixville = 4 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 18,616 individuals with a median age of 38.7 age the population grows by 11.90% in Phoenixville, Chester County, Pennsylvania population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 5,299.7 residents per square mile of area (2,046.2/km²). There are average 2.21 people per household in the 7,365 households with an average household income of $54,042 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 6.40% of the available work force and has dropped -4.83% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 23.94%. The number of physicians in Phoenixville per 100,000 population = 279.3.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Phoenixville = 42.7 inches and the annual snowfall = 11.1 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 113. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 202. 87 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 20.6 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 46, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Phoenixville, Chester County, Pennsylvania which are owned by the occupant = 54.44%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 47 years with median home cost = $161,960 and home appreciation of -2.87%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $15.02 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $8,053 per student. There are 13.9 students for each teacher in the school, 695 students for each Librarian and 290 students for each Counselor. 5.35% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 19.33% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 6.95% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).