| Havertown, Pennsylvania | |
| Settlement | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Delaware |
| Township | Haverford |
| Elevation | 276 ft (84.1 m) |
| Coordinates | |
| Population | 51,560 |
| Timezone | EST (UTC-5) |
| - summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Area code | 610 |
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Location of Havertown in Pennsylvania
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Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
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Havertown is a residential suburban unincorporated community in Haverford Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, approximately 9 miles west of the center of Philadelphia. Havertown's ZIP Code is 19083. Havertown is notable for being the birthplace of Swell Bubble Gum, which closed its doors in late 2004, and was demolished in 2011. The Swell site in 2013 will be the home of the brand new Haverford Township Area YMCA. Havertown is one of the few towns that have a Superfund site caused by a timber mill that finished telephone poles; the chemical that was used to coat the telephone poles was dumped into the ground.[1] Coincidently, these two sites are directly across the street from one another.
Havertown is also known for its large Irish-American population. Many Irish-Americans still live there today. According to the 2000 US Census, Haverford Twp. ranks in the top 60 of census-recognized municipalities nationwide in percentage of population with Irish ancestry.[2] The neighborhood takes pride in its distinct Irish heritage and is home to many Irish bars and shops. For these reasons the neighborhood remains a very popular destination for Irish immigrants. Of the 51,560 residents, 11,182 noted "Irish" as their first reported ancestry.[3]
Havertown’s rich history began with Haverford Township's founding by Welsh Quakers in 1681 on land purchased by William Penn. The town is home to many historic sites, such as the Grange Estate, a mansion that entertained the Revolutionary War figures George Washington and General Lafayette. Nitre Hall, also located within the town’s borders, supplied the United States with over 800,000 pounds of gunpowder during the War of 1812. Other Havertown sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places include the Federal School and Lawrence Cabin.
Havertown is home to over 30 outdoor parks and playing fields. The town also provides other recreation facilities including the Haverford Township Free Library, an outdoor skate park, and the Haverford Township Skatium, a multi-use ice rink for Havertown residents. The town is guarded and watched over by the Haverford Township Police Department and is under the protection of five fire companies: Bon Air, Brookline, Llanerch, Manoa, and Oakmont.
Havertown is served by the School District of Haverford Township, which has one high school, one middle school, and five elementary schools. A newly-refurbished elementary school, Chestnutwold Elementary, re-opened its doors early September 2008. It replaced Oakmont Elementary, which is to become home to the district offices. In 2009, Manoa Elementary School moved from Manoa Road to the intersection of Manoa and Eagle Roads, taking part of the field that had been there for many years. The Haverford High School sports teams are called the "Fords," and have a Model T Ford as mascot.
The recently renovated Haverford Reserve includes a community park for the ultimate recreation experience. Some of the upcoming components that will be added to the new Proposed Community Recreation & Environmental Center at Haverford Reserve include a double gymnasium, walking track, multi purpose rooms, environmental nature area, and a health and wellness area.
The namesake of Haverford and Havertown is Haverfordwest, Wales, UK.
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The School District of Haverford Township serves Havertown. Haverford High School is in Havertown.
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