A Brief History of Cheltenham, PA

The personal injury attorneys in Cheltenham, PA, at Monheit Law have shared some interesting details on the neighborhood's history and highlights.

Cheltenham

The township of Cheltenham is situated in the southeastern region of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Neighboring towns that share a border with the township include Wyndoor, Rockledge, West Oak Lane, Lawndale, Fox Chase, and Jenkintown. Some of the unincorporated communities within the township include Glenside, Laverock, Edge Hill, Wyncote, Cedarbrook, Chelten Hills, and more.

Early History

Initially, the area was part of a larger tract of land that was granted to William Penn. He sold 4,070 acres to 15 Quakers that established Philadelphia County in 1682. Richard Wall and Tobias Leech were among the 15 landowners. However, in 1784 the neighborhood became the smallest township within the newly created Montgomery County.

Many mills were constructed along Tookany Creek that aided in the development of the community. One of the first gristmills was built in 1690 by Richard Dungworth. It soon became the second-largest shovel producer in the country after being purchased by the Rowland family.

Historical Landmarks

The neighborhood has many historic landmarks, which have been added to the National Register of Historic Places. Some of the historical places include:

• 1682 - the Richard Wall House - the oldest house in the state - located on Wall Park Drive
• 1774 - the Rowland House - also referred to as the Shovel Shop - located on Ashbourne Road
• 1861 - St. Paul's Episcopal Church - designed by Jay Cooke - located on Old York Road
• 1872 - Jenkintown-Wyncote Station - built by the North Pennsylvania Railroad - located on Greenwood Avenue

The area is home to the Wyncote Historic District and the Camptown Historic District. The Wyncote Historic District spans 100 acres and has as many as 178 contributing buildings. The Camptown Historic District, also called La Mott Historic District, includes 35 buildings and covers approximately 26 acres. Camp William Penn is located within this section of town. It is known for its involvement in housing a famous abolitionist, Lucretia Mott. The Underground Railroad used it as a stop.

Demographics

In 2010 the township was home to 36,793 residents, which was a decrease of 0.2% from the count in 2000 of 36,875. It was the county's most densely populated township in 2000 and third in 2010. The racial makeup of the township included the following:

• 56.6% white
• 32.8% African American
• 3.9% Hispanic or Latino
• 0.2% Native American
• 7.7% Asian
• 2.5% two or more races

The income average for the households in the neighborhood was $61,713, and for a family, income was $76,792. Men averaged a yearly income of $50,564 versus $36,439 for women. The township's per capita was $31,424. The occupational breakdown of the community workers included the following:

• 13.5% administrative
• 12.0% management
• 10.3% education
• 9.1% sales
• 7.6% healthcare
• 6.2% business

Learn more about the next community: All About Stenton, PA

Our Local Office

The Cheltenham, PA, personal injury attorneys at Monheit Law have represented injured residents in the community for years. Our experienced attorneys will offer guidance through the legal process to help you get the compensation you deserve. Call now for a free case review.

Monheit Law
1368 Barrowdale Rd.
Jenkintown, PA 19046
(215) 866-2018