Pennsylvania Main Line

From Free net encyclopedia

(Redirected from Main Line)

For the historic canal, see Pennsylvania Main Line of Public Works.

For the New Jersey Transit (formerly Erie Railroad) Main Line, see Main Line (NJ Transit).

The Main Line is a collection of towns in suburban Philadelphia named after the Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The Main Line suburbs, some of the wealthiest in the United States, are situated west of the city.

1 History
2 The Main Line Today
3 Main Line in Books, Movies, and Television
4 Communities on the Main Line
5 Colleges and universities
6 External links

[edit]

History

The Main Line was settled in the 1600's, when William Penn sold land to a group of Welsh Quakers for ten cents an acre. The Main Line Railroad was constructed during the nineteenth century, and traveled through the area from Philadelphia to Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. The railroad is in service. At the time, the Railroad owned much of the land surrounding the tracks, and encouraged the development of this picturesque environment. The construction of sprawling estates attracted Philadelphia elite, many of whom had one house in the city, and another larger "country home" on the Main Line.

The Main Line was once home to the Lenni Lenape Indians.

[edit]

The Main Line Today

Today the Main Line contains some of the wealthiest suburbs in the United States. The nine principal townships are Lower Merion Township, Haverford Township, Radnor Township, Tredyffrin Township, Easttown Township, Willistown Township, Malvern Borough, East Whiteland Township, and Charlestown Township. With diverse topography, steep cliffs along the Schuylkill River, dense woods, rolling hills, and open meadows, the Main Line has benefited from the early planning of William Penn. The Main Line is known for its million-dollar Stone Colonial homes, as well as its upscale shopping.

Current residents of the Main Line include Will Smith, M. Night Shyamalan, and Patti LaBelle.

[edit]