The History of Bala Cynwyd, PA

The personal injury lawyers in Bala Cynwyd, PA, sponsor this article to present a detailed excerpt about the area.

Bala Cynwyd is a community within the Lower Merion Township in Pennsylvania. The community is located on the Main Line in southeastern Pennsylvania, bordering the western edge of Philadelphia at US Route 1, and is within ZIP code 19004.

History

Bala Cynwyd was originally two separate towns, Bala and Cynwyd, but has always been treated as a single community. The areas hyphenated their names after a US Post Office served both towns (the "Bala Cynwyd" Branch) using ZIP code 19004. Today, the area is simply known as Bala Cynwyd.

Bala Cynwyd was settled in the 1680s by Welsh Quakers who named the area after the town of Bala and the village of Cynwyd in Wales.

The area is a largely residential district containing some of Lower Merion's oldest and finest stone mansions, built mainly from 1880 through the 1920s. You can find these stunning homes located in the sycamore-lined district between Montgomery Avenue and Levering Mill Road, as well as split-level tract houses built east of Manayunk Road just after World War II.

The original center of Bala Cynwyd hosts the area's oldest commercial district. It bestrides the bridge over the old Pennsylvania Railroad tracks, originally belonging to the Columbia Railroad and now part of the SEPTA Cynwyd Line.

The commercial district was settled after William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania, settled in 1682. The district contains the village's oldest commercial buildings dating back to the early 19th century.

The town's Bala Avenue is an extension of the original town center and comprises a specialized commercial district more than a century old. The Avenue is known for its children's clothing stores, women's dress shops, the Bala Theater, and several small restaurants.

The remainder of Bala Cynwyd's original commercial district extends south along Montgomery Avenue as part of the Bala Cynwyd-Merion Commercial District.

The original commercial district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Education

Bala Cynwyd is served by the Lower Merion School District, the #1 Best School District in Montgomery County. The school district is highly rated, with an average teacher salary of $118,871. The district is known for its excellent core curriculum, specialty courses, administrators, clubs, and activities.

The schools in Bala Cynwyd include,

Cynwyd Elementary School

• Located on Levering Mill Road, the elementary school serves 558 students in grades K-5 with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13:1. The school is ranked #4 in Best Public Elementary Schools in Montogomery County.

Bala Cynwyd Middle School

• Located on North Bryn Mawr Avenue, the middle school serves 1,059 students in grades 6-8 with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11:1. The school is top-rated in academia and ranks #6 in Best Public Middle Schools in Pennsylvania. The middle schools' most notable alumni is Kobe Bryant.

Lower Merion High School

• Located on Montgomery Avenue, the high school serves 1,512 students in grades 9-12 with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12:1. The school holds high satisfaction rates amongst students and faculty and is ranked #1 in Best Public High Schools in Montgomery County. The high school's most notable alumni is Kobe Bryant.

Notable Persons

• Kobe Bryant, NBA Basketball player, attended Bala Cynwyd Middle School and Lower Merion High School
• Hobey Baker, namesake of NCAA men's hockey award
• Chuck Barris, American game show creator, producer, and host; songwriter; author
• Paul Cava, photographer
• Bruce Marks (born 1957), American politician
• Ben Shibe, historic sporting goods and baseball executive

Bala Cynwyd offers residents a comfortable suburban lifestyle. If you're looking to reside in a neighborhood with rich history and excellent schooling, then Bala Cynwyd is the area for you.

Check out the related article:

The Deep History of Wissahickon, PA

Our Local Office

If you have sustained personal injuries from an incident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Allow the Bala Cynwyd, PA, personal injury lawyers to help you get the justice you deserve. Contact our legal team today.

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100 Presidential Blvd
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
(610) 424-2007