EXPLORE CONSHOSHOCKEN

Conshohocken (Lenape: Kanshihakink) is a borough on the Schuylkill River in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in suburban Philadelphia. Historically a large mill town and industrial and manufacturing center, after the decline of industry in recent years Conshohocken has developed into a center of riverfront commercial and residential development. It is commonly referred to by its colloquial nickname, Conshy. The name ‘Conshohocken’ comes from ‘Gueno-sheiki-hacking’, meaning ‘Pleasant Valley’ in the native language of the Lenape tribe of the area’s native Americans who first occupied the land over 300 years ago. In 1940, a New York Times columnist noted lightheartedly that “Some of the residents of Conshohocken, Pa. are concerned because Kitty Foyle’s father, in Christopher Morley’s novel “Kitty Foyle” (Lippincott), uses the name of their town as a swear word. Others think that it may help advertise the town. One thing is sure—it makes a rattling good cuss-word.”

The sister community of West Conshohocken is located across the Schuylkill.

Geography

Conshohocken is located at 40°4′38″N 75°18′7″W (40.077135, -75.302009). According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2), of which, 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of it (2.97%) is water.

Politics and History

Conshohocken has a city manager form of government with a mayor and a seven-member borough council. The mayor is Robert Frost.

Conshohocken was founded in 1830 and incorporated in 1850. In 1890, the population stood at 5,470; in 1900, 5,762; in 1910, 7,480; and in 1940, 10,776. The population was 7,589 at the 2000 census. The borough is part of the Seventh Congressional District (represented by Rep. Pat Meehan), the 148th State House District (represented by Rep. Mike Gerber) and the 17th State Senate District (represented by Sen. Daylin Leach).

One ward in Conshohocken sits in the 6th congressional district (Congressman Jim Gerlach). Business History Businesses that influenced the past and helped to create the present day Borough. Alan Wood Steel Company Lower Merion Histoical Society picture of Alan Wood Jr.

Transportation

Conshohocken is served by two SEPTA regional railroad stations, both of which are along the Manayunk/Norristown Line. The main one officially located at Washington and Harry Streets, and the other at Spring Mill at the end of East North Lane, south of Hector Street.

Education

Residents of Conshohocken are served by the Colonial School District. Private schools in the area include AIM Academy.

Economy

AlliedBarton’s headquarters and IKEA’s US headquarters are in Conshohocken. The NBOME National Center for Clinical Skills Testing is located in Conshohocken.

Riverwalk Fire

On Wednesday, August 13, 2008, at approximately 4:53 PM a fire started at a building site under construction adjacent (now known as the Londonbury apartments) to the Riverwalk Millennium apartments in Conshohocken, which consisted of 5 different buildings. The building under construction did not have a sprinkler system yet in place, allowing the fire to spread rapidly. Because of the intense radiant heat only a few feet away, the attics of buildings one and four of the Riverwalk Millennium Complex caught fire. The incident became an 8-alarm blaze which destroyed three of the five apartment buildings. No one was killed as a result of the fire, although several firefighters were treated for minor injuries, and some residents’ pets were lost in the blazes.

Conshohocken Fire Chief Robert Phipps referred to the fire as “one of the worst we’ve had” in the history of the borough. Furthermore, Phipps explained that there were 86 fire companies on site battling the inferno. The amount of the damage is unknown, but it is estimated by property owner J. Brian O’Neill to be between $50 million and $80 million. The cause of the fire is believed to be related to an acetylene torch which ignited at the nearby construction site. An investigation is ongoing.

Courtesy of Wikipedia

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