West Conshohocken

Conshohocken 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.

West Conshohocken is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,462 in 1880; 2,482 in 1950; 1,516 in 1980; 1,294 in 1990; and 1,320 at the 2010 census. Its sister community is Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, located across the Schuylkill River. Montgomery County's seat, Norristown, is located approximately two miles north of, and across the river from, West Conshohocken.

History

West Conshohocken Borough was incorporated October 6, 1874 from land taken almost equally from the Townships of Lower and Upper Merion. As a river borough, there existed a large number of mills and other industries utilizing water power. The Dougherty Quarry was a prosperous business, producing stone of superior quality known as Conshohocken or Merion Blue. It was much sought after for public buildings, and was shipped by rail throughout the East before supplies were exhausted in the mid-twentieth century.

Today, with its proximity to highways I-76 and I-476 (Blue Route), this small borough and its sister Conshohocken Borough have experienced moderate office and retail development. West Conshohocken is easily identified by the mid and high-rise commercial development along its waterfront, which in recent years has also spread across the river to Conshohocken's waterfront.

Geography

West Conshohocken is located at 40°4′10″N 75°18′57″W (40.069509, -75.315755).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2), of which, 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of it (4.49%) is water.
The borough contains most of the I-76/I-476/PA-23 interchange, which also takes up a large portion of the borough's land. This is a regionally important interchange, carrying large volumes of traffic to and from the northern and western Philadelphia suburbs.

Politics and government

West Conshohocken has a city manager form of government with a mayor and a seven-member borough council. The mayor is Donna M. Frankenfield.

The borough is part of the Seventh Congressional District (represented by Rep. Pat Meehan), the 149th State House District (represented by Rep. Tim Briggs) and the 17th State Senate District (represented by Sen. Daylin Leach).

Public water and sewer facilities and service are provided by the borough as is residential trash pickup. A full-time police force serves the community, but fire protection is provided by volunteer companies. SEPTA bus lines provide access to the Norristown Transportation Center, and bus and rail lines connect the borough to other portions of Montgomery County and Philadelphia.

Education

West Conshohocken pupils are assigned to schools in the Upper Merion Area School District. Residents have access to the Conshohocken Free Library.

Healthcare

The area is served by two hospitals, Montgomery Hospital and Mercy Suburban Hospital.

Companies and organizations

• ASTM International
• Collectables Records and Alpha Video
• Connelly Foundation
• Cheswold Lane Asset Management

Courtesy of Wikipedia