Adjacent to the northern Main Line is Phoenixville, an old mill town with tons of character and a revitalized town center. Many of the mills have been repurposed and some of them are very well done. It offers French Creek State Park as well as the Schuylkill River for a variety of hiking and fishing/boating activities. It was settled in 1732 and has some beautiful old architecture and a historic feel. The borough is home to a farmers market and it hosts several annual events including the Dogwood Festival and creates a strong community following.
While there are some chain restaurants around, the most popular establishments are the independent establishments like Steel City Coffee House and Brown’s Cow ice cream shop, serving Bassett’s ice cream (the oldest brand in the country). Residential areas are mixed in terms of age—some homes are very old and have challenging closet space and kitchen sizes, while there are also more modern, though fairly modest housing options. Outside the borough itself, there are some newer developments with more up to date homes in terms of layouts and buyer preferences. If you are relocating from an area where newer sub-divisions are common and that sort of housing appeals to you, this might be a good choice. Taxes here can be very high, though, so beware.
To learn more about living in Phoenixville, click here.
