Pottstown, PA

Located on the historic Schuylkill River, Pottstown is a borough in Montgomery County. While some people originally settled in the area around 1715, this area was not incorporated until 1815, after a name change, some expansion, and a slight increase in population. This borough, about 40 miles northwest of Philadelphia, now has a population of about 21,000. The area was at first built on the iron industry, but the local economy expanded as a result of Reading Railroad's extension in the early 20th century.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Some of the most common industries in this area are manufacturing, education, healthcare, retail sales and social services. A breakdown of the most popular industries in Pottstown:

• About 93 percent of residents work in the private sector.
• Of the private sector jobs, about 77 percent are in the service industry, which includes jobs related to professional services, trade, transportation and utilities.
• Nearly 16 percent of jobs are in the goods-producing industries, such as construction and manufacturing.
• About 21 percent of jobs are in management and professional positions.
• About 19 percent of jobs involve trade, utilities and transportation.
• Education and healthcare make up about 15 percent of positions in the area.
• Manufacturing jobs account for about 10 percent of positions.
• About 5 percent of jobs deal with construction.

Some of the borough's largest employers are:

• Pottstown Memorial Medical Center
• Torque-Traction Manufacturing Technologies, which manufactures components for axles and driveshafts
• Neapco, a leading manufacturer of universal joints and drivelines
• Occidental Chemical Corporation, an oil and gas exploration and production company.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Pottstown has about 10,000 houses, out of which more than 9,000 are occupied. Of the occupied houses, more than 5,000 are owner-occupied, and renters occupy around 4,000 houses.

Pottstown has total area of 5.5 square miles, with many grocery stores, food-outlets, bars, parks and schools at a walkable distance from the center of the city.

Downtown Pottstown is situated between Montgomery County Community College to the West and The Hill School to the East. The area's recent revitalization includes the renovation of the former Newberry Department Store into a state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center. Downtown is the commercial hub of the borough, offering several dining and shopping options.

The town's primary industrial areas are to the south, along the riverfront of the Schuylkill River. Houses tend to be nicer and more expensive on the north end of Pottstown.

EDUCATION

Pottstown has been home to a branch of the Montgomery County Community College since 1996. The school expanded from its initial campus, built in 1964, due to the county's growth. It offers distance learning, night classes, associate degrees in nearly 100 areas of study and dozens of certificate programs.

Pottstown also features a nonprofit specialty school called the Gallery School of Pottstown, which teaches artistic concepts to students of all ages. Students get the chance to display their art to the community several times a year in exhibits.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Village Productions: This is Pottstown's nonprofit performance facility. It offers an arts program that thrills the community with several plays, musicals, art exhibitions, class presentations and music performances each year.

Pottstown Symphony Orchestra: This group, which has operated in Pottstown for more than 40 years, offers music classes and concerts to the community year-round.

Pottstown Historical Society: This group is responsible for the conservation of many historic sites in the area, including Pottsgrove Manor and many of Pottstown's parks. It also heads a historical library, gives lectures and displays exhibits that deal with the area's history.

GETTING AROUND

Air Travel: The area is served by the Pottstown Municipal Airport and the Pottstown Limerick Airport.

Highways: Pottstown is located along Highway 422, which runs along the Schuylkill River.

Public Transit: Pottstown Area Rapid Transit is a public bus line that operates six days a week, day and night.

FAMILY FUN

Parks: John Potts Riverfront Park is located along the Schuylkill River and offers plenty of trails and ball fields. Memorial Park is also full of athletic fields, trails and picnic areas, and sets itself apart with a memorial to past war heroes. Other parks include Brookside Park, Chestnut Street Park, Maple Street Park, Cherry Street Park, Pollack Park and Potts Drive Park.

Golf: The area has both public and private golf courses. Bellewood Golf Club and Brookside Country Club both feature private 18-hole courses. Raven's Claw Golf Club is a public course that also has 18 holes.

FOR VISITORS

Welkinweir: This is an arboretum, mansion and garden all in one. It is free of charge, and its creation in the 1930s has qualified it for a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

Fellowship Farm: This local attraction offers leadership workshops, teamwork training and strategic planning practice for both adults and youth. Community groups, religious organizations, colleges and government agencies have used the space, and many continue to do so annually.

Pottsgrove Manor: This manor house was built in 1752, when Pottstown was known as Pottsgrove. The original, 1,000-acre plantation was built for area founder John Potts, the ironmaster at the time. Only about four acres remain, but the home still exemplifies life in the 18th century and is filled with historic decor and authentic furnishings.

LOCAL MEDIA

Pottstown residents have access to several local newspapers, television channels and radio stations:

• Pottstown Mercury
• Pottstown Herald
• KYW-TV (CBS), Channel 3
• WPVI-TV (ABC), Channel 6
• WCAU (NBC), Channel 10
• WBYN 107.5 FM (religious)
• WMWX 95.7 FM (adult contemporary)
• WHYY 90.9 FM (public radio)
• WPAZ 1370 AM (oldies)
• WZZD 990 AM (news talk radio)

FUN FACTS

• Pottstown's tornado activity is about 34 percent higher than that of the rest of the country and is slightly higher than that of the rest of the state.
• The median commute in Pottstown is 24 minutes, one minute less than the national average.