Local Analysis – Lansdowne Borough

History

According to Wikipedia and the Borough’s own website, Lansdowne is located 5-miles southwest of downtown Philadelphia. At over one square mile, Lansdowne is small in stature and big in what it has to offer. Its people, services, charm, architecture, culture and history of civic dedication combine to provide the true warmth that can only be found in a small town. The area that is now known as the Borough of Lansdowne was originally named for the Marquis of Lansdowne, was settled in the early 1700s. The borough has a rich industrial and commercial history and years before it was incorporated as a separate entity from Upper Darby (in 1893), it was historically home to various industries including textile, paper and cotton. In addition to its rich industrial base, the area became known for its small but elegant hotels and guesthouses including the Evergreen Lodge, Hartel’s Guest House and the Windermere. The floral trade also blossomed with the well-known Pennock and Doemling families. By the mid 19th century, a single rail track ran through the town. Big changes followed the construction of a second track in the 1880s by the Pennsylvania Railroad. The expanded rail accessibility also attracted real estate developers. The areas best architects including renowned Philadelphia architect Frank Furness, teamed with builders to display some of their grandest designs in Lansdowne. Lansdowne became a haven for middle-class families wanting to settle in eastern Delaware County. Between 1900 and 1910, residential development throughout the borough boomed.

Things To Do

Today, residents can stroll along wide tree-lined streets admiring large Victorian homes from another era, as they make their way to the center of town. Lansdowne Avenue accommodates many shops, restaurants and business that serve local residents:

Baltimore Avenue, a major east/west artery connecting the city and Delaware County suburbs, is a major shopping and services network that runs through the center of the borough.

Culture

Culturally, Lansdowne has a lot to offer including being home to the 75-plus piece Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra which has resided in Lansdowne for over 50 years. Its season stretch from October through April with performances held at Upper Darby High School

Other cultural institutions in Lansdowne include the Lansdowne Theater, Celebration Theater, the Lansdowne Folk Club and the Lansdowne Arts Festival.

There is a weekly farmers market which runs, rain or shine, on Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm between Memorial Day and Halloween in the Lansdowne Avenue parking lot across from the historic Lansdowne Theater. Lansdowne Farmers Market

The zip code of Lansdowne Borough is 19050 and includes the Boroughs of East Lansdowne and Yeadon.

Walkability

Generally speaking, Lansdowne is a very walkable area with easily reached public transportation including to the Media/Elwyn Line at the Lansdowne stop and to the Septa 109 & 110 bus routes as well as shops, restaurants and local parks including nearby Shrigley Park and Marlyn Park. It has a high walkability score of 81 out of 100 on the Walk Score website.

Schools

Lansdowne Borough is part of the William Penn School District. The William Penn School District serves approximately 5,500 students who live in the six communities of Aldan, Colwyn, Darby, East Lansdowne, Lansdowne, and Yeadon Boroughs. Its has eight elementary schools, which serve students in kindergarten through the sixth grade, are as follows: Aldan, Ardmore Avenue, Bell Avenue, Colwyn, East Lansdowne, Evans, Park Lane, and Walnut Street.

Its secondary schools are Penn Wood Middle School (grades 7 and 8), Penn Wood High School – Cypress Street Campus (grades 9 and 10) and Penn Wood High School – Green Avenue Campus (grades 11 and 12).

The William Penn School District was one of eight school districts in the state that did not meet all Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) target goals in 2012. It currently receives a the significantly negative ranking of 451 out of 462 for schools in Pennsylvania: School Digger Rating

Population and Income

According to the 2010 US Census, the total population of Lansdowne Borough was 10,620 with 4,598 total households and a median household income of $72,479. In the year 2,000 census, total population was 11,044 with 4,724 total households and a median household income of $47,017 (an increase of 54%).

Housing

See below for housing statistics for Lansdowne Borough for single family, detached dwellings for the previous three years from TReND. As can be seen, the housing market has fluctuated from 51 settled, $155,200 median sale price, 84 days on market for the previous year, 44 settled, $142,250 median sale price, 72 days on market for one year previous and 47 settled, $179,900 median sale price, 92 days on market for two years previous.

Lansdowne Borough Single Family Detached 7/23/14 – 7/23/15

Lansdowne Borough Single Family Detached 7/23/13 – 7/23/14

Lansdowne Borough Single Family Detached 7/23/12 – 7/23/13

Crime

According to the City-Data website, the crime index in Lansdowne Borough (228.7) is slightly lower than the national average of 291.7: Crime Stats by City Data

In conclusion, Lansdowne Borough is a very livable town within close proximity to the City of Philadelphia. Originally an industrial area, its humble beginnings blossomed by the turn of the 20th century into a middle class bedroom community with distinctive Victorian architecture. Today, with major cultural institutions within walking distance, weekend farmer’s markets and a good supply of protected historic homes, Lansdowne has become an area of choice for many Philadelphians.