The Main Line Today
Today the Main Line is another name for the western suburbs of Philadelphia along Lancaster Avenue (U.S. Route 30) and the former Pennsylvania Railroad Main Line, extending from the city limits to traditionally Bryn Mawr and ultimately Paoli, Pennsylvania comprising an area of approximately 200 square miles (520 km2). The upper/upper middle class enclave outside of Philadelphia has historically been one of the bastions of "old money" in the Northeast along with places such as Long Island's Gold Coast, Westchester County, New York, Middlesex County, Massachusetts and Fairfield County, Connecticut. It is home to some of the wealthiest places in the United States, such as Gladwyne, which has the 14th highest per-capita income in the country with a population of 1,000 or more. The eastern section of Villanova was also ranked 39th in The Elite 100 Highest Income Neighborhoods in America with a median household income of $366,904.
With diverse topography, steep cliffs along the Schuylkill River, rolling hills, and open meadows, the region has benefited from the early planning of William Penn. The Main Line is known for its multimillion-dollar stone Colonial homes, exclusivity, and upscale shopping at celebrated destinations like Suburban Square in Ardmore and the King of Prussia Mall, one of the largest in the country. There is some disparity on the Main Line, with smaller homes and walkable village life in Ardmore, Bala Cynwyd, and Narberth contrasting with the more established suburban landscape. There are also established African-American and Irish residential areas, in enclaves paralleling Lancaster Avenue said to have once housed people serving on the estates of the wealthy. The Main Line is also home to a large Jewish community, concentrated predominantly in Lower Merion after World War II. Social segregation is quite apparent due to the old social elite limiting access of Jewish people to housing due to "gentleman's agreements" to the towns principally bordering Philadelphia. Small enclaves of African-Americans have existed for generations in Bryn Mawr and in Ardmore. Many renowned colleges are located on the Main Line, including Cabrini College, Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College, Immaculata University, Eastern University, Villanova University, and Saint Joseph's University. In addition, the Main Line hosts some of the most famous and exclusive private schools in the United States, including Malvern Preparatory School, The Haverford School for Boys, Devon Preparatory School for boys, Episcopal Academy, Valley Forge Military Academy, and Villa Maria Academy, Agnes Irwin School, the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, Country Day School of the Sacred Heart for girls and Baldwin School for girls, and Friends' Central School, Akiba Hebrew Academy (Now called Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy), Shipley School for both boys and girls, and Merion Mercy Academy, a private Catholic all girls high school.
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