Collegeville

Lower Providence Township is surrounded by Evansburg State Park's vast woods and Perkiomen Creek's tranquil waters. Lower Providence Township is 17 miles from Philadelphia. Lower Providence is part of the homeland of the Lenape people and was settled in 1805 by European settlers. A large chunk of the land was granted to William Penn, the founder of colonial-era Pennsylvania. The area has become a popular Philadelphia suburb. Residential areas between the two scenic sites offer a peaceful atmosphere where many single-family homes are spread apart on spacious one-to-two-acre lots. There are some million-dollar mansions with wide-open front yards, long driveways, and colonial-style homes ranging from $560,000 to $900,000. Other parts of town feature smaller ranch-style and split-level homes surrounded by abundant greenery. Overall, homes in the area run between $347,000 to $1.1 million. Homes tend to be around 2,500 square feet and sit on 18,300 square foot lots. “There is a mixture of homes,” says Ted Miller, owner of Bhhs Keystone Properties. “There are a lot of four-bedroom colonials and three-bedroom ranch-style homes. It is such a convenient location with lots to do.” Miller describes the neighborhood as having a tight-knit community with second-generation residents. “People grew up here, went away for a while and came back,” he said. The CAP Index crime score is 2 out of 10, significantly lower than the national average. Evansburg State Park greets you with 3,349 acres of protected wilderness. Surrounded by sprawling trees, visitors can enjoy the greenery while hiking through miles of trails along Skippack Creek. Horseback riders are welcome to roam the trails as well. With several pavilions, gatherings are common in the park. The park is also home to two fields used by local cricket clubs. Perkiomen Creek flows on the west side of Lower Providence Township. The creek is perfect for casting and reeling in a bass or catfish. While most of the area’s stores and restaurants are located in Collegeville, the few in Lower Providence Township add to the small-town atmosphere. Take Speck’s Drive-In, for example, which has been serving its famous broasted chicken to the community since 1965. Dawn Flynn, manager of Speck’s, says, “There are a lot of people who have lived here their whole lives. We’ll have the same customers come in five times a week, but we’ll see some new faces every now and then.” There’s also Collegeville Italian Bakery, opened by an Italian family who moved to the United States in 1970. The menu features dozens of pizza flavors and specialty desserts, such as the cheesecake on a stick. And for groceries, head to Jim and Ralph’s Produce, another family-owned business. Shoppers will have an abundant amount of stores to check out. The community is a 10-minute drive from King of Prussia, which Miller describes as a “world-class shopping’ area. The mall is the largest in Pennsylvania — even more impressive, it is the third-largest in the U.S. Students attend Arrowhead Elementary School, Arcola Intermediate School and Methacton High School. The elementary and middle schools have an A- rating from Niche; the high school earned an A. The high school offers 24 AP courses. Nine colleges and universities are near the area, including Bryn Mawr College. Lower Providence Township's main highway is U.S. Route 422. SEPTA Suburban Bus lines 91, 93, 99 and 131 serve the Norristown Transportation Center and adjacent suburbs. Lower Providence Township is an option for those seeking a small-town community with familiar faces and natural beauty outside of Philadelphia.