Mt. Airy, named after a 47-acre country estate, is a neighborhood in the Germantown/Chestnut Hill area of Philadelphia. The neighborhood spans from Creshein Valley to the Wissahickon Gorge and from Germantown Avenue to Stenton Avenue. The original estate belonged to William Allen, a chief justice in Pennsylvania as well as one of the wealthiest men in the colony in 1750. The surrounding area eventually took the name of the famous mansion and the name has stuck ever since. In 1777, George Washington and the Revolutionary War arrived on Mt. Airy’s doorstep. The Battle of Germantown in this area left 152 American soldiers and 70 British dead within a matter of days. In the early 19th century, the area was mostly farmland. However, by late 19th century, houses had replaced the farms and eventually transformed the area into the urban neighborhood we know today. This neighborhood’s diverse heritage can be dated back to its earliest inhabitants, the Lenni-Lenape Indians and later to a group of German-Dutch immigrants. Today the neighborhood still cherishes its eclectic culture as well as its deep colonial roots. Residents who call Mt. Airy’s tree-lined streets home appreciate the area’s well regarded schools, diverse shopping along Germantown Avenue, and its numerous churches and other cultural hotspots.
RESOURCES
East Mt. Airy Neighbors Association
PlanPhilly: Planning Philadelphia's Future