Bala Cynwyd is a town in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States, about 5 miles (8 km) south of Center City. It is named after the family of William Penn, who founded the city. The population was 14,543 at the 2010 census.
The area was first settled by the Lenni Lenape Native Americans who called it the Great Swamp, as it had many large swamps and marshes. The area is home to the historic Fort Mifflin, a Revolutionary War fort, and the Philadelphia Naval Hospital.
Bala Cynwyd is a suburban community in southern Philadelphia. Located in the western portion of the city, it lies on the border between the Delaware Valley region and Southwestern Pennsylvania. The southern boundary of the community is defined by the Schuylkill Expressway, while the northern boundary is defined by the former Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad, now owned by SEPTA.
There are a number of schools located in Bala Cynwyd, including the Bala Cynwyd School District, which serves grades K-12. There are also four parochial high schools, two Roman Catholic, one Evangelical Lutheran, and one non-denominational.
The community is served by the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 76), Route 1, the Schuylkill Expressway, and the Norristown High Speed Line. The latter two are part of SEPTA’s Regional Rail system. The area is also served by SEPTA’s Route 101 bus line.
Bala Cynwyd is a popular suburban bedroom community and is generally seen as being on the border between Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs. In the past, it has been considered a working-class community, but the area has seen a rise in home values as well as increased job opportunities.
Bala Cynwyd is home to the historic Fort Mifflin, a Revolutionary War fort, and the Philadelphia Naval Hospital. The fort was constructed in 1741–42 as a part of the Philadelphia defense system, and the naval hospital opened in 1814.
In 1831, the Fort was turned over to the Army, and renamed the Fort Mifflin. In 1834, the fort was converted to a military hospital. During the Civil War, the fort was used as a training center for new Union Army recruits. The fort played an important role in the Battle of Antietam. Today, the fort and the adjacent museum are operated by the National Park Service. The fort and the grounds are open to the public. The museum is open daily from 9 AM to 4 PM.
The Philadelphia Naval Hospital, founded in 1814, moved to its current location in 1835. The hospital became a division of the Navy and was renamed the U.S. Naval Hospital Philadelphia. In 1946, the hospital became part of the Veterans Administration. The hospital closed in 1969 and was redeveloped into the Fort Mifflin. Today, the Fort Mifflin is the only remaining structure from the original fort and the Philadelphia Naval Hospital.
Bala Cynwyd is also the home of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the University of the Arts, and the College of New Jersey. The Bala Cynwyd campus of the Community College of Philadelphia is located in nearby Chester Township.
Bala Cynwyd, PA is known for the area’s top-ranked elementary school and for being home to the famous Haverford School.
But the town is also well known for its holiday lights. And when I say “holiday lights,” I mean thousands of them, covering homes and streets, creating a festive scene at night. If you want to visit Bala Cynwyd during the holidays, here are some tips to help you get the most out of your visit.
Get your map:
You should be able to find a map of the town on the internet. It is usually in the form of a PDF, but a lot of websites will offer you an interactive map so you can zoom in on the area of interest.
Visit the local businesses:
Most likely, you won’t see many stores when you arrive. But there will be a number of businesses that will have lights up on display. Ask the local businesses if they would like to participate in the light show, and if they would like to be included in the light show, what their requirements are. They will probably ask for a donation, which is fine!
Visit the neighborhoods:
Most of the neighborhoods will have lights up on display, so you don’t have to visit every business to see everything. But, if you want to visit a specific neighborhood, make sure you have a map and plan ahead of time.
Bring your camera:
Even if you don’t bring any photo equipment, you can still take pictures. Some of the displays are actually live feedings of video. So, you’ll get to see how the display is made. And if you do bring your camera, you can take pictures of the display that will help you remember the experience later.
Take notes:
Make sure you take notes about what you see. For example, if you walk down a street and notice a particular house, write down the address and note what the house looks like. Also, if you see a light display, take note of how it works.
Take photos and videos:
If you’re taking photos, make sure you take a few with the display in the background. This will help you remember the experience later. As for videos, make sure you keep the display in the foreground. This will make it easier to identify the display in your video.
Share:
The experience of walking around Bala Cynwyd during the holidays is unique. There are lots of people, and you can easily spend hours walking around looking at the lights. So, if you want to share the experience with others, make sure you post photos and videos on social media.