The Almost-Main Line: A Survival Guide to Havertown, Pennsylvania's Identity Crisis

Welcome to Havertown, Pennsylvania's 37,590-person experiment in suburban limbo, nestled approximately 9 miles west of Philadelphia — close enough to smell the cheesesteaks, far enough away to be forgotten at dinner parties. This isn't your typical travel destination, and frankly, Havertown isn't even technically a real place until the Post Office decided to slap a name on it in 1946. But that's part of its charm, if you squint hard enough and have a sense of humor about geographic technicalities.

The Town That Wasn't (Until It Had To Be)

Before 1946, what we now call "Havertown" was actually nine different communities: Bon Air, Brookline, Penfield, Beechwood, Llanerch, Manoa, Oakmont, Coopertown, and Ardmore. Think of it as a suburban collective that couldn't agree on a band name until the postal service got tired of dealing with their identity crisis. These communities were originally part of the Welsh Tract under William Penn's land divisions, founded by Welsh Quakers in 1681 who named it after Haverfordwest in Wales.

The area has quite the résumé for a place that technically doesn't exist: it produced gunpowder for the War of 1812 and cloth for the Union army during the Civil War, and was the birthplace of Swell Bubble Gum, whose factory was demolished in 2011. From wartime supplier to children's confection manufacturer to environmental cleanup site — talk about career pivots.

The 33rd County of Ireland (With a Side of Superfund)

According to the 2000 US Census, Haverford Township ranked in the top 60 of census-recognized municipalities nationwide for percentage of Irish ancestry, earning the area the colloquial nickname "33rd county of Ireland". This Irish heritage is still evident today in the many Irish bars and stores throughout town, including establishments like J.D. McGillicuddy's, a family-owned Irish sports bar in the heart of Havertown.

But Havertown's claim to fame isn't just shamrocks and Guinness. The town hosts a Superfund site courtesy of the National Wood Preservers facility, which operated from 1947 to 1991, dumping chemicals into a well that fed directly into waterways leading to the Delaware River. The EPA ranked it the eighth worst cleanup project in the United States. Nothing says "quaint suburban charm" quite like being in the top 10 for environmental disasters.

Main Line Adjacent (But Not Quite Invited to the Party)

Geographically speaking, Havertown occupies that awkward social position of being likely one of the nicer parts of town with a more affluent demographic — the average annual household income was $153,896 in 2024, with a median of $124,523 — while still not quite making it onto the prestigious Main Line proper. It's very close to Philadelphia, about a half hour drive, and easily accessible to public transportation considering how close it is to 69th Street Terminal.

The demographic breakdown reads like a suburban dream: 85.8% Caucasian, 3.7% African American, and 4% Asian, with 23.6% of residents holding master's or doctorate degrees. A whopping 88.2% of the working population are employed in professional or administrative positions, though commuting can be a challenge, with a much lower than average number of people making it to work in under half an hour, and traveling over 45 minutes isn't uncommon.

Your Authentic Irish Experience (SEPTA Bus Not Included)

For visitors looking to experience the famous Irish culture, the area offers establishments like The Crossbar, Tip-O'Learys, and JD McGillicuddy's, all serving Irish pub fare. J.D. McGillicuddy's features two full bars, outdoor dining, and live music every week, because what's more Irish than outdoor dining in Pennsylvania weather?

Transportation-wise, you can take SEPTA Route 104 or 112 bus from 69th Street, or the Route 115 bus from Ardmore — though walking around is easy but driving is the best option, as public transportation isn't the greatest. At least there's usually plenty of street parking and several parking lots, which is more than you can say for most Philadelphia-adjacent areas.

So there you have it: Havertown, Pennsylvania — a place that technically isn't a place, floating somewhere between Irish pride and environmental remediation, with excellent demographics and a commute that'll test your patience. It may not have the cache of the real Main Line, but it's got character, affordable parking, and enough Irish pubs to make you forget you're in suburban Delaware County.

Think we were too nice to Havertown? See the full roast and discover what other towns are getting the treatment at RoastMyTown.com.