Germantown, Philadelphia

Germantown
neighborhood, former borough
Cliveden, one of many historic houses in Germantown
Coordinates: 40°02′37″N 75°10′55″W / 40.04361°N 75.18194°W / 40.04361; -75.18194Coordinates: 40°02′37″N 75°10′55″W / 40.04361°N 75.18194°W / 40.04361; -75.18194
Country	United States of America
Commonwealth	Pennsylvania
County	Philadelphia
City	Philadelphia
Founded	October 6, 1683
Incorporated	August 12, 1689
Consolidated	February 2, 1854
Founded by	Francis Daniel Pastorius
Area
• Total	3.327 sq mi (8.62 km2)
Elevation	240 ft (70 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	75,935
• Density	23,000/sq mi (8,800/km2)
Demonym(s)	Germantowner
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
ZIP code	19144, 19138
Area code(s)	215

Germantown is an area in Northwest Philadelphia. Founded by German Quaker and Mennonite families in 1683 as an independent borough, it was absorbed into Philadelphia in 1854. The area, which is about six miles northwest from the city center, now consists of two neighborhoods: 'Germantown' and 'East Germantown'.

Germantown has played a significant role in American history; it was the birthplace of the American antislavery movement, the site of a Revolutionary War battle, the temporary residence of George Washington, the location of the first bank of the United States, and the residence of many notable politicians, scholars, artists, and social activists.

Today the area remains rich in historic sites and buildings from the colonial era, some of which are open to the public.

Germantown stretches for about two miles along Germantown Avenue northwest from Windrim and Roberts Avenues. Germantown has been consistently bounded on the southwest by Wissahickon Avenue, on the southeast by Roberts Avenue, and on the east by Wister Street and Stenton Avenue, but its northwest border has expanded and contracted over the years. When first incorporated as a borough in 1689, Germantown was separated from the rural Germantown Township by Washington Lane; later, the border was expanded to Carpenter and East Gorgas Lanes; it was then rolled back to Washington Lane in 1846, and remained there until the borough was absorbed into the city of Philadelphia in 1854.

Today, the western part of the former borough is the neighborhood known simply as 'Germantown' (though is sometimes called 'West Germantown') and the eastern part is the neighborhood of 'East Germantown'. While the boundary between the two neighborhoods is not well-defined and has varied over time, these days 'Germantown' usually refers to the part of the former borough that lies west of Germantown Avenue, up through West Johnson Street, and 'East Germantown' to the part that lies east of Germantown Avenue, up through East Upsal Street.