Frankford Creek is a minor tributary of the Delaware River in southeast Pennsylvania . It derived its name from today's Frankford, Philadelphia neighborhood.
62-524: The stream originates as Tookany Creek at Hill Crest in Cheltenham Township and meanders eastward, then southeastward, throughout Cheltenham Township, until a sharp bend near the Philadelphia border at Lawncrest , where the place names Toxony and Tookany were used in historic times; the stream is still known as Tookany Creek in this region, where it flows southwest. Turning south into Philadelphia at
124-708: A U.S. government program established to preserve historic communities throughout the United States. It is also a Tree City USA member, a program dedicated to forestry management. In 2013, Cheltenham Township was named a "Classic Town of Greater Philadelphia," for being "one of the most diverse, unique, and livable communities in our region" and "truly at the center of it all." There are at least four books about Cheltenham Township's history: Cheltenham Township has ten districts: Glenside, Laverock, Edge Hill, Wyncote, Cedarbrook, Chelten Hills, La Mott, Elkins Park, Melrose Park, and Cheltenham Village. The seal of Cheltenham
186-456: A family in Cheltenham in the 2010 Census was $ 72,584. According to the 2010 Census, 30.4% of the townships households had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were headed by married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who
248-447: A family in Cheltenham was $ 138,731 and for a married couple family it was $ 158,275 vs $ 136,304 and $ 152,228 respectively for Montgomery County as a whole. In 2022, the median income for a household in the township was $ 102,589, up from $ 61,713 in 2010. In 2010, males had a median income of $ 50,564 versus $ 36,439 for females. The per capita income for the township in 2010 was $ 31,424 (~$ 43,906 in 2023). About 3.0% of families and 8.4% of
310-585: A few streams flowing through it, most notably the Tookany Creek . The highest elevation is 411 feet (125 m), at the intersection of Sunset and Lindley Roads. The lowest elevation is 63 feet (19 m), in the southeasternmost part of the township, where Tookany Creek flows into Philadelphia. It includes the census-designated places of Arcadia University , Glenside , and Wyncote . Other communities include Cheltenham , Elkins Park , Melrose Park , La Mott and Laverock , Edge Hill , and Cedarbrook . All of
372-461: A grand parade before leaving for war, but Philadelphia was partially a racist community at that time and the government believed that a parade might cause a riot, so it was cancelled. The leader of the Camp (Colonel Louis Wagner) was furious and made sure the next regiment to come through would have a parade. In the late 19th century, Cheltenham established itself as one of the most prominent communities in
434-567: A hollow or valley." In modern times, the Wingohocking has been called "Logan's Run", from the fact that it flowed through the grounds of the seat of James Logan at Stenton. The Wingohocking rises near Mount Airy , curves generally to the south, and passing through Germantown runs eastwardly until it unites with Tacony Creek near Rowland's saw-mill. Tookany Creek rises in Montgomery County near Shoemakertown, runs south-west and south, crosses
496-811: A major highway. It goes through multiple counties and ends up in PA 29 in Monroe Township in Wyoming County . Pennsylvania Route 152 starts in Cheltenham Township and is known as 'Limekiln Pike.' It ends on the north end of Pennsylvania Route 309 in Telford . Pennsylvania Route 611 starts in Philadelphia and runs through Cheltenham Township as Old York Road. It is the main access road to Willow Grove in Abington and Upper Moreland Townships. Cobbs Creek Cobbs Creek
558-676: A mayor. Rather it is governed by a Board of Commissioners , who are elected one from each of the township's seven wards for a four-year term. A President of the Board is elected by these commissioners for a one-year term to serve as the head of the government. Daniel B. Norris is the current Board President. A school board is in charge of the school district. The township is in the Fourth Congressional District (represented by Rep. Madeleine Dean ), and Pennsylvania's 154th Representative District (represented by Rep. Napoleon Nelson ). It
620-578: A more southerly point, cutting off its natural bed that curved around Bridesburg along the Frankford Arsenal . Part of that bed was filled, but much of the old creek remains, near its original mouth on the Delaware. Frankford Creek has been converted to storm sewers along much of its course, as this map shows. Several historic bridges cross the Frankford and Tacony (or Tookany) Creeks. Frankford Creek
682-468: A number of private schools. Public schools include Cheltenham Elementary School (k-4), Myers Elementary School (k-4), Glenside Elementary School (k-4), Wyncote Elementary School (k-4), Elkins Park School (5–6), Cedarbrook Middle School (7–8), and Cheltenham High School (9–12). [1] Bishop McDevitt High School (9–12) under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia ,
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#1732854649007744-575: A part of Morris Park in Overbrook , just north of Cobbs Creek Golf Course. For many in West Philadelphia , Cobbs Creek is the primary hiking and recreation attraction, offering swimming, golf, ball fields, tracks, tennis and basketball courts, ice and roller hockey rinks, and campgrounds. The park and its numerous picnic spaces are popular with families during summer weekends and holidays for picnics, barbecues, reunions and parties. The area covered by
806-474: A patent to Thomas Fairman, 1688. Frankford Creek has a great impact on the Cheltenham and North Philadelphia Communities. For many children growing up in the area, it provided them with their first experience for learning about ecosystems and opportunities for community projects. It also spurred the formation of several parks, including Wall Park, High School Park, Tookany Creek Parkway in Cheltenham, and Olney Park, Juniata Park, and Womrath Park in Philadelphia. It
868-399: A township of the first class in 1900. In 1976, it passed a home rule charter that took effect in 1977. Cheltenham was the former home of Cradle of Liberty Council Breyer Training Area . Henry W. Breyer Jr. used property formerly owned by Cheltenham resident John Wanamaker . It closed in 1990 and is now the home of Salus University . Cheltenham was named a Preserve America community ,
930-489: Is 11.1 miles (17.9 km) long. The Lenape Native Americans who lived within its watershed called the creek Quessionwonmink, which means “Eel Skin River.” Some believe the word Tacony to be derived from another Lenni Lenape word meaning "forest" or "wilderness". Portions of its tributary Wingohocking Creek were converted to sewers between 1905 and 1915. In 1934, the horseshoe bend between Bridge and Margaret Streets (where
992-570: Is a major thoroughfare for SEPTA Regional Rail . All trains going north of Center City (with the exception of the Trenton Line) pass through Cheltenham. This includes the Airport Line , Lansdale/Doylestown Line , West Trenton Line , Warminster Line and the Fox Chase Line . Following Cheltenham, many of the lines split to their respective destinations, which makes Cheltenham stations some of
1054-509: Is across the street from Greenleaf at Cheltenham , which attracts many shoppers from North Philadelphia . Several other buses run throughout other major streets in the township, as well as residential streets. The following routes are in Cheltenham: Cheltenham ranked in the top three municipalities in Montgomery County for percentage of population who uses Bus/Trolley and Regional Rail. In addition, Cheltenham Township partners with
1116-565: Is also home to Arcadia University (formerly known as Beaver College), Salus University (formerly known as The Pennsylvania College of Optometry), Westminster Theological Seminary , Gratz College and Reconstructionist Rabbinical College , the only seminary affiliated with Reconstructionist Judaism . Cheltenham was also the former home of the Oak Lane Day School for 44 years until it moved to its current home in Blue Bell . Cheltenham
1178-471: Is also in Pennsylvania's 4th Senatorial District (represented by Sen. Arthur L. Haywood III ). Cheltenham is currently a very Democratic heavy community, winning by large margins in each of the past six presidential elections. The only municipality in Montgomery County in the 2012 election that had a higher Democratic voting percentage was Norristown's 82.99%, compared to Cheltenham's 80.85%. Cheltenham
1240-486: Is an 11.8-mile-long (19.0 km) tributary of Darby Creek in Delaware County , Pennsylvania , in the United States. It forms an approximate border between Montgomery County and Delaware County . After Cobbs Creek passes underneath Township Line Road ( U.S. Route 1 ), it forms the border between Philadelphia County and Delaware County. It runs directly through the two sides of Mount Moriah Cemetery which spans
1302-469: Is cool and comfortable. Winters are cold, most days hovering around the freezing mark with nights dipping to the teens. Spring is pleasant with often not too much precipitation. The hardiness zone is 7a. The largest snowstorm as of late was in 2010, when the first storm came on February 5–6 and nearly 30 inches (76 cm) of snow fell. Just two days later, a second storm came and dropped another 20 inches (51 cm). Cheltenham Township does not have
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#17328546490071364-435: Is formed by the union of three streams. One of these, now known as Wingohocking Creek , is so called in a patent to Griffith Jones , 1684. It is called Winconico in a patent to John Goodson, 1701, and Wincokoe in a patent to Griffith Jones of the same year. Wingohocking is defined by Heckewelder to be "a choice spot of land for cultivation, a favorite place for planting, fine land;" whilst Mr. Henry says it means "lands in
1426-493: Is now called Frankford Creek from the junction of Tacony and Wingohocking creeks, and enters the Delaware near the U.S. Arsenal. Tacony is called Taoconik in a patent to Robert Adams, 1684; Toaconinck in a patent to Griffith Jones in the same year; and Toaconinck Township is referenced on Thomas Holme's 1687 survey map. Little Tacony is also called Tackawanna . Mr. Henry says Tacony is derived from Tekene and means "woods" or "an uninhabited place." Into Frankford Creek near
1488-455: Is now modern Cheltenham neighborhoods. The first gristmill was built by Richard Dungworth in 1690. After changing ownership several times, the Rowland family eventually made the mill the second-largest producer of shovels in the United States. The site was demolished in 1929. The U.S. Colored Troops 3rd Regiment were the first to be trained at Camp William Penn . It is tradition that soldiers have
1550-500: Is one of only seven Townships in Pennsylvania, and of 29 municipalities in the entire state, to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity by executive order. The following is a table of the current commissioners of Cheltenham Township along with their Wards and the areas of the township they serve: The Cheltenham Township School District serves the township. There are seven public schools and
1612-476: Is one of seven municipalities in Montgomery County that borders Philadelphia and is 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of the Center City . It also borders Abington Township and Jenkintown on the north side and Springfield Township on the west side. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the township has a total area of 9.0 square miles (23 km ), all land. The area consists of rolling hills and also features
1674-507: Is one of the few urban meadows in the Philadelphia area. Cobbs Creek has a similar impact for West Philadelphia and Upper Darby children. Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania Cheltenham Township is a home rule municipality and Township of the First Class located in the southeast corner of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania , United States. It borders Philadelphia to the south and east, Abington Township and Jenkintown to
1736-411: Is their first introduction to wooded greenspaces and freshwater ecosystems. Local schools run service learning activities to support conservation in the creek and surrounding parks; e.g., conducting water-quality studies to track pollution. The wildlife includes regional birds, raccoons, opossums, spotted deer, wild turkey, rabbits, and in recent history, even a mountain lion. Plans for an expressway up
1798-653: The Cheltenham College . The silver cross in the middle represents religion. The two pigeons represent the flock that would gather at the spas. Finally, the Oak tree represents the many Oak trees that line the streets of Cheltenham and promenades. Cheltenham is a residential township in the southeasternmost part of Montgomery County, which is in Southeastern Pennsylvania (locally known as the Delaware Valley ). It
1860-474: The Great Depression hit the country, many of the estates and mansions were destroyed and made way for the building of houses in their place. Many of the communities that were formed in the early stages of Cheltenham remained, and still exist to this day. As the 20th century progressed, many people moved out of the city and into the first community over the city line, Cheltenham. With the population increase,
1922-489: The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and 97.21 miles (156.44 km) were maintained by the township. There are several major roads in Cheltenham Township. Cheltenham Avenue is a major roadway and is an easy access point to many of the other roadways like Pennsylvania Route 611 and Pennsylvania Route 309 . It is also the border between Cheltenham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and
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1984-740: The postwar years and the 21st century. The Reading Railroad tracks in Cheltenham Township were electrified in 1931, which offered faster passenger service. In 1983, following the Reading Railroad's acquisition by Conrail , the rail lines became part of the heavily-traveled SEPTA Main Line . In the 21st century, historic homes and buildings designed by Frank Furness , Horace Trumbauer , and Frank Lloyd Wright coexist with split level, twin, row, and other forms of high-density housing, along with parks, arboretums, recreational and educational facilities, tree-lined streets, and commercial corridors. Cheltenham
2046-546: The steel mills and other mining and heavy manufacturing industries in the Lehigh Valley to its north. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Cheltenham transitioned to a community of wealthy industrial and merchant Philadelphians , who built large estates in what was still rural land. The 20th century and Great Depression established Cheltenham as one of Philadelphia's inner ring and streetcar suburbs , and attracted high density housing construction that continued into
2108-551: The City of Philadelphia , Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Cheltenham Avenue ends on the westside at Paper Mill Road in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania which is part of Springfield Township. Pennsylvania Route 73 is one of the major roadways in Cheltenham Township, known as 'Church Road' and 'Township Line Road' because it is the border line between Cheltenham and Abington Townships. Pennsylvania Route 309 starts in Cheltenham Township and serves as
2170-608: The Cobbs Creek valley began as early as 1930. Anticipated as part of a five-mile parkway system around Philadelphia, Cobbs Creek Expressway, designated I-695 , would have begun at I-95 near Essington and connected with another expressway at Whitby Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia. The proposals were abandoned in the mid-1970s after community objections. The Frankford Creek has a similar impact for Cheltenham Township and North Philadelphia children. The Cobbs Creek Trail
2232-568: The Cobbs was part of a larger bioregion occupied by the Lenape tribe. Referred to as a "favorite place for Indians" by settlers, the surrounding regions were also home to Lenape Native Peoples. This included the area in between the Schuylkill and the Cobbs, now known as Kingsessing. Nomenclature such as that of Kingsessing (derived from the Lenape term "Chingsessing," meaning "where there is meadow") demonstrate
2294-503: The Delaware empties a stream called Freaheatah . Frankford Creek derives its name from the village of Frankford, adjoining. On Lindstrom's map it is called "Aleskins Kylen", La Riviere des Anguilles Ecorchees (meaning "the river of skinned eels"), the origin of which can only be conjectured. A portion of the creek east of the junction of the Little Tacony is called Questioninck in a patent to Eric Cock and others, and Quissinuaminck in
2356-648: The Karakong Kill which Governor Johan Printz , governor of New Sweden had built during 1645. It was the first water mill built within the limits of Pennsylvania. Its site may still be seen at the rocks on the east bank of the stream near the Blue Bell Inn on the road from Philadelphia to Darby . There were a few mills established around the portion of the river located along Karakung Drive in Haverford Township, Pennsylvania . Nitre Hall Powder Mills were built in
2418-788: The Montgomery County-sponsored Suburban Transit Network, Inc. (TransNet) to subsidize free transportation for residents ages 65 and older anywhere in the Township on Mondays through Fridays from 9 am to 3:30 pm. As of 2016 Taiwanese airline EVA Air provides a private bus service to and from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City for customers based in the Philadelphia area. It stops in Cheltenham. As of 2019, there were 124.14 miles (199.78 km) of public roads in Cheltenham Township, of which 26.93 miles (43.34 km) were maintained by
2480-594: The Philadelphia area. Railroad tycoon Jay Cooke was one of the first to build his mansion in Cheltenham. His 200-acre estate was eventually converted to a school in 1883 and was later demolished. John Wanamaker built his mansion Lindenhurst, which was destroyed by a fire in 1907. His second Lindenhurst was destroyed by another fire in 1944. Henry Breyer Jr. eventually bought the land from Wanamaker. Other notable mansions built include Abraham Barker 's "Lyndon," Cyrus H. K. Curtis 's " Curtis Hall ," George Horace Lorimer 's "Belgrame," and John B. Stetson 's "Idro." Perhaps
2542-643: The Tacony at least until the smaller Wingohocking Creek merges with it in Juniata Park , within the city-owned golf course. Beyond Castor Avenue it is known as Frankford Creek until the stream's confluence with the Delaware River in the Bridesburg neighborhood of Philadelphia . The section of stream known as Frankford Creek is 3.1 miles (5.0 km) long, and the upstream section known as Tacony Creek, from Hill Crest,
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2604-480: The border of Southwest Philadelphia and Yeadon, Pennsylvania . It later joins Darby Creek before flowing into the Delaware River . Prior to European colonization, Cobbs Creek was inhabited by the Lenape Native American tribe, who called the creek "Karakung," believed to mean "the place of the wild geese." It was used primarily for hunting, fishing, transportation, and agriculture. Additionally, at
2666-617: The busiest in Montgomery County . The stations carry the names of the neighborhoods in which they are located: Elkins Park , Glenside , and Melrose Park . Jenkintown-Wyncote and Cheltenham straddle the township's border. Cheltenham is served by many SEPTA City Division buses. Many of the buses originate at the Cheltenham-Ogontz Bus Loop, which is located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Ogontz Avenue ( Pennsylvania Route 309 ) and Cheltenham Avenue . The loop
2728-411: The communities form a border with Philadelphia along Cheltenham Avenue . Edge Hill, Laverock, and Cedarbrook's exact populations and land area are uncertain. As of the 2010 census , Cheltenham Township was 56.6% White, 32.8% Black or African-American, 0.2% Native American, 7.7% Asian, and 2.5% were two or more races. 3.9% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry. The median income for
2790-402: The creek formed part of the boundary between the Frankford and Bridesburg neighborhoods) was removed as a new straight channel was cut. In 1949, the creek's path through Frankford was straightened as two horseshoe bends were removed in the vicinity of the intersection of Wyoming and Castor Avenues. An arch structure, the remains of a bridge carrying Wyoming Avenue over one of the removed bends in
2852-468: The creek, is visible from park level (approximately 15 ft (5m) below Wyoming Ave.). A bridge railing along the sidewalk still exists in this location, across from Eastern Regional Medical Center of Cancer Treatment Centers of America (formerly Parkview Hospital). Downstream from Castor Avenue, the creek now flows through a concrete culvert. In 1956 the creek was diverted to meet the Delaware River at
2914-425: The crotch of Philadelphia's V-shaped border, the creek is called Tacony Creek ; from here southward, it is considered the informal boundary separating Northeast Philadelphia from the rest of the city. The Philadelphia neighborhoods of Olney and Feltonville lie on the western side of the stream in this area while Northwood, Lawncrest, Summerdale, and Frankford lie on the eastern side. It continues to be called
2976-779: The early 19th century along Cobb's Creek on Karakung Drive. It was a center for manufacture for almost 200 years. Where Cobbs Creek borders Philadelphia, it is surrounded by Cobbs Creek Park which contains 851 acres (1.330 sq mi) managed by the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation department since a merger of the Fairmount Park Commission and the Department of Recreation in 2010. Cobbs Creek Park contains three playgrounds: Cobbs Creek Recreation Center at Cobbs Creek Parkway and Spruce Street, Granahan playground at 65th and Callowhill streets, and Charles Papa Playground,
3038-547: The indigenous legacy still prevalent in the area. There remains a significant local Lenape community presence, with groups such as the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania, which hosted a 2018 river journey, creating a pledge with the surrounding community to support the Lenape peoples. Additionally, a more general history of the Lenape in the Philadelphia area reads as such: “The story of the Indigenous peoples of Philadelphia begins in
3100-462: The line of the former Bristol township, and formed the boundary of Bristol and Oxford townships. Rock Run enters Tookany Creek southwest of what was formerly Whitaker's factory. The Little Tacony rises near the Township-line Road between Dublin and Oxford, runs nearly south through Oxford township, and is joined by one or two brooks, and empties into Frankford Creek east of Frankford. The stream
3162-516: The long-ago time with the emergence of Turtle and the earth that formed on its back. From this first earth, the first tree grew and so too did the first sprouts. These sprouts grew and grew and became First Man and First Woman and so the People first came to be. (Adapted from the first written emergence story of the Lenape 1679, as told by Lenape elder Tantaque, courtesy of Curtis Zunigha).” For many West Philadelphia and Upper Darby children, Cobbs Creek
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#17328546490073224-517: The middle to late part of the twentieth century. Cheltenham and Lower Merion are of the few townships in Montgomery County who had a large population prior to the postwar population boom and thus whose majority of houses, communities, and streets have remained virtually unchanged since the early 20th century. Cheltenham has 13 listings on the National Register of Historic Places , the most of any municipality in Montgomery County. Cheltenham became
3286-458: The most diverse municipalities in the Delaware Valley . By the 2000 census , Cheltenham Township was one of two municipalities in Montgomery County that had a non-white population exceeding 20 percent; the other was Norristown . Cheltenham and other early communities in the Philadelphia area, including Upper Darby Township, Haverford , Lower Merion , and Jenkintown have retained their distinct identities while being surrounded by suburbia over
3348-531: The most famous mansions that still stand to this day are the prominent Widener family mansion Lynnewood Hall , the Elkins Estate which was home to William Elkins , and Grey Towers Castle which was home to William Welsh Harrison. The latter is a National Historic Landmark and was designed by famed architect Horace Trumbauer , who designed many buildings and homes in Cheltenham. As the Gilded Age ended and
3410-423: The mouth of Mill Creek, a neighboring water source, there existed village named "Arronemink," meaning "where the fish cease." During the mid-1600s, Dutch and Swedish settlers arrived, draining the marshes surrounding the creek to make space for pastures, and leading to the displacement and forced migration of the Lenape away from the Cobbs and surrounding areas. This was the site of the historic Old Swede's Mill on
3472-535: The north, and Springfield Township to the west. Cheltenham was founded in 1682, and its early history was defined by mills, which used Tookany Creek to power gristmills, manufacture shovels, hammers, and spades, and later carpentry products such as doors, window frames, and shutters. The development of regional railroads in the early 19th century helped power the American Industrial Revolution , connecting heavy industry factories in Philadelphia with
3534-404: The population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over. Cheltenham is located on the borderline of the humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ) and the hot-summer humid continental climate ( Dfa ) zones. As with most Northeast townships, Cheltenham has four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and have occasional heat waves. Autumn
3596-621: The township's identity evolved from being largely a community of prominent Philadelphians and their mansions to several distinct communities. One of the major groups to come to Cheltenham was Koreans. The original Koreatown was located in the Olney section of Philadelphia , but eventually was moved north to Logan . Large pockets of Koreans were eventually established in Cheltenham, and also in Upper Darby Township and West Philadelphia . Other immigrants migrated to Cheltenham, making it one of
3658-408: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.05. The age distribution was 22.8% under 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males. In 2022, the median income for
3720-425: Was a private Catholic high school open from 1958 until its closure in 2021. Other current day private schools include Wyncote Academy, Perelman Jewish Day School, Ancillae-Assumpta Academy , Presentation B.V.M. School and Gospel of Grace Christian School. The section of Elkins Park in Cheltenham is the former home of Tyler School of Art , a conceptual fine-arts school that is part of Temple University . Cheltenham
3782-481: Was adopted from the seal of the namesake and sister city, Cheltenham , England. It appears on all formal documents, resolutions, proclamations, and all legal records or documents. The pigeon on top of a blue sphere represents the founding of the fountain spa which made Cheltenham famous. They are placed above a wreath of Oak leaves. The two books represent Education, in particular, the Pates Grammar School and
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#17328546490073844-519: Was established in 1682 as part of Philadelphia County by 15 Quakers from Cheltenham , England, including Richard Wall and Tobias Leech, who purchased 4,070 acres (1,650 ha) of land from William Penn . Upon creation of Montgomery County in 1784, Cheltenham became the smallest township in the new county. Cheltenham Township's 15 original founders were: Cheltenham was fueled by the development of various mills along Tookany Creek . Communities and villages grew around these mills and formed what
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