2
THUMBNAIL SKETCH OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
What is Montgomery County?
What is Montgomery County? On the surface, Montgomery County is a large, prosperous, diverse, suburb of Philadelphia;
however, digging deeper, the county is much more. It is:
•
A Leading Innovator for Businesses and Industries throughout American History
- From early paper mills, iron
works, and film studios to cutting-edge pharmaceutical and investment firms, Montgomery County has been on the
leading edge of innovation in the nation’s economy. Today, with over half a million jobs, the county remains a
vibrant place of commerce and work.
•
A Transportation Gateway to Pennsylvania
- With the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Northeast Extension, Schuylkill
Expressway, and Blue Route intersecting in Montgomery County and with an extensive railroad network, the county
is a transportation hub, linking the Philadelphia area with the rest of the state.
•
A Shopping Destination
- The King of Prussia Malls, which form the largest mall complex on the east coast, as well
as the Philadelphia Premium Outlets and countless malls, shopping centers, and stores, make Montgomery County a
regional attraction for shoppers.
•
A Procession of Traditional Towns Dotted along old Train Lines
- Classic old towns, like Narberth, Conshohocken,
Royersford, Glenside, Ambler, and Souderton, are strung along the county’s rail lines, providing appealing main
street downtowns for the county’s residents.
•
A Historic Place tied directly to the Nation’s Founding
- From Valley Forge National Historical Park to the James
Audubon Center at Mill Grove, from colonial-era farmsteads to art deco movie theaters, the county reflects the ever-
changing character of southeastern Pennsylvania.
•
An Interconnected Community of Schools, Parks, Libraries, and Trails
- With parks like Valley Forge and Green
Lane; with many colleges and universities, such as Bryn Mawr and the Montgomery County Community College;
with excellent public and private schools; with its extensive trail network along the Schuylkill River, Perkiomen
Creek, and Wissahickon Creek; and with its many libraries, Montgomery County provides abundant community
resources to its residents and citizens.
•
A Tapestry of Neighborhoods and Homes
- Above all, Montgomery County is a place that over 800,000 people
from all walks of life call home.
PLANNING ISSUE
The Montgomery County
Brand is not as well known in
the region as it should be.
