Page 34 - Guide to Greater Philadelphia

SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA
bustling, beautiful and booming
Four counties offer a bounty of natural, historic, educational, and economic amenities.
Wrapping Philadelphia like a snug collar are four counties that make up the Pennsylvania portion of the metropolitan area. Close to the city and accessible by public transportation and numerous interstates, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties offer suburban living with an urban flair. Rich in history and natural beauty, they are dynamic environments for doing business and building communities.
For businesses and others trying to attract new- comers, these counties offer diversity, accessibility, convenience and community. Their outstanding public schools, array of private and parochial schools and multiple institutions of higher education are a tremen- dous draw for families, and the sources of a skilled and educated workforce ready to meet employers’ needs.
Part of the region is on Philadelphia’s Main Line,
a lush area north and west of Center City along the original route of The Pennsylvania Railroad. Once home to summer estates of the city’s wealthiest families, the Main Line is still an area of affluent communities and gracious homes though its population is much larger
than in the days of those summer homes. Bryn Mawr, which straddles both Delaware County and Montgomery County, was once the final stop on the Main Line, but
it later was extended farther west to Paoli in Chester County. Today Paoli Station is a busy hub, served by both Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) and Amtrak trains.
Although the counties share topography and many regional characteristics, each is distinctive. Here is a quick look at these collar counties.
Bucks County: Known for its charming towns, covered bridges, havens of fine food and scenic vistas, Bucks County is not just a tourist destination. It is home to more than 625,000 Pennsylvanians, and more than 40 incorporated areas. One of these is Levittown, the planned community of the 1950s that was one of the first “suburbs” in the United States. Levittown has 52,000 residents, about five times as many people as the next largest boroughs and townships.
Located just northeast of Philadelphia and on the border with New Jersey, Bucks County has many facets to recommend it as a home and business location.
Served by highways, railroads and a deep-water port, Bucks County is a transportation hub for the East Coast, affording businesses, residents and visitors easy access to metropolitan areas and the rolling coun- tryside, as well. Both Amtrak and freight trains move through the area, and the port offers shipping options. Philadelphia International Airport is 41 miles away, and smaller airports in New Jersey and Allentown, Pa., also serve Bucks County with limited domestic flights.
Long-planned and now finally under way is a project linking I-95 with the Pennsylvania Turnpike. This connection will boost Buck County’s accessibility and attractiveness to businesses. It will also improve the quality of life within the county by reducing travel times and traffic on local roads as through-travelers go from one main highway to another.
Other than tourism, Bucks County has many thriving industries, including communications, healthcare and
32 | Guide to Greater Philadelphia