1713History
== History ==
The Phoenixville area was originally known as Manavon, after early-Chester County judge and politician David Lloyd bought a tract of land he named "Manavon" (beli...
1732Government
The town was originally settled in 1732.
1827Architecture
These immigrants would help in the construction of the Schuylkill Canal in 1827 and the Black Rock Tunnel in 1838, which gave the north side of the town the name "Tunnel Hill".
1828History
Kaler (1828–1906), businessman and member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Samuel W.
1849Civil Rights
On March 6, 1849, despite public opposition, Manavon was incorporated as a borough and was renamed "Phoenixville", officially separating from Schuylkill Township.
1903Architecture
== Attractions ==
Phoenixville is home to the Colonial Theatre, which opened in 1903.
1906Infrastructure
In 1906, the railroad was formally merged into the Reading, and became the Pickering Valley Branch of that railroad.
1922Architecture
It opened in 1922, and has an enrollment of 255 as of 2021.
1936History
Phoenixville is home to the highest recorded temperature in Pennsylvania history, 111 °F (44 °C), set on July 10, 1936.
1943Culture
The Phoenixville Dogwood Festival has been celebrated in Phoenixville each May since 1943.
1958History
The Colonial is celebrated for being the location of a scene in the 1958 science fiction horror film The Blob.
1981Government
Regular commuter trains last stopped at the Phoenixville station in 1981, when SEPTA ceased operating non-electrified commuter lines, and the former station is now used as an ev...
1987Economy
The company closed permanently in 1987.
2000History
Beginning in 2000, interest to resume passenger rail service in Phoenixville was spurred by the Schuylkill Valley Metro (SVM) project, which would have connected Phoenixville to...
2004Disaster
Each December since 2004, Phoenixville has held the annual Firebird Festival, a celebration of the "rebirth" of the town with the burning of a large wooden phoenix bird.
2006History
However, funding for the project was ultimately rejected in 2006.
2008Architecture
During the 2008 replacement of the Gay Street Bridge, the line was severed at its crossing of Main Street and the rail bridge over Main Street was later raised by 14 inches to a...
2010History
== Demographics ==
As of the census of 2010, there were 16,440 people, 7,590 households.
2016History
The Fisherman Restaurant, a now-closed seafood diner in Phoenixville off PA 23, was featured in a scene in the 2016 psychological thriller film Split, starring James McAvoy and ...
2017Government
In 2017, a major expansion of the theatre incorporating the neighboring historic bank property was completed.
2018History
In mid-2018, Phoenixville began a study to restore SEPTA passenger rail service to connect Phoenixville to Norristown, which would then connect to Philadelphia.
2020History
In 2020, PennDOT finalized a study to extend passenger rail service from Norristown to Reading, which would include a stop in Phoenixville.
2021History
In 2021, Amtrak revealed a similar plan that would allow rail service from Reading to New York City, which would also include a stop in Phoenixville.
2022Military
In 2022, the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority was created to advance the project forward, with Phoenixville mayor Peter Urscheler serving as one of three authority memb...
2025Disaster
Firebird: Built to Burn, an award-winning documentary that follows a year in the life of Phoenixville and the Firebird Festival, was released on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+...