Phoenixville Apartments and Rentals

The borough of Phoenixville is located in southeastern Pennsylvania, approximately 40 minutes from Philadelphia. Phoenixville is situated on the Schuylkill River and bisected by the French Creek. It is home to the largest registered historic district in Chester County. Those eager to blend small-town living with the convenience of having a big city nearby should consider some of the Phoenixville apartments for rent.

Phoenixville was settled in 1732, although it did not get its name until 1813. Lewis Wernwag, the owner of the French Creek Works iron company established at the confluence of the French Creek and the Schuylkill River, said he thought he saw a phoenix in the flames of his furnaces and renamed the company Phoenix Works. When the community was incorporated in 1849, it was named after the iron works that spurred much of its early growth. Over the next few decades, Phoenixville blossomed thanks to the Industrial Revolution, and became home to iron, steel and silk mills, boiler works, hosiery factories and a match factory.

Toward the late 20th century, Phoenixville declined after the closure of the iron company that gave the borough its name. In recent years, however, it has bounced back, rising from the ashes in a manner worthy of its name. Nowadays, its approximately 16,500 residents can take their pick from new shops and restaurants in the area, and enjoy the renovated Colonial Theatre and Bridge Street area.

The Phoenixville Area School District (PASD) covers Schuylkill Township and East Pikeland Township in addition to the borough of Phoenixville. It is comprised of a kindergarten center, three elementary schools, one middle school, one high school and one virtual academy.

Phoenixville is home to Valley Forge Christian College, a regionally accredited Christian college of arts, sciences and professions that offers 23 undergraduate majors and four graduate majors. Those living in Phoenixville rentals also have the opportunity to attend the numerous colleges and universities in nearby Philadelphia, including the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University and Temple University.

PASD is one of Chester County's top employers, along with the Phoenixville Hospital Company. Other major employers in the area include the county itself, the federal government, Siemens Medical Solutions and the QVC Network.

City-Data.com's March 2012 cost of living index ranks the cost of living in Phoenixville at 104.2, slightly higher than the national average of 100. There is a varied selection of apartments in Phoenixville, from more modern dwellings to those that have retained their Victorian facades. The median gross rent for rentals in the borough is $940, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Phoenixville Historic District, which consists of the older part of the borough, is an attraction in its own right. The district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the former Phoenix Iron Works site was recognized as a Historic Landmark by ASM International in 2006. Today, residents and visitors flock to the downtown area for its myriad shopping and dining opportunities.

In terms of events, Phoenixville is best known for its Dogwood Festival, which takes place in May. As the second largest parade in Chester County, the Dogwood Festival attracts more than 10,000 people annually and features rides, games and the ceremonial coronation of the Dogwood Queen, Prince and Princess. The city also hosts the Firebird Festival every December, which centers around a massive wooden phoenix being set alight.

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