A substantial portion of Collingdale, Pennsylvania, is a 0.9-square-mile area made up of current and historic cemeteries, one of which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Collingdale is a tiny little borough of Delaware County, in eastern Pennsylvania
A substantial portion of Collingdale, Pennsylvania, is a 0.9-square-mile area made up of current and historic cemeteries, one of which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Collingdale is a tiny little borough of Delaware County, in eastern Pennsylvania. The borough's area is less than a square mile, and it boasts a population of 8,786, according to the last census, which was in 2010. The borough has a claim to fame, aside from its historic cemetery: rock group 38 Special filmed their video, "Back Where You Belong," here, featuring the Collingdale Chief of Police and other members of the police force.
With a relatively dense population in a small land area, you'll find that although there are a lot of city apartments in Collingdale, it can sometimes be a challenge to find vacancies. The good news is that there is a wide variety of rentals available. At any given time, you might be able to find studio apartments, one-bedroom apartments, two-bedroom apartments or even two- or three-bedroom houses for rent. The challenge is finding a vacancy that lines up with your projected move date.
Most of the rentals available in this borough are offered by private owners. This means that they have a personal stake in the properties and are going to want to make sure that you're an upstanding citizen who pays your bills on time. Go ahead and pull your credit ahead of time to make sure that there are no errors, and furnish a copy to any potential landlords. (You may still need to pay an application fee, and the property owner may elect to run his or her own credit check, but this is a good way to get your foot in the door!) Rental prices are about average for this area of Pennsylvania, so you shouldn't be in for any sticker shock; just make sure that you have a down payment of the first month's rent plus whatever security deposit is required.
Because Collingdale is so tiny in land area, there aren't really designated neighborhoods. Just about anywhere you live in town will allow you easy access to the main streets in town, which are MacDade Boulevard and Clifton Avenue. Remember, the town is only a mile square, so you can put on your walking shoes and get where you need to go without too much trouble!
Most of the businesses that you are likely to visit are going to be along these two main routes. For example, you could go have a bowl of soup at Pho 4 Seasons, then walk a few steps to Aldi to do your grocery shopping. Or grab a cup of java at Dunkin' Donuts, then take a stroll over to CVS to pick up your toiletries and prescriptions (and maybe a candy bar, too!).
If you're new to the area, you'll probably enjoy the four distinct seasons that eastern Pennsylvania offers. You'll see some snow in the winter, but not enough that you'll be sick of shoveling by New Year's Eve. The cherry blossoms and other blooms light up the spring, and the summers are hot, but not too humid. Although you won't see the spectacular display of fall foliage that you might in the mountains of Pennsylvania, there will be plenty of color to snap Instagram shots of come October or November.
Collingdale has a walk score of 78, which means that you can definitely get by without a car. There is also good public transportation; you can hop on a bus if you don't want to wear out your Nikes. Around town, you'll want to explore those aforementioned cemeteries, if you're not afraid of running into ghosts. There's bowling, roller skating, a movie cinema and two theaters within a mile or two of borough limits. Aldi and Pathmark will be your major grocery stores, but there are corner groceries and small shops scattered around town too, so running out for a gallon of milk or a bottle of Tylenol won't be a major undertaking, even if you don't have a car.
Local bus service also goes to nearby Philadelphia, where you'll find a plethora of things to keep you occupied, no matter what you're interested in. You can always drive, as well; the City of Brotherly Love is about 20 minutes away by car if you time it right so as not to hit any traffic. If you are artsy, you could spend your afternoons in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. History buffs will be enchanted by the offerings of the "birthplace of American democracy," including the Independence National Historical Park.
Are you more into sports? The Eagles, the 76ers, the Union, the Phillies and more major and minor league teams will keep you on the edge of your seat!
In short, if you are looking for a small city-like borough located close to Philadelphia and offering a walkable downtown area, you may want to start (and stop) your search in Collingdale, Pennsylvania.
