Andorra, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Andorra is a neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia
, which is a section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. Andorra is a part of Roxborough
, being within the borders of the original Roxborough Township
and having the same zip code (19128). At some point during the 19th or 20th century, Andorra developed a cultural identity as a neighborhood within Roxborough. Finkel says that the neighborhood (which occupies one of the higher elevations in Philadelphia, on bluffs overlooking the Schuylkill River
) was named "Andorra" after a fancied resemblance to the small country of the same name
which sits astride the Pyrenees
between France
and Spain
.
Andorra borders Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
. Although within Philadelphia city limits, Andorra resembles suburban Montgomery County more than Philadelphia city neighborhoods. Andorra was established and developed in 1950 and therefore has stereotypically suburb
an characteristics, such as a strip mall, many single or double-family dwellings set back from the street, and apartment buildings on large lots with ample off-street parking. The most well-known apartment complexes are Summit Park and Henry on the Park.
On Cathedral Parkway in Andorra, a small portion of what was to have been a large, Gothic-style cathedral for the Episcopal diocese of Philadelphia may still be seen. A lack of funds during the 1930s, however, prevented the cathedral's completion. The apse
, the only section constructed, now serves as St. Mary's Episcopal church. The rest of the cathedral's property houses a non-sectarian retirement home, known as Cathedral Village, where many of Philadelphia's retired social, academic, and intellectual elite reside.
operates the Andorra Branch at the Andorra Shopping Center at 705 East Cathedral Road at Henry Avenue.
Northwest Philadelphia
Northwest Philadelphia is a section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The official boundary is Stenton Avenue to the north, the Schuylkill river to the south, Spring Ln to the west, and Wister Street to the east. The area is divided by Wissahickon Creek into two subsections...
, which is a section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Andorra is a part of Roxborough
Roxborough, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Roxborough is a neighborhood in the Northwest Philadelphia section of the United States city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is bordered to the southwest, along the Schuylkill River, by the neighborhood of Manayunk, along the northeast by the Wissahickon Creek section of Fairmount Park, and to...
, being within the borders of the original Roxborough Township
Roxborough Township, Pennsylvania
Roxborough Township is a defunct township that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. The township ceased to exist and was incorporated into the City of Philadelphia following the passage of the Act of Consolidation, 1854....
and having the same zip code (19128). At some point during the 19th or 20th century, Andorra developed a cultural identity as a neighborhood within Roxborough. Finkel says that the neighborhood (which occupies one of the higher elevations in Philadelphia, on bluffs overlooking the Schuylkill River
Schuylkill River
The Schuylkill River is a river in Pennsylvania. It is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River.The river is about long. Its watershed of about lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania. The source of its eastern branch is in the Appalachian Mountains at Tuscarora Springs, near Tamaqua in...
) was named "Andorra" after a fancied resemblance to the small country of the same name
Andorra
Andorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of...
which sits astride the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
between France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Andorra borders Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
. Although within Philadelphia city limits, Andorra resembles suburban Montgomery County more than Philadelphia city neighborhoods. Andorra was established and developed in 1950 and therefore has stereotypically suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
an characteristics, such as a strip mall, many single or double-family dwellings set back from the street, and apartment buildings on large lots with ample off-street parking. The most well-known apartment complexes are Summit Park and Henry on the Park.
On Cathedral Parkway in Andorra, a small portion of what was to have been a large, Gothic-style cathedral for the Episcopal diocese of Philadelphia may still be seen. A lack of funds during the 1930s, however, prevented the cathedral's completion. The apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
, the only section constructed, now serves as St. Mary's Episcopal church. The rest of the cathedral's property houses a non-sectarian retirement home, known as Cathedral Village, where many of Philadelphia's retired social, academic, and intellectual elite reside.
Education
The neighborhood Catholic grade schools are Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM), and Holy Child. [Holy Child School is in Manayunk section of Philadelphia, not Andorra section]Public libraries
Free Library of PhiladelphiaFree Library of Philadelphia
The Free Library of Philadelphia is the public library system serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-History:History of the Free Library of Philadelphia: Initiated by the efforts of Dr...
operates the Andorra Branch at the Andorra Shopping Center at 705 East Cathedral Road at Henry Avenue.