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Upper Merion Twp Building from Lower ParkingPhoto: Montgomery County Planning Commission · CC BY-SA 2.0
–Not graded
History · Swedesburg

Swedesburg dates to 1713, and 49% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1894 on and the census since 1930.

1713founded
0on the National Register
49%homes built before 1940
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Photo: Montgomery County Planning Commission · CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answers

How Swedesburg began, and where its name came from

When was Swedesburg founded?

1713

Swedesburg dates its founding to 1713 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1930.

First census: 5,889 in 1930313 years

How did Swedesburg get its name?

Swedesburg was named in honor of Frederick the Great, but became known during the Revolutionary War as a center of food and drink.

More on the name

An alternate story says the Inn, first called Berry's Tavern, got its name to lure in Prussian mercenaries who spent freely.

Founding year: Wikidata. Name: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.The full story ↓

What stands out about Swedesburg’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Swedesburg are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18947 editions of the USGS map, 1894 to 1992. Watch Swedesburg change.Older than the countryEstablished in 1713, 63 years before the Declaration of Independence.Old housesHalf of Swedesburg’s homes were built before 1941.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Swedesburg’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Swedesburg’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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On the map

Swedesburg on the map, 1894 to 1992

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Swedesburg. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Swedesburg on the 1894 USGS mapSwedesburg on the 1943 USGS mapSwedesburg on the 1952 USGS mapSwedesburg on the 1966 USGS mapSwedesburg on the 1973 USGS mapSwedesburg on the 1983 USGS mapSwedesburg on the 1992 USGS map1894Norristown sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Swedesburg.

The story

How Swedesburg came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Swedesburg.

Read it all →

The township's incorporation dates to 1713 when the King of Prussia Inn, the Bird-In-Hand Inn in Gulph Mills, and later the Swedes Ford Inn were required to pay 6 shillings to the Pennsylvania legislature for licenses. The King of Prussia Inn, built in 1719, captures the historical flavor of the township. It was named in honor of Frederick the Great, but became known during the Revolutionary War as a center of food and drink. An alternate story says the Inn, first called Berry's Tavern, got its name to lure in Prussian mercenaries who spent freely.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

No old photos in the archives yet

Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.

Be the first to add onePhotograph a print flat, in daylight, no flash.
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People over time

Swedesburg, census by census

05,00010,00015,00020,00025,00030,00035,0001940196019802000202033,613

Grew from 5,889 people in 1930 to 33,613 in 2020, 5 times over.

10 censuses, 1930–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Swedesburg’s Wikipedia page.

Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Upper Merion Township7 historic placesA−Bridgeport1 historic placeA−Norristown5 historic placesAPlymouth Township1 historic placeB+

Questions about Swedesburg’s history

What year was Swedesburg founded?

In 1713, according to Wikidata. the census of 1930 counted 5,889 people here.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
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Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikidata (3), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps and U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.