If you’ve ever looked at a map of the Philadelphia area, you may have noticed something familiar. Philadelphia is home to neighborhoods named Germantown, Kensington, and Olney… the same three names found here in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Even more interesting, the neighborhoods are arranged in a somewhat similar geographic pattern. Philadelphia’s Olney sits north-northwest of Kensington, while Germantown lies farther to the west and northwest. Likewise, in Montgomery County, Kensington is the southernmost of the three communities, Olney is farther north, and Germantown sits to the west. Adding to the coincidence, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania borders Philadelphia County to the northwest. Pennsylvania’s Montgomery County is referred to as “MontCo” for short.
While they share names, the communities themselves have evolved in very different ways. Philadelphia’s Germantown is one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, founded in 1683. Known for its colonial-era stone homes, historic landmarks, mature tree canopy, and significant role in early American history, it remains a dense urban neighborhood connected to Center City by regional rail…