Phoenixville, PA

Phoenixville is a Chester County borough northwest of Philadelphia, set along French Creek near the Schuylkill River. It was once known for the Phoenix Iron Works, whose industrial history still gives the town a sturdy older backbone. In recent decades, Phoenixville has become known for its compact downtown, restaurants, arts events, and restored historic buildings. It feels like a former mill town that found a second life without sanding off all of its industrial character.