Lykens, PA

Lykens is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,527 at the 2010 census. Lykens is located at 40°24′N 75°41′W (40.40000,-75.70000). According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.

The history of Lykens can be traced back to 1795 when John and Elizabeth McCracken settled on what is now known as Lykens Hill Road in what was then part of West Whiteland Township. The first settler in what would become Lykens was Ebenezer Haines who built a cabin on the banks of Pine Creek in 1802 and began farming the land that now makes up much of downtown Lykens and parts of neighboring townships including Whiteland Township and Lower Merion Township. In 1816, James McIlhenny purchased Haines' farm and began developing what would become McIlhennyville which would eventually encompass much of present day downtown Lykens as well as portions of Upper Merion Township and Cheltenham Township. By 1830, McIlhennyville had become a thriving community with several businesses including a blacksmith shop, general store, sawmill, grist mill and wagon factory; however, due to the Panic of 1837 and subsequent economic depression many businesses closed their doors or moved away from town leaving McIlhennyville largely abandoned by 1840.

In 1846 Joseph Saylor purchased McIlhennyville from James McIlhenny for $10,000; however Saylor only lived in the house on Pine Street for three months before selling it to David Dickson who converted it into a hotel which he named "The Queen's Hotel". Dickson operated The Queen's Hotel until 1861 when he sold it to Charles Eberhart who renamed it "The Eberhart House". Eberhart operated The Eberhart House until 1870 when he sold it to George Wickersham who converted it into apartments which he called "The Wickersham Apartments". Wickersham operated The Wickersham Apartments until 1889 when he sold them to John Atherton who converted them into single-family homes which he called "Atherton Heights".

In 1890 Atherton Heights became part of West Whiteland Township when that township was created from portions of Lower Merion Township and Cheltenham Township; however Atherton Heights remained an enclave within Whiteland Township until 1912 when West Whiteland annexed Atherton Heights into its municipal boundaries thereby making Atherton Heights an officially incorporated borough with its own elected officials consisting solely of members-at-large on the Borough Council rather than representatives from individual districts within the borough like previously existed.[3]

As originally established, Lykens consisted entirely farmland except for a small cluster of homes located near Pine Creek just south westof downtown where Ebenezer Haines had built his cabin in 1802; however by 1890 mostof what is now downtown Lykens as well as muchof present day Upper Merion Twp., Cheltenhamp Twp., Lower Merion Twp., Ardmore Twp., Whitehall Twp., Kennett Square Twp., Lansdale Pa., King Of Prussia Pa,, Bala Cynwyd Pa,, Bryn Mawr Pa,, Downingtown Pa,. , Narberth Pa,. , Wayne PAand Media PAwere developed primarily consisting either apartment buildings or single family homes constructed by developers such as George Wickersham (1889), John Atherton (1890), Charles Eberhart (1861), Joseph Saylor (1846), David Dickson(1861), James McCracken(1795)and Ebenezer Haines(1802). However despite this development there remained large tracts undeveloped or lightly developed throughout both Upper Merion township north eastof present day downtown lykens along with portions south westof town along Pine creek up through Kennett Square twp.. In 1912 West Whiteland annexed these areas making development more widespread throughout lykens while still retaining its agricultural character