Phoenixville is a town in the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. As of 1848, the city had a population of 3,337 residents. In 1861, Phoenixville was a manufacturing center for the Griffin Gun, a three-inch ordinance rifle that was manufactured for the Union Artillery. From 1861 to 1864, the city produced 1,200 cannon barrels. The Griffin Gun was considered the most accurate cannon used in the Civil War.
Phoenixville is situated in extreme southeastern Pennsylvania near the New Jersey border. The area is part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area, one of the ten largest in the United States. The city was founded as a cultural and economic center during the American Revolution and subsequently became one of the nation's first capitals. The city is now a part of the Pennsylvania-New Jersey economic corridor.
Phoenixville's economy is dominated by service industries. The city is largely residential, although it is home to Valley Forge Christian College, founded in 1849. The city is home to 16,440 people, according to the 2010 census. This makes it the third largest borough in Pennsylvania, after Chester and Philadelphia. While there are a lot of neighborhoods and businesses, Phoenixville still remains a largely residential town.
Phoenixville developed from a small village in the late 1600s. The town's first mayor was Isaac Pennypacker, but the town's incorporation was delayed by political opposition. Throughout this period, the original families of the town were living among a large number of immigrants. The Phoenix Iron Company was also located in Phoenixville, and its production of rails for the expanding railroad was a key part of the town's economy.