Thomas Coebourne came to the land that would become Brookhaven in 1682, just one year after King Charles II of England granted the future state of Pennsylvania to William Penn.
Today, Coebourne's name is all over town, from the elementary school to Coebourne Boulevard
Thomas Coebourne came to the land that would become Brookhaven in 1682, just one year after King Charles II of England granted the future state of Pennsylvania to William Penn.
Today, Coebourne's name is all over town, from the elementary school to Coebourne Boulevard. Suffice it to say that Brookhaven, Pennsylvania, has a lot of history, and that charm comes through in the colonial architecture and community spirit. Brookhaven is one of the oldest continually occupied settlements in North America, but it's changed a lot over the past few centuries. Once a mostly rural swath of dairy farms, today it's a developed town of just over 8,000 people lying a stone's throw from the Delaware River and a short drive from Philadelphia. The people living here in the 21st century have traded their farm equipment for computers, with a larger proportion of tech and math professionals than 95% of the United States. This has led to Brookhaven's current economic diversity and identity as a comfortable but not overly fancy borough -- an environment that lends itself nicely to people looking for rental homes in Brookhaven.
People on an apartment search can find premier apartments, two -bedroom apartments and more here. You'll find it easiest to move to Brookhaven in the warm, sunny spring or summer. Pennsylvania winters aren't the worst in the nation, but there's still plenty of snow and ice to contend with. Make sure you register your vehicle, update your address and confirm any insurance you have within two to three weeks of moving. You'll want to have your current driver's license or other ID handy, as well as your social security card when you're filling out rental applications.
The borough has three constituent neighborhoods and is mostly residential. There's enough to keep locals from making the drive to Philadelphia daily, though. Brookhaven keeps some distance between its housing and apartment areas and its business centers, so a car (or a bike for those willing to brave the roads) is a must.
Borough Center: This area is predominantly houses, but it's also home to several of the town's nicest parks and restaurants. Upland Road is the district's thoroughfare, coming close to Sampson Park and its baseball diamond, and running into the business street of Edgmont Avenue (yeah, it's spelled that way). There you'll find local eateries like Laspada's, a popular spot for Philly cheesesteaks and hoagies. Edgmont Avenue is also the long-time home of the Tom Jones Family Restaurant, a Brookhaven favorite that fought to keep its name after Tom Jones, the unrelated famous singer, unsuccessfully sued to make the restaurant change its name.
Southwest: Here, you'll find the dense residential neighborhood surrounding Camp Upland. The camp has ball fields, the Redwood Community Playhouse and, of course, a summer day camp. The camp splits the neighborhood into two sections. The western section is dominated by apartment rentals and the woods separating Brookhaven from the town of Chester. The eastern section is a mix of houses and condos that overlook Crozer Park and the Delaware Expressway.
Northwestern: This neighborhood is characterized by its abundance of row houses, as well as the Plaza 352 Mall and the Cambridge Shopping Center at its north end. In addition to the historic row houses, this area has a good mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments between Brookhaven Memorial Park and Scott Park.
Brookhaven is a snug borough that's convenient for those who want a cozy retreat from work in Philadelphia or Chester and don't mind the commute. The town has a lot of history, some beautiful architecture and an abundance of park space or woods. Though it's over 300 years old, Brookhaven doesn't look a day over 30.
