Andorra, Philadelphia

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox settlement | background_color=    |image_skyline= |imagesize= |image_caption= |image_flag= |name=Andorra |settlement_type = [[List of Philadelphia neighborhoods|Neighborhood]]  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{USA}} |subdivision_type1 = State |subdivision_name1 = [[Pennsylvania]] |subdivision_type2 = County |subdivision_name2 = [[Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]] |subdivision_type3 = City |subdivision_name3 = [[Philadelphia]]  | mapsize = 300px | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Philadelphia | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_mapsize = | coordinates = {{Coord|40.072|-75.231|format=dms|display=title}}  |postal_code_type= [[ZIP Code]] |postal_code= 19128 |area_codes=[[Area codes 215, 267, and 445|215, 267 and 445]] }}

'''Andorra''' is a neighborhood in [[Northwest Philadelphia]], which is a section of the city of [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], United States. Andorra is a part of [[Roxborough, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Roxborough]], being within the borders of the original [[Roxborough Township, Pennsylvania|Roxborough Township]] and having the same ZIP Code, 19128. At some point during the 19th or 20th century, Andorra developed a cultural identity as a neighborhood within Roxborough. Andorra (which occupies one of the higher elevations in Philadelphia, on bluffs overlooking the [[Schuylkill River]]) was named "Andorra" after a fancied resemblance to the [[Andorra|small country of the same name]] which sits astride the [[Pyrenees]] between [[France]] and [[Spain]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Finkel|1995|p=156}}.</ref>

Andorra borders [[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Montgomery County]]. Although within Philadelphia city limits, Andorra resembles suburban Montgomery County more than Philadelphia city [[Philadelphia neighborhoods|neighborhoods]]. Andorra was established and developed in 1950 and therefore has [[Stereotype|stereotypically]] [[suburb]]an characteristics, such as a strip mall, many single or double-family dwellings set back from the street, and apartment buildings on large lots with ample off-street parking.

==History== ===19th century=== Andorra was originally the site of two large estates originally purchased by [[Henry H. Houston]] in the 1880s.<ref name="Preservation Alliance">{{cite web |url=http://www.preservationalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/HCSCluster2.pdf |title=Historic Context Statement for Neighborhood Cluster 2 Roxborough and Manayunk |author=Cooperman, Emily T. |work=Architectural Research and Cultural History Historic Preservation Consulting |date=2008 |access-date=May 2, 2019}}</ref> Houston and [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] President [[Alexander Cassatt]] lobbied for a railroad connection between [[Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia|Chestnut Hill]] and the [[Philadelphia Main Line|Main Line]] suburbs that would have run parallel to Ridge Avenue, but ultimately did not come to fruition.<ref name="Preservation Alliance"/><ref name="Hidden City">{{cite web |url=https://hiddencityphila.org/2014/06/the-unbuilt-vision-for-a-grand-cathedral-road/ |title=The Unbuilt Vision For A Grand Cathedral Road |author=Maule, Bradley |work=Hidden City Philadelphia |date=June 5, 2014 |access-date=May 2, 2019}}</ref>

===20th century=== In the early 20th century, Henry H. Houston's son, Sam Houston, made several attempts to sell the estates to institutions; in 1921, Houston unsuccessfully lobbied to use the land to host the [[Sesquicentennial Exposition]].<ref name="Preservation Alliance"/> Houston worked with the Roxborough government to create an east–west roadway and two bridges designed by [[Paul Philippe Cret]] that would have crossed both the [[Schuylkill River]] and [[Wissahickon Creek]]; the plan was approved in 1927 but was never built.<ref name="Hidden City"/> In 1922, plans for the east–west road (the current Cathedral Drive) returned to the drawing board when the [[Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania]] purchased {{convert|100|acre|ha|abbr=off}} from the Houston Estate to construct the world's largest Episcopal cathedral.<ref name="Hidden City"/> Spearheaded by Bishop [[Philip M. Rhinelander]], the Gothic-style cathedral was to be 1000 feet long and contain a 300-foot tall tower with bells cast at the [[Whitechapel Bell Foundry]].<ref name="Hidden City"/> Ground was broken in 1932, but construction was stalled following the [[Great Depression]] and the Episcopal Church's redirected efforts toward the [[Washington National Cathedral]]; only the [[apse]] and a side chapel were ever built and are currently home to St. Mary's Church.<ref name="Hidden City"/><ref name="Preservation Alliance"/>

In the 1940s, Houston unsuccessfully attempted to sell additional estate land to both the [[Veterans Administration]], [[Temple University]], and a proposed site for the [[Headquarters of the United Nations]].<ref name="Preservation Alliance"/> In 1948, the Houston Estate and Planning Commission recruited architect [[Eero Saarinen]] to design the master plan for a proposed suburban development called "Cathedral Hills".<ref name="Hidden City"/> Houston began development of the Cathedral Hills plan, which was renamed to "Andorra". The development included plans for over 5,000 single-family homes, duplexes, and apartments designed by [[Robert Rodes McGoodwin]], although only 400 were ever built. Houston created an "Indenture of [[Covenant (law)|Covenants]]" for Andorra homeowners, which included stipulations such as no signs larger than one square foot, no “noxious, dangerous, or offensive behavior”, and a ban on raising livestock. Following Houston's death in 1952, the Indenture was transferred to the community, which was eventually turned into the Andorra Homes Civic Association.<ref name="Preservation Alliance"/>

==Education== The neighborhood Catholic grade school is Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM).

==Culture== ===Public libraries=== The [[Free Library of Philadelphia]] operates the Andorra Branch at the Andorra Shopping Center at 705 East Cathedral Road at Henry Avenue.<ref>"[http://libwww.library.phila.gov/branches/branch.cfm?loc=AND Andorra Branch] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828032425/http://libwww.library.phila.gov/branches/branch.cfm?loc=AND |date=August 28, 2008 }}." ''Free Library of Philadelphia''. Retrieved on November 7, 2008.</ref>

===Places of worship=== St. Mary's Episcopal Church is home to a non-religious retirement home, known as Cathedral Village. Across Ridge Avenue from St. Mary's are two other locally significant churches: Andorra Baptist Church, headquarters of the Philadelphia Baptist Association, one of the 33 [[American Baptist Churches USA|American Baptist]] regions; and [[Armenian Apostolic Church]] of [[St. Gregory the Illuminator]], which serves the [[Armenian American|Armenian community]] of Andorra and the immediate surrounding area.

==Transportation== Ridge Avenue, along with Henry Avenue (which splits off from Ridge Avenue in Andorra), are the major thoroughfares in Andorra. Other significant streets are Bells Mill Road, a 2-lane link through Fairmount Park and over the Wissahickon Creek which is the quickest way for cars (trucks or buses are prohibited) to reach [[Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia|Chestnut Hill]] from Andorra and Roxborough; Port Royal Avenue; and Cathedral Road.

==Bibliography== * {{citation | editor-last = Finkel | editor-first = Kenneth | title = Philadelphia Almanac and Citizens' Manual | edition = 1995 | publisher = [[Library Company of Philadelphia]] | year = 1995 | location = [[Philadelphia]] | pages = 156–170 | isbn = 0-914076-89-2 }}

==References== {{Portal|Philadelphia}} {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Armenian-American culture in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Armenian diaspora communities in the United States]] [[Category:Neighborhoods in Philadelphia]] [[Category:Northwest Philadelphia]]