Nestled in the hills along the Schuylkill River in the northwestern part of Philadelphia, lies a historic rural community completely distinct from its surroundings. The community of Port Royal is wooded, quiet and off the beaten path. On the National Register of Historic Places, the area offers a lens into a time of fruit farming, natural resources extraction, paper mills, railroads and country estates all tied to the Schuylkill River and the hillside landscape above it.

As a resident, neighbors feel a sense of pride in their community, and consider themselves stewards of its history. By preserving its quality, character and traditions,

Port Royal Reserve becomes not only a place to call home, but a philosophy of life. It’s the last rural landscape in Philadelphia, and with that comes some quirks and charm. Port Royal Reserve is a rugged single lane road that links nineteenth century homes and barns to the preserved open space of the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education. Homeowners raise chickens, garden, birdwatch, and linger on their porches having neighborly conversations with those walking by. They even organize a yearly event where they help toads cross the road during egg-laying season.

The Port Royal Reserve community is one where text messages are replaced by real life conversations, YouTube videos are replaced with nature trails right outside your door, and a feeling of anonymity among the masses is replaced with a sense of belonging.