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From Wikivoyage

Media is the county seat of Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

Understand

Media was a planned city, meaning it had a deliberate layout with streets spread south, west, and east around the courthouse. The lots were sold at public auctions to citizens which attracted businesses. Media, since its in a rural area, was popular for farms and orchards.

Media was not the original location of the county seat for Delaware County. It was originally placed in Chester as far back as 1789. Many complaints arose over the years, though, because the location of the courthouse was difficult to travel to from the farther parts of the county. Therefore, after years of debate, the county seat was officially moved from Chester to Media in 1850. The courthouse in Media is located at 201 West Front Street.

Get in

By car

Media is located off Exit 3 on Interstate 476 (locally known as the "Blue Route").

By public transit

For more information visit SEPTA's website

  • SEPTA's Media/Elwyn Line Regional Rail train has a stop located in Media, and also another stop just south of the borough, in Rose Valley (Moylan-Rose Valley station). The train runs from downtown Philadelphia. Be aware that the train does not run frequently on weekends (only about one train an hour).
  • SEPTA Route 101 Trolley runs on State St., through most of the business district. The trolley runs from the 69th St Transportation Center and ends in Media. Media is home to one of the only existing suburban trolleys on its main street.
  • SEPTA Bus Routes 110 and 118 both run through Media on Baltimore Avenue.

By plane

Media is located 10.1 miles from the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL IATA). From the airport, you can take bus routes 110, 109, and 37 to get into Media.

Get around

By foot/bike

Media is a compact borough, and has excellent sidewalks, which makes a car unnecessary

By trolley

The Route 101 trolley runs through the heart of Media on State St to Upper Darby. Standard fare (as in for all of SEPTA) is $2.50 cash or $2.00 using SEPTA Key Travel Wallet. Media is the last suburban town with a trolley running down the main street.

By car

Parking is available on most side streets and there are several parking garages located near the State. St Business District

See

  • Armory. This Armory houses the collection of rifles known as the Cooper Rifles. It was also used to house Company M, 111th Infantry, and Pennsylvania National Guard. 
  • Cooper House. The first house built in town. It was home to Thomas V. Cooper who was state legislature and president of the Pennsylvania State Senate. 
  • Courthouse. Completed in 1851 with one courtroom. "Generally regarded as the handsomest courthouses in the Eastern United States". Renowned public figure, William Jennings Bryan, once orated from the steps of this courthouse. 
  • Haldeman's Store. Built in 1854 by Isaac Haldeman, was one of the first grocery stores in Media. It sold groceries and dried goods. Later, the First National Bank of Media took over the building, making it into their personal office. 
  • Institute of Science. Founded in 1867, "to promote for the people of Delaware Country, the study and diffusion of general knowledge". It stands as a museum for natural and area history. 
  • Media Borough Hall. The site of one of the first farms built in 1850. It was later purchased by Isaac Chalfont who hosted a stagecoach service to Chester. In 1918, it was turned into a post office and in 1969 the site became municipal offices. 

Do

  • Media Theatre for the Performing Arts, ☏ +1 610-891-0100. With 4 shows a year, the theatre succeeds in entertaining not only the locals but tourists who want to a enjoy a "night on the town" without spending their life savings. 
  • 2nd Saturday Arts Stroll, Downtown Media. Walk around Media, listen to some music and see some art. 
  • Dinning Under the Stars, State St from Jackson to Orange. State Street is closed off on Wednesday evenings from May through September and all participating restaurants bring out tables and chairs to enjoy an evening of dinning under the stars. Street musicians perform up and down the street and many of the local shops are open as well. 
  • State Street Blues Stroll, State St. Yearly event held on a Saturday in mid June in which State Street is closed off for the evening and blues musicians perform both outside and in the restaurants and bars. 
  • Americana Roots Ramble, State St. Music festival held on State Street in April of each year featuring a variety of American roots music from rock & roll to folk. 

Buy

  • Earth & State, ☏ +1 610-566-9270.  Locally run store, Earth & State provides its customers with a memorable shopping experience while browsing through arts and crafts made from citizens of the Media area.
  • Kaos Surfboards, ☏ +1 610-565-2924.  Tiny sufshop that allows customers to personally interact with the merchandise before their purchase for quality service.

Eat

Drink

  • Jocelyn's, 109 W State St. This bar is located on the 2nd floor of the building. There is a deck out back that in the warmer months has a projector screen showing the local sports games. Cover bands or DJs most weekend nights. 
  • Sligo. Standard Irish pub feel, serves both food and drinks. Stop in for Trivia during the week, music most weekends, and Irish sessions on Sunday afternoons. 

Sleep

  • Motel Providence, 200 S Providence Rd, ☏ +1 610 566-6480. Reviews indicate that the motel is clean and priced about $65 a night. 
  • Quality Inn, 4 S New Middleton Rd, ☏ +1 610 565-5800. Located at the intersection of Baltimore Pike and Route 352, accessible by car and SEPTA bus. 
  • Raven Motel, 427 E State St, ☏ +1 610 891-1560. 

Connect

Internet

Internet access (WiFi) is available in several coffee shops located in Media, including the Starbucks on Baltimore Pike (at the far eastern edge of the borough) and at the Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union on State St.

Phone

Media is covered by all the major cell phone companies in the United States (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile). Unfortunately, most public phones have been removed, and celluar service is the only way to communicate.

Newspapers

The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Delaware County Daily Times are daily newspapers widely available in Media. The freesheet Metro Philadelphia is available at SEPTA Regional Rail stations. Philadelphia Weekly and Philadelphia City Paper are two alternative weeklies also available in Media.

Go next

Philadelphia is located only 12 miles away

Routes through Media
King of Prussia ← Havertown ←  N  S  → Swarthmore → Chester
END ← Middletown ←  W  E  → Rose Valley → Philadelphia


This city travel guide to Media is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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