Town file
Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania
Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania (Montgomery County, Pennsylvania) is the town in one episode of Small Town Murder, the comedy true-crime podcast: episode 405, "The Horny Teacher's Lounge" (13 July 2023). Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania, lies in Montgomery County, about fifty minutes from Philadelphia and about fifty-five minutes from Folcroft.
- Town
- Upper Merion Township
- County
- Montgomery County
- State
- Pennsylvania
- Country
- USA
- Episodes
- 405
- Approximate location
- 40.090, -75.381
Episode 405 / 13 July 2023 / 178 min / full
The Horny Teacher's Lounge
"This is Upper Marion township, Pennsylvania ... This is in Montgomery County." about 0:06:33
The case: Murder of Susan Reinert, Karen Reinert and Michael Reinert (June 1979); Disappearance of Stephanie and Eddie Hunsburger (1978). Read the case file.
The figures, as told in 2023
- Population
- 33,153
- Median age
- 40.7
- Median household income
- $80,006
- Median home value
- $451,700
- Two-bedroom rent
- $1,470
- Cost of living
- 113
- Religious
- 64.3%
- Property crime
- ▲ high by at least a third
- Violent crime
- ▼ less than half the national average
- Cash stolen from the Sears store in St David's
- $34,073
- Money Joseph Wambaugh offered a state trooper for information
- $50,000
History, in brief
- The incorporation of the township dates to 1713, more than fifty years before the American Revolution. about 0:06:42
- Townships were required at that point to pay six shillings to the Pennsylvania legislature for licences. about 0:06:58
- The King of Prussia Inn was built in 1719 and James believes the structure is still standing. about 0:07:32
- The inn was named in honour of Frederick the Great and became a centre of food and drink during the Revolutionary War. about 0:07:40
- An alternate story says the inn was first called Berry's Tavern and got its name to lure in Prussian mercenaries, who were big spenders. about 0:07:49
- There is a town called King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, near Upper Merion. about 0:06:53
The reviews read out
5 stars
"There is no place like Upper Merion: the schools are exceptional and the people who make up the community truly care about each other, with residents willing to do anything to help their neighbours."about 0:08:20
4 stars
"Traffic is rough and the area is being built up quickly, but housing and family living are wonderful; it still manages to keep a small-town feeling even though it is far from a small-town area."about 0:09:44
3 stars
"The township needs better public transport, with more bus routes and an expanded train system, so residents have better access to jobs, education and other essential services."about 0:09:59
2 stars
"A numbered list of the bad parts: Swedesburg, King's Manor, Valley Forge Homes, Brandywine Village, Swedland and Hughes Park, Sweetbriar and Bridgeport; the writer grew up in Sweetbriar around 611, saw friends die, and says the schools had good academics but bad safety and embarrassing teachers."about 0:10:22
1 star
"The place is suspicious, the schools have a lot of drama, there is a good amount of crime, litter and traffic."about 0:13:03
Nearest Small Town Murder towns
- Bridgeport, Pennsylvania2.2 miles
- Collegeville, Pennsylvania7.8 miles
- Chester, Pennsylvania17 miles
- Pottstown, Pennsylvania18 miles
- Claymont, Delaware20 miles
- Wilmington, Delaware26 miles
Everything here is as told in the episode, on the date it went out; figures and places may have changed since. Endings are covered: open an episode and use the spoiler switch to read them.