As a result, Radnor Township is today recognized among the collection of Philadelphia suburbs known as the Main Line. The Columbia Railroad, later part of the Pennsylvania Railroad also passed through the township in 1832. Lancaster Avenue is the largest and busiest roadway in Radnor Township that is not an interstate, and along it lies many notable places, including Villanova University and Downtown Wayne. The turnpike was populated by businesses over time and forms the modern Lancaster Avenue. In 1794, the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike was built through Radnor Township, making it the first toll road in the United States, and connecting the cities of Philadelphia and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Stone monuments were erected in various locations throughout the township in the late 20th century to commemorate the township's Welsh heritage. The Welsh influence waned in the late 18th century as many left the area due to high taxation. The new town, 'Radnorville', later known as the community of 'Ithan' after nearby Ithan Creek, grew around the meetinghouse. In 1717, the Welsh Friends erected a Quaker meetinghouse ( Radnor Friends Meetinghouse) near what is now the intersection of Conestoga Road and Sproul Road at the geographic center of the township. The township was part of the Welsh Tract and was named for Radnorshire in Wales. These lands were sold to various purchasers and were mainly in the location of current Radnor Township. In 1681, Richard Davies purchased 5,000 acres from William Penn. The Valley Forge Military Academy and College is located in the neighborhood of Wayne and Eastern University is located in the neighborhood of St.

The two largest, Villanova University and Cabrini University. There are a number colleges and universities located in Radnor Township. Davids neighborhood, named for Saint David, the patron saint of Wales. A hint of Radnor's beginnings remain in the names of streets and places evident throughout the community, such as the St. The influence of the Welsh, some of whom were forced by heavy taxation to sell their land, waned in the latter half of the 18th century. The new township was named 'Radnor' after the county in Wales called Radnorshire. Radnor Township grew around the meeting house and remained the center of population of the township for 200 years. In 1717, the Welsh Friends built a meeting house on a trail made by the Susquehannock Indians in Radnor Township. William Penn, an English Quaker, laid out the township in an elongated rectangle located parallel to the Schuylkill River, and the borders of the township have remained unchanged since its founding in 1682. The parties agreed on a tract covering 40,000 acres (160 km 2), to be constituted as a separate county whose people and government could conduct their affairs in Welsh. In about 1681, a group of Welsh Quakers met with William Penn to secure a grant of land in which they could conduct their affairs in their own language. The original settlers were Welsh-speaking Quakers, led by John Roberts, in an attempt to establish an barony of Wales in Pennsylvania. Radnor Township was founded as a part of the Welsh tract. Radnor Township is one of the oldest municipalities in Pennsylvania. Radnor Township is the largest municipality in Delaware County by land area and the fourth-largest by population, following Upper Darby Township, Haverford Township, and Chester. As of the 2019 United States census estimate, the township population is 31,875. Radnor Township, often called simply Radnor, is a first class township with home rule status in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States.

Radnor township