The term “Main Line” comes from the R5 line that runs through three counties from outside of Philadelphia, running parallel to Rt. 30. Many stereotypes about the ML are true, to a certain extent. It is a generally affluent and posh area mostly populated with Catholics, not WASP’s or Jewish families. There is a good amount of "old money”, but many people are able to afford such privileged living because of their jobs in Philadelphia or as entrepreneurs because of the popularity of the area. The ML also contains numerous very expensive High Schools, such as The Haverford School, Malvern Prep, and Agnes Irwin, whose tuition is over $20,000 per year. Teenagers do not commonly drive sports cars wearing collared shirts and board shorts. While the cost of living in the ML is high, the style of living is relatively normative, except for Radnor Township, the most expensive, very conservative, and least diverse area that would not suit any non Irish-Catholic family. Nowhere near every resident of the ML belongs to Country Club or owns a summer home in Avalon (think about it, that's way too many people). I am as "Main Line" as it geographically (I can hear the R5 train from my house), and I cannot attest to these stereotypes: I don’t belong to a Country Club or own a beach house or rent in Avalon; my family owns two Hondas and I wear sweatpants mostly. My neighborhood is religiously, politically, and racially diverse and most people could fit in perfectly.
I live in the Main Line. I take the R5 into work every day. I am married with three children who go to Malvern. I own two cars and I am an Irish Catholic from Bryn Mawr.
by Regg92 February 22, 2010
I live on the main line and im not a spoiled little bitch that only hangs out with other spoiled little bitches. A majority of the people here might go to a private school, but that is because its by choice, most of them, if they wanted to they would be able to go to a public school. Not everyone has a house in avalon, and most people go with there friends who do. And no one looks down at people who dont have as much as they do, honestly most people dont give a shit how much money there friends parents make. Also no one wears polo shirts around, most of the kids wear it to school because its part of their uniform
by HEHDJFJEJDOEHJSLKFSLJLSKDFJ August 17, 2010
The rich suburbs out side of Philly. Characterized by the R5 SEPTA line and Rt30. Became popular during the turn of the century as a summer retreat for rich "old money" philadelphians. Still home to some of the richest people in the country but increasingly over run with "new money". Lots of catholics in the area, especially in Berwyn or Paoli, because the catholics were brought out from the city as servants for the old money. Now everyone knows who you are if you were born here, and if you weren't they may not trust you.
Main Line also refers to a dying way of life. Main Liners (old money) would marry one another and used connections to keep their money and prestige. Now most old money names have no money left. But they still consider them selves above new money.
Also home to some of the finest public and private school in the country and numerous colleges.
Main Line also refers to a dying way of life. Main Liners (old money) would marry one another and used connections to keep their money and prestige. Now most old money names have no money left. But they still consider them selves above new money.
Also home to some of the finest public and private school in the country and numerous colleges.
by 5thgeneration April 28, 2011
The main line is a place where people can all pretend like they aren't rich. They hire college students to raise their children, and live mainly off of seltzer water and cottage cheese. They hire people to vaccuum and plant pretty trees but they are all either too strung out on pills/too busy commuting into the city to make the "big bucks"/in nantucket to notice. The women all have large breasts and tiny waists because they get plastic surgery, and they glare at other women who are threatening their "territory" (the husbands that are cheating on them with the babysitter). They think that their children are better because they saturate them in the "good life"-vacation, swimming and horseback riding lessons, fine art, and organic food, but really they are just creating their children to be people who truly believe that they are better than the rest of the world.
The sickest thing about the mainline is that there is old money, and the second generation truly does not know any different than what they have been raised in. They will live and die believing that they are "middle class" and that the way that they are living is fine. They will go on growing their little gardens thinking that it is environmentally friendly, yet continue to exploit people for their own profit, whether it be in their business or at their job. They will donate money to charities to feel better about it, and make their kids go on short term mission trips so that they realize how "lucky" they are. This pocket of suburbia is the epitome of everything that is wrong with America, and it truly is sad. There are documentaries about the pits of poverty in Africa, but there should be documentaries about the pits of wealth in Berwyn or Wayne.
Those who read this and think that they are different, they are not. If your kid goes to Radnor township, you are a sell out. If you think that just because your kids go to Good Sam Youth they aren't being exploited by your wealth, then go read the Bible and think about Jesus' words on what it means to be a person of humility and of little possessions. You are NOT middle class, and I don't care how many good causes you support. The mainline is a disgrace to humanity and I hope the recession burns a hole through it.
The sickest thing about the mainline is that there is old money, and the second generation truly does not know any different than what they have been raised in. They will live and die believing that they are "middle class" and that the way that they are living is fine. They will go on growing their little gardens thinking that it is environmentally friendly, yet continue to exploit people for their own profit, whether it be in their business or at their job. They will donate money to charities to feel better about it, and make their kids go on short term mission trips so that they realize how "lucky" they are. This pocket of suburbia is the epitome of everything that is wrong with America, and it truly is sad. There are documentaries about the pits of poverty in Africa, but there should be documentaries about the pits of wealth in Berwyn or Wayne.
Those who read this and think that they are different, they are not. If your kid goes to Radnor township, you are a sell out. If you think that just because your kids go to Good Sam Youth they aren't being exploited by your wealth, then go read the Bible and think about Jesus' words on what it means to be a person of humility and of little possessions. You are NOT middle class, and I don't care how many good causes you support. The mainline is a disgrace to humanity and I hope the recession burns a hole through it.
by Laura Drake August 17, 2009
Ok, so everyone wants to talk shit about Main Line.... let them! Yeah I have the latest ipod, Yeah I have like 500 pairs of shocks from Nikeid.com, Yeah I post only shop on the second floor in neimans, yeah I have my hair done at Jay Micheals, Yeah I have the latest designer bag..... but you know what? I'm also the nicest person on earth! All those people who are envious go ahead.... we'll be waiting and ready to throw dior saddle bags at your head!
by OMG2250 May 03, 2005
False conception that the Main Line is full of jews. Maybe there are a bunch of jews in Ardmore and Wynnewood, but the majority of the Main Line has and always will be WASP. White- Ango Saxon PROTESTANTS (i.e. Episcopalians). It's so obvious that people arn't really from here when they call everyone a jew considering the majority arn't. So what if everyone has a luxury car of some sort, my family has had Jaguars for years and will continue to do so, but that doesn't mean I'm a jew. Jews live out in Downington and West Chester (areas where people who can't afford to live on the Main Line live). The majority of the Main Line is also REPUBLICAN, not Democrat. The flashy annoying Democrats are out of towners who moved into the Philly area because of business and now act like they are from old money. People who hate on the Main Line and soooo jealous and it is VERY obvious by reading through some of these posts. Oh yea, and BTW- Gladwyne, the richest town on the Main Line, now ranks #3 in the nation, placing it above Beverly Hills, Greenich CT, and other various prestigious places.
I wear polo's, blast rap from my mom's SUV or my dad's Jag, go to a wealthy school, and come from a family that has lived on the Main Line for generations. Sucks for everyone who doesn't live here LOL have a nice day- losers.
by Mainline4L April 30, 2005
The Main Line is just about the waspy-est and jappy-est place around. The proportions have changed a little, but Junior League and Tiffany's are still there. The Main Line has some of the best private and public schools in the country, but it also has an underlying feeling of wealth and aristocracy, which makes it a bad place to live. Unless you yourself are rich, you'll be completely snubbed on the Main Line. Even the Beverly Hills girls aren't so obnoxious.
by kewobina April 01, 2005