King of Prussia

King of Prussia is a settlement in Montgomery County northwest of Philadelphia with housing developments, shopping centers, and office parks. The streets follow mostly grid patterns interrupted by older country roads and newer highway sections.

A tavern named King of Prussia Inn appeared in 1769 at the crossroads of important colonial routes. The surroundings slowly evolved from farming homesteads into a suburb, especially after highways were built in the mid-20th century.

The name comes from an 18th-century inn named after Frederick the Great of Prussia. The area kept this royal reference even though it was settled mainly by Welsh and German immigrants.

Most facilities concentrate along Route 202 and Route 422 with large parking lots fronting stores and office buildings. Public transit serves the main roads while side streets are easier to reach by car.

The old tavern that gave the settlement its name stood at the corner of DeKalb Pike and Gulph Road until 2000. A replica now sits in its place, recreating the original 18th-century structure.