▁sett lers ▁al ike , ▁but ▁it ▁is ▁bis ected ▁by ▁the ▁fast - flow ing ▁French ▁Creek , ▁which ▁was ▁quickly ▁har ness ed ▁for ▁water ▁power . ▁ ▁Much ▁of ▁this ▁history ▁was ▁recognized ▁by ▁the ▁creation ▁of ▁the ▁Phoenix ville ▁Historic ▁District , ▁the ▁largest ▁National ▁Register ▁of ▁Historic ▁Places ▁site ▁in ▁Ch ester ▁County . ▁The ▁Black ▁Rock ▁Bridge , ▁Gay ▁Street ▁School , ▁and ▁Sch u yl kill ▁Navigation ▁Canal , ▁O akes ▁Re ach ▁Section ▁are ▁also ▁listed ▁on ▁the ▁National ▁Register ▁of ▁Historic ▁Places . ▁ ▁The ▁Phoenix ville ▁Historical ▁Society ▁has ▁a ▁rot ating ▁display ▁of ▁historical ▁artifact s ▁in ▁its ▁museum . ▁ ▁Et ym ology ▁The ▁first ▁n ail ▁factory ▁in ▁the ▁U . S ., ▁the ▁French ▁Creek ▁N ail ▁Works , ▁was ▁established ▁in ▁Phoenix ville ▁( then ▁called ▁Man av on ) ▁in ▁ 1 7 9 0 . ▁In ▁ 1 8 1 3 , ▁a ▁bridge ▁builder , ▁Lewis ▁W ern w ag , ▁became ▁part ▁owner ▁and ▁renamed ▁it ▁the ▁Phoenix ▁Iron ▁Works . ▁In ▁ 1 8 4 0 , ▁new ▁own ers ▁added ▁a ▁bl ast ▁furn ace . ▁In ▁ 1 8 5 5 , ▁a ▁new ▁group ▁of ▁own ers ▁incorpor ated ▁as ▁the ▁Phoenix ▁Iron ▁Co . ▁When ▁the ▁bor ough ▁was ▁incorpor ated ▁in ▁ 1 8 4 9 , ▁it ▁incorpor ated ▁the ▁name ▁of ▁its ▁major ▁employ er . ▁After ▁several ▁ownership ▁changes , ▁the ▁plant ▁was ▁completely ▁shut