 |
Webster tells us that a valley “is an elongated depression of the earth surface usually between ranges of hills or mountains.
So, where is the Delaware Valley?
Over the past 70 years or so everyone has been conditioned to call the Greater Philadelphia Area “the Delaware Valley.” But there is no valley hereabouts.
Not having a real valley hasn’t stopped countless organization and businesses from using “Delaware Valley” in their names. There’s the Delaware Valley Friends School and a Delaware Valley Raptor Center, Delaware Valley Urology Center and on-and-on.
There’s even a Delaware Valley University, high in ”the hills” of Doylestown.
Some blame (or credit) the Philadelphia Inquirer for spreading this geographical place name in the 1950s.
It’s too late now to do anything about this inaccurate phase. Everyone uses it.
So we propose a theme song or anthem for the Delaware Valley. It’s an old song that most of us sang in elementary school. It goes like this:
Down in the valley; the valley so low
Hang your head over. Hear the wind blow.