Originally productive farmlands, it became a residential suburb of Philadelphia with the construction of the Pennsylvania Railroad through the area in 1874.

When local white residents learned of the purchase, the house was vandalized and a crowd of over a thousand people prevented the Baker family from entering their home.

100 Pennsylvania State Troopers were required to control the crowd and allow the Bakers to enter their home.

[5] In July 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Folcroft became the first municipality in Delaware County to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.

[6] On January 3, 2022, Franny DiCicco was sworn in as the first female Mayor of Folcroft in its 100 year history.

Neighboring boroughs are Norwood to the west, Glenolden to the northwest, Collingdale to the north, and Sharon Hill to the northeast.

[3] Folcroft Station is a stop on the Wilmington/Newark Line of the SEPTA Regional Rail commuter railroad system.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.

Through the grassroots support of local citizens, organizations and politicians, Congress declared Tinicum Marsh along Darby Creek a National Wildlife Refuge in 1972.

In the shadow of Philadelphia, visitors can watch pintail ducks feeding, red-bellied turtles basking, butterflies flitting, and foxes play.

With just 1,200 acres (490 ha) of marshes, fields, streams and forests, the refuge is small in area but significant biologically.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency placed the Lower Darby Creek Area on the National Priorities List in June 2001.

EPA held a meeting in September 2001 to inform the community that the Lower Darby Creek Area is now a Superfund site.

Presently, EPA is in discussions with potentially responsible parties to form a group to perform the RI/FS at the Folcroft Landfill/Annex.