Villanova University is a Roman Catholic institution of higher learning in Villanova, Pennsylvania. The school’s origins date back to 1796, when members of the Order of Saint Augustine initiated construction of Saint Augustine’s Church in Philadelphia. In 1811, the order established Saint Augustine’s Academy near the church.
In 1842, church officials moved the academy to an area outside Philadelphia and reestablished it as the Augustinian College of Villanova. The school, which was also called Villanova College, was named for Saint Thomas of Villanova, a Spanish bishop of the 1500’s. The town that grew up around the college later was named Villanova. The college closed temporarily from 1845 to 1846 and from 1857 to 1865. It was elevated to university status in 1953. Villanova University sports teams are known as the Wildcats.
The university’s website at https://www1.villanova.edu/ offers additional information.
