The Early History of North Philadelphia, PA

The slip and fall attorneys in North Philadelphia, PA, at Philly Slip And Fall Guys, offer the following introduction to the neighborhood’s history.

North Philadelphia

The region of North Philadelphia is the area immediately north of Vine Street and Center City. It is centrally located within Philadelphia County in Pennsylvania. The Delaware River flows along the southern border and the Schuylkill River along its western edge. Some of the communities found in the area include Brewerytown, Fairmount, Fishtown, Glenwood, Hartranft, Koreatown, Northern Liberties, Poplar, and Juniata.

Early History

Before being incorporated into a city, the region consisted primarily of agricultural townships. During the 18th century, as the city grew in importance and, consequently, population, the region quickly became a desirable alternative to the bustling city. Many mansions began to cover the landscape, and by the end of the 18th into the 19th century, many small-town centers had developed to accommodate the growing population.

However, in the mid 19th century, rapid urban expansion caused the implementation of The Consolidation Act of 1854. This law reallocated many of the townships within the county to the city of Philadelphia. This caused an influx of European immigrants to move into the area, putting an end to the Northern region serving as a suburb to the city. Row houses were built, but many of the neighborhoods kept the name of their ancestral villages despite being decentralized.

Historical Landmarks & Museums

The community has preserved much of its history through its many historical landmarks and museums. Some of these include:

George W. South Memorial Church of the Advocate – The church’s construction took from 1887 until 1897. It was designed by a prominent church architect, Charles Marquedant Burns. In 1974, the church ordained the first women priests in the Episcopal Church, known as the Philadephia Eleven. Within the church are 14 murals that depict elements of the Black experience in the country, such as slavery and emancipation.

Philadelphia Doll Museum – This museum was established in 1988 by Barbara Whiteman, an avid collector of black dolls. Whiteman believed in the importance of researching and preserving the history of blacks in America. The museum contains over 300 dolls on display but has a collection of over 1,000.

Wagner Free Institute of Science – In 1855, the institute was founded by William Wagner. Wagner was a merchant, a philanthropist, and a scientist. He longed to provide free educational courses to the world and started offering free lectures in his own home. The lectures became so popular that he needed a larger venue to host his growing audience. The institute was designed by John McArthur, Jr., a Philadelphia architect that would later design Philadelphia’s City Hall.

The Fillmore Philadelphia, located on East Allen Street, provides visitors with a great place to view concerts. The industrial site first opened in 1965 before moving into the area. It can hold up to 450 guests in its 25,000 square foot building.

Education

Public schools are offered to the area by the School District of Philadelphia. Some of these include:

• Strawberry Mansion
• Murrell Dobbins C.T.E.
• A. Philip Randolph C.T.E.
• Philadelphia High School for Girls

Higher learning can be obtained without traveling too far. Many of the institutes available include:

• La Salle University
• Community College of Philadelphia
• Messiah College, Philadelphia Campus
• Temple University

Demographics

Within the ZIP codes in the area, there were 340,350 residents in 2010. The racial demographics of the greater community included the following:

• Non-Hispanic Black or African American – 169,494 (49.8%)
• Hispanic or Latino of any race – 103,806 (30.5%)
• Non-Hispanic White – 34,375 (10.1%)
• Asian & Pacific Islander – 17,017 (5.0%)
• Native American – 1,021 (0.3%)
• Two or More Mixed or Other – 14,635 (4.3%)

There is a large population of Puerto Ricans and African Americans. Most of the eastern region consists of Puerto Ricans, and the northern part contains a large population of Black Muslims. Other ancestries include:

• Irish
• Dominican
• Haitian
• Cuban
• Korean
• Polish

To learn more about the region: A Closer Look at Juniata, PA

Our Local Office

The North Philadelphia, PA, slip, and fall lawyers at Philly Slip And Fall Guys have proudly represented victims of slip and fall injuries in the area for years. Call for your no-obligation case evaluation and learn how we can help you.

Philly Slip And Fall Guys
1617 John F Kennedy Blvd #355,
Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA
(215) 268-6898