A Historical Look at East Falls, Philadelphia, PA


The slip and fall attorneys in East Falls, Philadelphia, PA, at Philly Slip And Fall Guys, have provided some details on the history and historical landmarks within the community.

East Falls, Philadelphia

The community of East Falls, also known as The Falls, is located in the northwest region of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. The Schuylkill River flows along the southwest edge of the neighborhood. Wissahickon Avenue forms the northeastern border, and Roosevelt Expressway travels along the southern border. Some of the neighboring towns include Wissahickon, Abbotsford Homes, Germantown, Penn-Knox, and Wynnefield Heights.

History

The community was named after its location in relation to the Schuylkill Falls on the river. At one point it was regarded as the highest point along the river and used during the colonial and Federalist times as a navigation point by water vessels. However, prior to the War of 1812, it powered a foundry, a nail manufactory, and a wire mill that belonged to Josiah White and Erskine Hazard.

Unfortunately, the construction of the dam at the Fairmount Water Works raised the water and caused the falls to disappear. The rocks at the site still show the natural fall line.

Education

The neighborhood is home to many schools at different levels. The colleges and universities include the following:

  • Jefferson University
  • Drexel University College of Medicine
  • Thomas Jefferson University East Falls Campus

Jefferson University was founded in 1884 and expands 100 acres along Henry Avenue. It has as many as 50-degree programs with 3,100 students enrolled.

Drexel University is the combination of two formerly separated medical schools, Hahnemann Medical College, founded in 1848, and the first women’s medical school, the Woman’s Medical College, which was founded in 1850. The school later included the Medical College of Pennsylvania as well.

In 1824, Thomas Jefferson University was founded as a medical college. Philadelphia University was originally founded in 1884 as a textile school.  The two merged in 2017 to offer more than 30 degrees in the following areas of study:

  • medicine
  • fashion
  • engineering
  • law
  • architect
  • business
  • and more

Demographics

As of 2000, the neighborhood was home to 9,631 residents and included 4,215 households. The racial makeup of the community was the following:

  • 72.06% white
  • 19.98% African American
  • 2.58% Hispanic or Latino
  • 4.79% Asian
  • 0.86% other races

English is the primary language spoken by 93.4% of the residents, in addition to the 5.9% that speak Polish. Some of the ancestries found within the community include:

  • 25.6% Irish
  • 18.1% German
  • 14.6% Italian
  • 10.4% English
  • 9.5% Polish

The average household income was $49,600. Some of the most frequently held occupations included:

  • 15.8% administrative
  • 11.7% sales
  • 11.3% education
  • 9.2% business
  • 7.9% management
  • 5.9% healthcare
  • 4.6% legal

Follow along: The History of Overbrook Park, PA

Our Local Office

If you have been injured in a trip or fall, make sure to call the East Falls, Philadelphia, PA, slip and fall attorneys at Philly Slip And Fall Guys. They will evaluate your claim for free and let you know your legal options. Often financial compensation may be available for your injuries.

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