North Philadelphia 2379684 225925126 2008-07-16T01:19:24Z Three-quarter-ten 5526855 Keepin' it real. Besides, ain't no shame in being part of North Phila. It has its problems, but also its pride. [[Image:NPhilaDistrict.PNG|thumb|Map of [[Philadelphia County]] with '''North Philadelphia''' highlighted. ''Click for larger image'']] '''North Philadelphia''' is a section of [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], in the [[United States]]. It is immediately north of [[Center City, Philadelphia|Center City]]. Though the full extent of the region is somewhat vague, "North Philadelphia" is sometimes regarded, especially by people with little familiarity with Philadelphia neighborhoods, as everything north of either Vine Street or Spring Garden Street, between [[Northwest Philadelphia]] and [[Northeast Philadelphia]]. The city government views this sprawling chunk of Philadelphia more precisely as three smaller districts, drawn up by the Redevelopment Authority in 1964. These regions are (from north to south) [[East Oak Lane, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|East]] & [[West Oak Lane, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|West Oak Lane]]/[[Olney, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Olney]], Upper North Philadelphia, and Lower North Philadelphia. The Oak Lane neighborhoods and Olney are sometimes considered to be separate from North Philadelphia entirely because of their unique architecture, culture and differing patterns of development. In past decades, North Philadelphia was hit hard by economic [[recessions|decline]]. The majority of North Philadelphia's residents are poor [[African American]] and [[Hispanics in the United States|Hispanic American]]. Despite its wealth of history, schools, cultural sites, parkland, architecture, and other holdovers from more prosperous times, high [[crime]] and unfettered [[poverty]] have earned North Philadelphia a reputation as a [[slum]]. At the same time, some would counter that it is far more diverse an area, and thus too large to stereotype. From the [[Puerto Rican American|Puerto Rican]] communities in [[Hunting Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Hunting Park]], [[West Kensington, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|West Kensington]], and [[Fairhill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Fairhill]] to the [[middle class]] African American neighborhoods around the [[West Oak Lane, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Oak Lanes]] to the [[poor]] [[ghettos]] that typify much of its core to newly-[[gentrification|gentrifying]] [[Brewerytown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Brewerytown]], a large portion of Philadelphians call this section home. Recent developments have given North Philadelphia a brighter future, as several neighborhoods begin to overcome some of the aforementioned problems. ==History== ===Early history=== Prior to its incorporation into the city proper, North Philadelphia was little more than a collection of primarily agricultural townships above the original City of Philadelphia. In the 18th century, as Philadelphia grew in importance and, consequently, population, then pastoral North Philadelphia became an attractive alternative to the burgeoning city. The mansions of wealthy Philadelphians began to dot the landscape, and by the late 18th and early 19th century, several small town centers had developed to anchor the growing population. However, this suburban landscape was to be interrupted around the middle of the 19th century, as rapid urban expansion led to [[Act of Consolidation, 1854|The Consolidation Act of 1854]]. This state law annexed all of the townships within Philadelphia County to the City of Philadelphia. With new territory now under the aegis of Philadelphia's city planners, and a rising influx of European [[immigrants]], led to the end of North as a suburb of Philadelphia. North Philadelphia's decentralized towns were gradually meshed into a sprawling network of the ubiquitous Philadelphia [[rowhouse|rowhome]]. Many of the newly created neighborhoods retained the name of their ancestral towns and townships, for example, the [[Northern Liberties]] was formerly Northern Liberties Township. ===Industrial era=== [[Image:SusquehannaBroad.jpg|thumb|2600 Block of North Broad Street. Example of the late [[Victorian era|Victorian]] and [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] stylizations of the [[German architects]] that designed buildings in North Philadelphia. Turrets like the one pictured still dot North Broad Street.]] As the [[industrial age]] peaked in America, North Philadelphia became a working man's town. Upper North Philadelphia, Olney, Brewerytown, became major hubs of production. Large factories and industrial complexes were erected, covering vast swaths of city land. Scores of rowhomes were constructed to house the burgeoning worker population. This expansion was also the impetus for breaking ground on the [[Broad Street Line]] subway; designed specifically to carry a passenger from the northern hub of [[Olney, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Olney]] to [[Philadelphia City Hall]] in under 20 minutes. Major freight and passenger rail lines were built to intersect at the newly constructed [[North Broad Street Station]], and transmit cargo from the bustling factories. The completion of the BSL these major railways made the region a thriving hub of transportation. For a time, North Philadelphia station became the second most heavily trafficked rail station in the city, and the Olney Ave station the most used subway stop. Along with many of Philadelphia's major manufacturing concerns came the nearby estates of the wealthy [[industrialists]] who had founded them. Lower North Philadelphia in particular housed a number the ''[[nouveau riche]]''; ambitious first or second generation immigrants or that had made their fortunes starting manufacturing firms. Many were German Jews that had settled in the area, later founding companies and building synagogues. For a time, an age of opulence and grand architecture returned to North Philadelphia, centered around what is now zoned as the Historic North Broad Street Mansion and Speculative Housing Districts. Gentlemen's Clubs, upscale restaurants and shopping districts grew in this southern tier for a brief moment in history, peaking in the late 1920s. Upper-class foremen and executives lived farther north along [[Broad Street (Philadelphia)|Broad Street]], in what is now the West Diamond Street Townhouse Historic District. Thriving commercial districts sprung up along the great northern avenues; Columbia (renamed Cecil B. Moore Avenue), Susquehanna, Dauphin, Erie, Lehigh and Olney, to name a few. However, just as this wealth was so suddenly gained, it would just as suddenly be lost. The new money culture proved to be an unstable foundation for a lasting community, and like so many constructs of the [[Gilded Age]], this core of wealth was doomed to rot. ===Post-industrial economic decline=== Over the next few decades [[The Great Depression]], [[outsourcing]], and white flight took their toll on North Philadelphia in a fashion similar to other major US cities of the mid to late 20th century, if not in a more pronounced fashion. While residential corridors like Hope Street and Delhi Street had long housed primarily African-American residents, [[redlining]], racist [[loan]] companies, and rising [[unemployment]] led white residents out of the city as waves of poor blacks moved in. During the 40s and 50s, much of the area was [[racial integration|racially integrated]], although smaller streets were usually completely black or white. Whites began to move out slowly at first in the late 1940s as these residents became more affluent and [[Northeast Philadelphia]] began to develop new housing with lawns and conveniences such as modern plumbing. In most cases African Americans moved into the vacant houses and as this began to increase, true white flight began. Increasingly, people moved out of North Philadelphia not solely to move into newer homes, but to avoid facing decreasing property values. For a time, Lower North Philadelphia became a great center of black culture and music, most notably [[Jazz]]. Many commercial corridors were maintained for decades, and a great many musicians came to North Philadelphia, like [[John Coltrane]] and [[Stan Getz]]. As the century marched past middle age, many other problems symptomatic of all US cities of the time came about. Many of the neighborhoods in North Philadelphia sprung up around one monolithic factory, which was the center of the community's income. Each factory that closed down devastated its host neighborhood. In this way, the wave of national industrial collapse caused the rapid break up of numerous "factory neighborhoods" in the predominantly working class North Philadelphia. Furthermore, the [[Philadelphia 1964 race riot|Columbia Avenue race riots]] of 1964 became iconic for the rising ethnic tensions in the region, and the continued withdrawal of white residents. The riot, which virtually destroyed the central shopping district of North Philadelphia, signaled the beginning of the end for the North's commercial sector. The withering of the American manufacturing sector led to the closing of many of the factories that many northern neighborhoods were centered around and depended on. Increased urban blight and the general decline of Philadelphia in the late 20th century even saw the decline of even many of the strong black communities in North Philadelphia. The legendary [[Connie Mack Stadium]] was closed in favor of the new [[Pattison Sports Complex]]. North Philadelphia Station lost [[Amtrak]] Service, and the [[Broad Street Line|BSL subway line]] garnered a reputation for violent crime and rape. The great [[art deco]] office buildings and government institutions were mostly abandoned, as were the mansions of the many ruined industrialists. == North Philadelphia Today== [[Image:Germantownlehighave.jpg|thumb|Commercial District of Germantown and Lehigh Avenue, in the [[Hartranft]] neighborhood of North Philadelphia]] === Blight and Brownfields === Today, many remnants of these more prosperous eras remain, albeit in a typically more dilapidated state. However, for as many that remain, just as many thousands of historic buildings have collapsed, either from neglect or demolition, and thousands more still lie abandoned. A handful have become protected historic properties. Several blocks, with numerous old mansions, have been re-zoned as the aforementioned historic districts. A great many extravagant churches were built over the years, as well. Some still stand, but all too often money is scarce to preserve their deteriorating architecture. The stately [[tram|trolley]] lines which once criss-crossed the northern streets and connected the region with the rest of Philadelphia were shut down by [[SEPTA]] in 1992. Immense, abandoned factories sit idle; warehouses lie empty; and disused heavy rail lines scar the landscape. The names of the old industrialists, such as Gratz, Poth, Uber, Bouvier, and Schmidt, still adorn many buildings and street signs in the area but are otherwise foreign to many modern-day residents. The [[Neighborhood Transformation Initiative]], or NTI, was a City program launched by Mayor [[John F. Street]] during his first administration. The program called for the demolition of thousands of condemned buildings and the construction of large-scale, medium-density public housing, with restoration efforts to be employed on salvageable houses. Many blocks of old rowhomes have been bulldozed and replaced with suburban style [[housing tract|tract houses]]. This program has radically changed some sections of North Philadelphia. Some charge that little effort was made to save a number of historic buildings, others that NTI was needed to change blighted neighborhoods. The lasting effects of the program remain to be seen. === Redevelopment and Gentrification === Some areas, like Olney, Allegheny, and Erie, still have relatively active communities, but even they are often troubled by drugs, crime, and/or social underfunding. Allegheny West has advanced, mostly from the support of some of the last industries in North Philadelphia, [[Tastykake]] and [[Pep Boys]], which are headquartered in the neighborhood. [[Temple University]] continues to try to restore its Lower North Philadelphia neighborhood; successes and failures have been mixed. The university has assumed control of several local public schools, it gives extra benefits and aid to local residents that are admitted as students, and it sponsors many student volunteer projects to help the surrounding neighborhoods. These efforts have had some impact on the surrounding community but lack the centralized strategy and funding of similar efforts, such as the West Philadelphia [[University City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|University City]] project. Some residents have accused Temple of either ignoring the wishes of local citizens in its moves to expand or being more concerned with its own projects than the viability of the surrounding area. Critics note the great many properties it has purchased, leveled, and redeveloped for university use, while much of the surrounding area still struggles. A private commercial development designed to spur a North Broad Street revitalization, but targeted at Temple students, has made rejuvenation of the area seem likely to occur solely by virtue of the school's existence, and not because of its particular efforts. Several parts of North Philadelphia, especially those that border the Center City district, have recently been experiencing varying levels of [[gentrification]]. Once economically divested neighborhoods like [[Brewerytown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Brewerytown]], [[Francisville, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Francisville]], [[Northern Liberties, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Northern Liberties]], [[Poplar, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Poplar]], and [[West Kensington, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|West Kensington]] have seen large scale development break ground. Other regions have seen virtually no change, save the rising housing values that have accompanied increased attention in urban markets. Many residents of communities in North Philadelphia have voiced resistance towards these gentrifying forces, viewing the sudden investment as an invasion that threatens the traditional character of the neighborhoods. Some poor and elderly residents have been pushed out of increasingly valued neighborhoods adjacent to the dynamic Center City housing market, as speculative buyers push outward from the city core. Many fear this process will be repeated in North Philadelphia. Many buildings are abandoned. ==Transportation== Notably, [[Broad Street (Philadelphia)|Broad Street]] roughly bisects North Philadelphia north-south. Broad Street is a six-lane arterial street that is designated as [[Pennsylvania Route 611]]. The [[Broad Street Line|Broad Street Subway]], or 'Orange Line,' runs along Broad Street, directly connecting North Philadelphia with Center City and South Philadelphia, as well as with the rest of Philadelphia's public transit system: [[SEPTA]]. ==Education== '''Public Education''' Public schooling in North Philadelphia is handled by the [[School District of Philadelphia]]. The region is divided into several "clusters," which administer individual schools. By region, these clusters are: ''Lower North Philadelphia'' *William Penn *Strawberry Mansion *Murrell Dobbins C.T.E. *A. Philip Randolph C.T.E. *Franklin *Masterman ''Upper North Philadelphia'' *Gratz *Edison ''Olney/Oak Lane'' *King *Olney *Central *Philadelphia High School for Girls (Girls High) '''Secondary Education''' North Philadelphia also boasts a number of institutions of higher learning. *[[La Salle University]] *[[Messiah College]]-Philadelphia Campus *[[Temple University]] '''Other''' ''Libraries'' There are thirteen branch libraries of the [[Free Library of Philadelphia|Philadelphia Free Library]] located in North Philadelphia. Information about these services can be found at the PFL branch directory.<ref>[http://www.library.phila.gov/cocmap.htm FLP - Page Not Found<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ''Museums'' *[[Philadelphia Doll Museum]] *[[Wagner Free Institute of Science]] *[[The Blue Horizon]] ==Trivia== On the [[NBC]] television drama [[American Dreams]] North Philadelphia was depicted as the home of the Walker family. While claiming to be on the campus of Temple University, much of the show was filmed on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania in West Philadelphia. The first season finale of the show also depicted the [[Philadelphia 1964 race riot|riot in 1964]]. ==Famous Residents== *[[Gillie Da Kid]] rapper *[[Jill Scott]] singer *[[Aaron Owens]] (And 1) basketball player *[[Peedi Peedi|Peedi Crakk]] rapper *[[Rasheed Wallace]] basketball player *[[Aaron McKie]] basketball player *[[Stevie Williams]], professional skateboarder *[[Freeway (rapper)|Freeway]] rapper *[[Mardy Collins]] basketball player *[[Ronald Murray|Ronald "Flip" Murray]] basketball player *[[State Property (Group)|State Property]], rap group (majority from North Philly) *[[Young Gunz]], rap group *[[Bernard Hopkins]] Professional Boxer *[[Bill Cosby]] Comedian/Actor *[[Khia]] Rapper *[[Tariq Trotter a.k.a. Black Thought]] Rapper - The Roots *[[Amir Thompson]] a.k.a. ?uestlove, Drummer - The Roots *[[Dwight Grant]] a.k.a. Beanie Sigel, Rapper *[[Kevin Hart]] Comedian *[[Eve]] rapper ==External links== *[http://www.phila.gov/neighborhoods/Neighborhoods-Phila/North-Lower/north-lower.html Lower North Philadelphia Official Website] *[http://www.phila.gov/neighborhoods/Neighborhoods-Phila/North-Up/north-up.html Upper North Philadelphia Official Website] *[http://www.phila.gov/neighborhoods/Neighborhoods-Phila/Olney-OakLane/olney-oaklane.html Olney/Oak Lane Official Website] {{portalpar|Philadelphia|Libertybell alone small.jpg}} *[http://www.arch.state.pa.us ARCH] *[http://www.upenn.edu/gazette/0301/early4.html "No Other Life"] ==References== {{reflist}} {{NPhila}} [[Category:Neighborhoods in Philadelphia| ]] [[Category:United States communities with African American majority populations]]