South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia nick-named "Dead End" is the section of
Philadelphia bounded by South Street to the north, the
Delaware River to the east and south, and the
Schuylkill River to the west. South Philadelphia is coterminous with the zip codes 19145, 19146, 19147, and 19148. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 162,683. It is an area rich in immigrant culture, the home to many
Italian-American and
Irish-American families who settled in the area starting in the late 19th and 20th century. Many residents have lived in the neighborhood for decades, and the lovingly maintained homes bring an air of dignity and stability to many blocks.
Encyclopedia
South Philadelphia nick-named "Dead End" is the section of
Philadelphia bounded by South Street to the north, the
Delaware River to the east and south, and the
Schuylkill River to the west. South Philadelphia is coterminous with the zip codes 19145, 19146, 19147, and 19148. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 162,683. It is an area rich in immigrant culture, the home to many
Italian-American and
Irish-American families who settled in the area starting in the late 19th and 20th century. Many residents have lived in the neighborhood for decades, and the lovingly maintained homes bring an air of dignity and stability to many blocks. On many of the corners you can find a pizzeria or a family-owned variety store.
History
South Philadelphia began as a satellite town of Philadelphia, with small townships such as
Moyamensing and
Southwark. During the
Industrial Revolution, the area saw rapid growth, in part due to mass immigration from
Ireland, and eventually saw its urbanization border that of Philadelphia. This led to its incorporation into Philadelphia in 1854. The area continued to grow, becoming a vital part of Philadelphia's large industrial base and attracting immigrants from
Italy,
Poland,
Russia, and many others countries during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These immigrants became the basis of South Philadelphia's unique and vibrant culture that would develop over the next several decades. Even with this dramatic growth in population, the low funding of education by the city resulted in the first
high school not being formed in South Philadelphia until 1934.
Recently, South Philadelphia has gone through a period of rapid change. An increase in immigration has given South Philadelphia significant populations from
Vietnam,
China,
Puerto Rico,
India,
Russia,
Haiti, and the
Dominican Republic, as well as smaller populations from dozens of nations across the world. The recent revitalization of
Center City Philadelphia has lead to gentrification in Fitler Square, Graduate Hospital/Southwest_Center_City , which led to skyrocketing prices of housing in Queen Village, and Bella Vista, and some other parts of South Philadelphia. Also, previously, for various reasons, many second and third generation South Philadelphians began moving en masse to South Jersey when the
Walt Whitman Bridge was opened in the mid 20th century. These events have resulted in perhaps the largest change in South Philadelphia's culture in nearly a hundred years.
Government
South Philadelphia is represented in
Philadelphia City Council by Council President Anna C. Verna and Councilman Frank DiCicco. At-Large Councilman Jim Kenney is a South Philadelphia resident. Former Mayor of Philadelphia Frank Rizzo was a South Philadelphia Native.
South Philadelphia is traditionally working-class and highly unionized. This has resulted in a heavily
Democratic populace.
Geography
South Philadelphia is located at 39° 55' 23
North, 75° 10' 31 West.
According to the United States Census Bureau, South Philadelphia has an area of 9.7 sq. miles, of which none is water.
Demographics
As of the 2000 Census, there are 162,683 people in 78,440 housing units. The population density is 16,771 people per square mile. 46.6% of the population is male, and 53.4% is female. The racial make up is 51.5% White, 33.0% Black, 8.8% Asian, 3.6% Hispanic, 2.7% Multiracial, and 0.2% American Indian. The ethnic makeup of South Philadelphia is 21.5%
Italian, 19.4%
Irish, 9.4%
German, and 5.1%
Polish.
Transportation
I-95 runs north and south through South Philadelphia and, in this area, provides commuters with access to
Philadelphia International Airport, I-76, the sports complex, and the
Walt Whitman Bridge. The Girard Point Bridge section of I-95 crosses over the mouth of the
Schuylkill River, where it merges with the
Delaware River.
I-76 becomes the
Schuylkill Expressway at Passyunk Avenue in South Philadelphia and allows access between this section of the city and
University City,
Center City Philadelphia,
30th Street Station, and the western suburbs.
In addition, PA Route 291 serves as a major artery between the area and
Delaware County, crossing the
Schuylkill River via the Platt Bridge .
A number of
SEPTA bus routes serve South Philadelphia, ferrying commuters to and from
Center City Philadelphia and its immediate suburbs, mostly those in
Delaware County. In addition, the transit system's
Broad Street Line gives subway riders quick access to downtown and
North Philadelphia destinations.
Places of Note
Perhaps the most famous landmark in South Philadelphia is the sports complex at the corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue. Here, the
Philadelphia Eagles ,
Philadelphia Phillies ,
Philadelphia 76ers ,
Philadelphia Flyers ,
Philadelphia Phantoms ,
Philadelphia Kixx , Philadelphia Wings , and Philadelphia Soul , and the annual
Wing Bowl make their home in the massive state-of-the-art sports arenas surrounding the well-known intersection:
Citizens Bank Park,
Lincoln Financial Field, the
Wachovia Spectrum, and the
Wachovia Center.
The sports complex was once home to
Veterans Stadium which stood from 1971 to 2004, and JFK Stadium which stood from 1925 to 1992. The NovaCare Complex, located on Pattison Avenue just west of the stadium area, serves as the practice facility of the
Philadelphia Eagles. They now play at Lincoln Financial Field.
The intersection of 9th Street and Passyunk Avenue is home to the regionally famous
Geno's Steaks and
Pat's King of Steaks cheesesteak shops, fierce competitors in the local delicacy market for decades. It is stated in the Milano family folklore that Salvatore Milano, born in Pietraperzia, Enna, Sicily, who lived 806 Federal Street, was to go into partnership with Pat in opening his steak sandwich shop back in the early 1930's. However, at the last minute, Milano pulled out at to open his own shop, near to 6th & Catherine, or thereabouts. Needless to say no one has heard of Salvatore Milano , but Pat's went on to become famous as being "King of the Steaks". Also, nearby is the city's open-air Italian Market, specializing in fresh produce, meats, and other foods.
South Street, serving as a border between South Philadelphia proper and
Center City Philadelphia, runs east and west for several blocks. Many bars, nightspots, shops,
tattoo parlors, and restaurants are located along this
neon-lit hotspot, with occasional live music venues hidden along the way.
The American Swedish Historical Museum is located in Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park.
The
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, location of the alleged
Philadelphia Experiment, is located in this section of town along the
Delaware River.
The
Sunoco oil corporation bases its headquarters along South Philadelphia's Passyunk Avenue, located a short drive from the wide collection of car dealerships known as the "Philadelphia Auto Mall".
A refurbished area of South Philadelphia alongside Columbus Boulevard/Delaware Avenue provides shopping at brand new
Best Buy, and
Ikea stores for thousands of shoppers. It is called Columbus Commons.
References
