Fishtown, Philadelphia

Last updated
Fishtown
Penn at PTPark.JPG
Penn Treaty Park in Fishtown
Street map of Philadelphia and surrounding area.png
Red pog.svg
Fishtown
Coordinates: 39°57′54″N75°08′06″W / 39.965°N 75.135°W / 39.965; -75.135
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
State Pennsylvania
County Philadelphia County
City Philadelphia
Area code(s) 215, 267 and 445

Fishtown is a neighborhood in the River Wards section [1] of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. [2] Located northeast of Center City Philadelphia, its borders are somewhat disputed today due to many factors, but are roughly defined by the triangle created by the Delaware River, Front Street, and York Street. [3] Some newer residents expand the area to Lehigh Avenue to the northeast, while some older residents shrink the area to Norris Street. [4] [5] It is served by the Market–Frankford Line rapid transit subway/elevated line of the SEPTA system. Fishtown was a largely working class Irish Catholic neighborhood, but has recently seen a large influx of young urban professionals and gentrification. [6]

Contents

The name Fishtown derives from one of the original occupations of its residents. Early settlers were fishermen, and over time they controlled the fishing rights to both sides of the Delaware River, from Cape May to the falls at Trenton. The apocryphal local legend traces the name of Fishtown to Charles Dickens, who purportedly visited the neighborhood in March 1842, but records show this to be false, as it was named Fishtown prior to his visit, at least as early as 1808, as evidenced in a newspaper article in The Tickler, an early 19th century Philadelphia newspaper.

History

The area was originally inhabited by members of the Turtle Clan of the Lenape Indian tribe (whom the Europeans named the Delaware Indian Tribe). The first European settlers were a group of six Swedish farming families, later replaced by British landed gentry, then British shipbuilders and German fishermen. Fishtown was originally a small section of the town of Old Kensington, close to the Delaware River and just a few blocks long, roughly from Palmer Street north to Gunnar's Run, from the Delaware River to Moyer Street. The original town of Kensington was only 191.5 acres of land and originally called the Fairman Estate. Today's Penn Treaty Park sits where the Fairman Mansion once stood (actually Fairman Mansion sat in the middle of Beach Street, curb to curb, right north of Columbia Avenue).

Palmer Cemetery gatehouse Palmer Cemetery gatehouse, Philly.JPG
Palmer Cemetery gatehouse

Kensington was founded by Captain Anthony Palmer, an Englishman by way of Barbados. Using proceeds from the sale of the Hope Farm estate (present day Port Richmond), which included three slaves named Abraham, Hannibal, and Phillis, [7] Palmer purchased the Fairman Estate in 1729 and laid out his town and sold parcels to the local fishermen and shipbuilders. Anthony Palmer eventually became active in the provincial council and became acting Governor of Pennsylvania in 1747–1748. Palmer died in 1749 and was buried in Christ Church Cemetery in Philadelphia. (The Kensington Burial Grounds in Fishtown, also known as Palmer Cemetery, was founded around 1732 and is still an active burial ground, situated on land deeded to the community by the Palmer Family after Anthony Palmer's death. It is believed that the cemetery was in use from about the time Palmer started to lay out the town of Kensington, but the actual date of the first burial is unknown.)

Within a few generations there was another influx of German immigrants, then still later in the late 19th century Polish and Irish Catholic immigrants. The community had two Roman Catholic Churches, St. Laurentius, built by Polish immigrants, and the Holy Name of Jesus, built predominantly by Irish immigrants. Holy Name continues to serve as the parish church. St. Laurentius was sold to private developers and was to be turned into apartments, but became embroiled in legal disputes for years. Meanwhile, the structure deteriorated, leading to its eventual demolition beginning in 2022. [8]

1500 block of E. Berks Street, a typical residential street in Fishtown, in 2007. Fishtown Philadelphia.jpg
1500 block of E. Berks Street, a typical residential street in Fishtown, in 2007.

The neighborhood had been working class for centuries; while poverty grew after jobs left during the deindustrialization era, which afflicted many "rust belt" cities, Fishtown's workers continued to maintain a stable working-class community. Fishtown was highly segregated in the mid-20th century: between 1950 and 1970, only 0.1-0.2% of the population was not white [9] . Most long-time residents trace their ancestry to Irish, German, and Polish Catholic immigrants. In an analysis of 2013 data, Fishtown was the third most segregated white neighborhood in Philadelphia (after Girard Estates and Bridesburg), with 96% white residents. [10] By 2024, the percentage of white residents had decreased further to 86% [11] .

Since 2005 Fishtown has experienced moderate gentrification characterized by significant rises in housing prices and the opening of upscale art, entertainment, and dining establishments. An influx of artists and professionals has joined the ranks of police officers, fire fighters, nurses, carpenters, electricians, stonemasons, plumbers, sheet-metal workers, and teamsters. As of 2023, the neighborhood was one of the highest income in Philadelphia [12] .

The neighborhood was chosen by the state of Pennsylvania to be the site of the Rivers Casino Philadelphia gaming complex on Delaware Avenue near Frankford Avenue. This choice deeply divided the neighborhood, causing conflict between those who believe it will bring jobs and economic development and those who believe it will lead to increased crime, addiction, and other social problems which negatively impact quality of life. A Community Benefits Agreement was reached between SugarHouse Casino (now Rivers Casino) and the membership of Fishtown Action and the New Kensington CDC, which will provide money for community projects that would not otherwise be available to the residents.

Landmarks

Green Tree Tavern Green Tree Tavern.jpg
Green Tree Tavern

The George Chandler School, Green Tree Tavern, and Penn Treaty Junior High School are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [13]

Listed in the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, the following buildings are protected by the City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Historical Commission:

Education

Penn Treaty School Penn Treaty Junior High School.jpg
Penn Treaty School

The School District of Philadelphia operates public schools. Alexander Adaire School is the elementary school of the community. [24] Penn Treaty School (formerly Penn Treaty Middle School), grades 6–12, is in Fishtown. [25] Residents were previously zoned to Kensington High School. [26]

St. Laurentius School is located in Fishtown. [27]

In the book Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960–2010 (2012), Charles Murray names an imagined entity of white working class decay for Fishtown, inspired by Fishtown, Philadelphia. [28]

The comic book Fishtown (2007-8), by Kevin Colden, portrays a murder that occurred in Fishtown, based on the 2003 Murder of Jason Sweeney.[ citation needed ]

The neighborhood was partially filmed in and is a focal point in several episodes of the 2020 AMC television series Dispatches from Elsewhere , created by and starring Jason Segel.

Season 5 of Netflix's reboot series Queer Eye was shot in Philadelphia. Fishtown was the primary recording location for episode 1 "Preaching Out Loud". [29]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Germantown, Philadelphia</span> Neighborhood of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, United States

Germantown is an area in Northwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded by Palatine, Quaker, and Mennonite families in 1683 as an independent borough, it was absorbed into Philadelphia in 1854. The area, which is about six miles northwest from the city center, now consists of two neighborhoods: 'Germantown' and 'East Germantown'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Liberties, Philadelphia</span> Former District in Pennsylvania, United States

Northern Liberties is a neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It is north of Center City along the Delaware River. Prior to its incorporation into Philadelphia in 1854, it was among the top 10 largest cities in the U.S. in every census from 1790 to 1850. It was a major manufacturing area that attracted many European immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In the early 21st century, it has attracted many young professionals and new commercial and residential development

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northeast Philadelphia</span> Neighborhood of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Northeast Philadelphia, nicknamed Northeast Philly, the Northeast and the Great Northeast, is a section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. According to the 2000 census, Northeast Philadelphia has a population of between 300,000 and 450,000, depending on how the area is defined. The Northeast is known as being home to a large working class Irish American population, but it is also home to Polish, German, Jewish, Russian, African American, Brazilian, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Guatemalan, Ukrainian, Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese neighborhoods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frankford, Philadelphia</span> Former Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Frankford is a neighborhood in the Northeast section of Philadelphia situated about six miles (10 km) northeast of Center City. Although its borders are vaguely defined, the neighborhood is bounded roughly by the original course of Frankford Creek on the south to Castor Avenue on the northwest and southwest, to Cheltenham Avenue on the north, and to Aramingo Avenue and I-95 on the east. [source: GoogleMaps] Adjacent neighborhoods are Bridesburg, Juniata, Northwood, Summerdale, and Wissinoming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holmesburg, Philadelphia</span> Neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US

Holmesburg began as a Village within Lower Dublin Township, Pennsylvania. It is now a neighborhood in the Northeast section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Holmesburg was named in Honor of Surveyor General of Pennsylvania Thomas Holme, who was a cartographer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kensington, Philadelphia</span> Neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Kensington is a neighborhood in Philadelphia that belongs to Lower Northeast. As with all neighborhoods in the city, the lack of any official designation means the boundaries of the area vary between sources over time and are disputed among locals. Kensington, as most long-term residents view it, refers generally to the area consisting of Kensington, East Kensington, West Kensington, and Harrowgate. The adjacent Fairhill and Norris Square neighborhoods are more separate but may be included in Kensington; Fishtown and South (Olde) Kensington were historically included. The most conservative boundaries of the neighborhood, shown in the map below, are Front Street and 5th Street to the west, the Amtrak train tracks to the North, Trenton Avenue, the Trenton Avenue train tracks, and Frankford Avenue to the east, and Cecil B. Moore Avenue to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Richmond, Philadelphia</span> Neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Port Richmond is a neighborhood in the River Wards section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It is notable for its extremely large Polish immigrant and Polish American community. The neighborhood is also home to a large Irish American community and sizable German and Italian communities as represented in the various churches and organizations. In more recent years, a sizable Albanian community has moved in. The Richmond Zip Code is 19134. A small portion of the neighborhood, north of Castor Avenue, falls into the 19137 ZIP code.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torresdale, Philadelphia</span> Neighborhood of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States

Torresdale, also formerly known as Torrisdale, is a neighborhood in the Far Northeast section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Torresdale is located along the Delaware River between Holmesburg and Bensalem Township in neighboring Bucks County.

Kensington District, or The Kensington District of the Northern Liberties, was one of the twenty-nine municipalities that formed Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States prior to the enactment of the Act of Consolidation, 1854, when it became incorporated into the newly expanded City of Philadelphia. Lehigh Avenue roughly bounded the district to the north; Germantown Avenue and 6th Street to the west; Cohocksink Creek to the south; and an L-shaped line formed by Frankford Avenue, Norris Street, and York Street to its northeast. The Delaware River was the eastern boundary. Today the area would include the Philadelphia neighborhoods of Olde Kensington, West Kensington and Fishtown, as well as portions of the neighborhoods of Ludlow, Hartranft, Fairhill, Northern Liberties and the current Kensington. The District of Kensington was a self-governing district between the years 1820 and 1854.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridesburg, Philadelphia</span> Former Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Bridesburg is the northernmost neighborhood in the River Wards section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Bridesburg is an historically German and Irish community, with a significant community of Polish immigrants who arrived mostly in the early- to mid-twentieth century. The community is home to two Catholic churches: All Saints Church, designed by Edwin Forrest Durang, built in 1889; and Saint John Cantius Church, built in 1898 in Polish Cathedral style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broad Street (Philadelphia)</span> Thoroughfare in Pennsylvania

Broad Street is a major arterial street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The street runs for approximately 13 miles (21 km), beginning at the intersection of Cheltenham Avenue on the border of Cheltenham Township and the West/East Oak Lane neighborhoods of North Philadelphia to the Philadelphia Navy Yard in South Philadelphia. It is Pennsylvania Route 611 along its entire length with the exception of its northernmost part between Old York Road and Pennsylvania Route 309 and the southernmost part south of Interstate 95.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frankford Creek</span> River in Pennsylvania, United States

Frankford Creek is a minor tributary of the Delaware River in southeast Pennsylvania. It derived its name from today's Frankford, Philadelphia neighborhood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tacony, Philadelphia</span> Neighborhood of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States

Tacony is a historic neighborhood in Northeast Philadelphia, United States, approximately 8 miles (13 km) from downtown Philadelphia. It is bounded by the east side of Frankford Avenue on the northwest, the south side of Cottman Avenue on the northeast, the north side of Robbins Street on the southwest, and the Delaware River and Interstate 95 on the southeast.

Olde Kensington, also known as South Kensington, is a neighborhood located in North Philadelphia section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. South Kensington is north of Northern Liberties, south of Norris Square, east of Ludlow, and west of Fishtown. The boundaries of the neighborhood are Berks St. (north), Girard Ave (south), Front St (east) and 6th St. (west).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penn Treaty Park</span>

Penn Treaty Park is a small park on the western bank of the Delaware River, in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is located on Beach Street, near its intersection with Delaware Avenue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Wards, Philadelphia</span> Neighborhood of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The River Wards is a section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States located along the Delaware River to the northeast of Center City Philadelphia. 'River Wards' is the commonly used name for an area including several neighborhoods, such as Fishtown, Kensington, Port Richmond and Olde Richmond. The River Wards are located at the border of North Philadelphia and Northeast Philadelphia, and may be considered part of one or the other, or as a separate entity. The area is sometimes also known as 'Kensington-Richmond'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palmer Cemetery</span> Cemetery in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US

Palmer Cemetery, originally known as the Kensington Burial Grounds, was established around 1732 in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girard Avenue</span> Major commercial and residential street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Girard Avenue is a major commercial and residential street in Philadelphia. For most of its length it runs east–west, but at Frankford Avenue it makes a 135-degree turn north. Parts of the road are signed as U.S. Route 13 and U.S. Route 30.

Olde Richmond is a neighborhood in the River Wards section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is notable for its historically large Polish immigrant, Polish American community, and Irish American community. The U.S. ZIP Code for Olde Richmond is 19125 and its post office is located at 1602 Frankford Avenue.

References

  1. "Fishtown and the River Wards".
  2. Thompson, Isaiah (2008-10-29). "The Fishtown Effect". Philadelphia City Paper . Archived from the original on 2008-11-02.
  3. "ABOUT". Fishtown Neighbors Association. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
  4. "Fishtown And The River Wards". Visit Philadelphia. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
  5. "Maps make you wonder, what is Fishtown?". PhillyVoice. 2016-10-31. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
  6. "Insane Surge in Philadelphia Gentrification". Metro Corp. 17 February 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  7. Milano, Kenneth W. (2008). Remembering Kensington & Fishtown: Philadelphia's Riverward Neighborhoods. Arcadia Publishing.
  8. "Demolition of St. Laurentius Church in Fishtown begins after long battle".
  9. Beauregard, R A (July 1990). "Trajectories of Neighborhood Change: The Case of Gentrification". Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space. 22 (7): 855–874. Bibcode:1990EnPlA..22..855B. doi:10.1068/a220855. ISSN   0308-518X.
  10. "A Tale of Two Philadelphias: Census data reveals income inequality around the city's most segregated neighborhoods". Billy Penn. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  11. "The Demographic Statistical Atlas of the United States - Statistical Atlas". statisticalatlas.com. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  12. Duchneskie, Jesse Bunch | John (2023-12-07). "Philly's wealthiest neighborhoods have median incomes that are $100,000 more than the poorest areas". https://www.inquirer.com . Retrieved 2024-02-08.{{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  13. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  14. Oscar Beisert (October 2, 2019). "Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: Bradlee & Co.'s Empire Chain Works, 1615-31 N. Delaware Avenue, Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA" (PDF). Keeping Society of Philadelphia. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  15. Oscar Beisert (August 11, 2015). "Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: The Edward Corner Warehouse, 1100-02 N. Delaware Avenue, Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA" (PDF). Keeping Society of Philadelphia. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  16. Oscar Beisert and, J.M. Duffin (October 6, 2015). "Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: The Frederick J. Rapp House, 1003 Frankford Avenue, Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA" (PDF). Keeping Society of Philadelphia. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  17. Oscar Beisert, and J.M. Duffin (September 3, 2019). "Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: The Jacob Souder Frame Dwelling, 1132 Marlborough Street, Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA" (PDF). Philadelphia Historical Commission. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  18. Oscar Beisert, and J.M. Duffin (August 3, 2017). "Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: Joseph Paxson Frame Store & Dwelling, 1250 E. Palmer Street, Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA" (PDF). Keeping Society of Philadelphia. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  19. Oscar Beisert (September 1, 2015). "Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: The Morse Elevator Company, 1101-03 Frankford Avenue, Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA" (PDF). Keeping Society of Philadelphia. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  20. Oscar Beisert (September 1, 2015). [Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: The Morse Elevator Company, 1101-03 Frankford Avenue, Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA. "Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: The Morse Elevator Company, 1105-09 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA"]. Keeping Society of Philadelphia. Retrieved November 27, 2020.{{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  21. Oscar Beisert (January 3, 2019). "Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: Otis Elevator Company's Boiler & Engine House, 1045-49 Sarah Street, Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA" (PDF). Philadelphia Historical Commission. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  22. Oscar Beisert, J.M. Duffin, Kelly Wiles, etc. (August 25, 2020). "Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: The Penn Asylum for Indigent Widows & Single Women, 1401 E. Susquehanna Avenue, Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA" (PDF). Philadelphia Historical Commission. Retrieved November 27, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. Oscar Beisert (December 18, 2015). "Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: 10th District Patrol House & Stable, 1416-22 Frankford Avenue, Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA" (PDF). Keeping Society of Philadelphia. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  24. Komar, Melissa (March 2, 2016). "Not too cool for school". Star News Philly. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  25. "About Us Archived 2016-12-31 at the Wayback Machine ." Penn Treaty School. Retrieved on December 31, 2016.
  26. "Alexander Adaire Elementary School Geographic Boundaries Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine ." School District of Philadelphia. Retrieved on December 31, 2016.
  27. O'Reilly, David (March 23, 2015). "St. Laurentius, beloved Polish church in Fishtown, to be demolished". Philadelphia Inquirer . Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  28. Nicholas Confessore (10 February 2012) Tramps Like Them New York Times. Retrieved January 4, 2014
  29. "Essential Guide to Philly's Starring Role in Queer Eye Season 5".

K-8 schools: