Whitman, Philadelphia

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Whitman
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Whitman
Coordinates: 39°55′03″N75°09′13″W / 39.91757°N 75.15365°W / 39.91757; -75.15365
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
State Pennsylvania
County Philadelphia
City Philadelphia
Zip code
19148
Area code(s) 215, 267 and 445

Whitman is a neighborhood in the South Philadelphia section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It is bounded on the west by Sixth Street, on the east by Front Street, on the south by Bigler Street, and on the north by Snyder Avenue. The name "Whitman" was adopted when the nearby Walt Whitman Bridge was being constructed in the 1950s. [1] In 2015, Whitman and nearby South Philadelphia neighborhoods were named by Philadelphia Magazine as one of the safest and most family-friendly neighborhoods in Philadelphia. [2]

Contents

Demographics

According to the 2000 Census, Whitman, combined with Queen Village and Southwark, has 26,300 inhabitants.[ citation needed ] The racial makeup of the community is White, 60 percent; Black, 27 percent; Asian, 8 percent; Latino, 5 percent.[ citation needed ] About 40 percent of the population is under 18.[ citation needed ] Whitman has a very large population of Irish Catholics. The 2010 Census showed progressive changes in demographics, including an increase in total inhabitants, with a marked increase in Asian American and young professional population. [3]

Major landmarks

The George Sharswood School and SS United States are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [4] [5]

Playgrounds

Lawrence E Murphy Recreation Center Lawrence E Murphy Recreation Center 300 W Shunk St Philadelphia PA (DSC 3027).jpg
Lawrence E Murphy Recreation Center

Lawrence E. Murphy Recreation Center, 300 W. Shunk St. This 4.9-acre park has playground equipment, a pool, a basketball court, and sports fields. The five-room building has a gymnasium and multi-purpose rooms. The site was renamed in honor of Lawrence E. Murphy in 1964. He was an employee of the recreation department for 37 years. He worked at this site when it was known as "Greenwich Recreation Center." [6]

Mifflin Square, 500 Wolf St. This 4.2-acre park in South Philadelphia has large trees, walkways, playground equipment and a basketball court. [7]

Reverend Edward P. Burke Playground, 200 Snyder Ave. A 1.7-acre site with playground equipment, a basketball court and hockey court. Located adjacent to the Whitman branch of the Free Library. The site was named in honor of Reverend Edward P. Burke in 1963. Burke was pastor at Our Lady of Mount Carmel church from 1950 until his death in 1960. He was a vocal opponent of housing and expressway construction projects that threatened to destroy homes in the area. He was ordained in 1922 and served as a U.S. Army chaplain in WWII, retiring with the rank of major. [8]

Education

Schools

The School District of Philadelphia operates public schools in the Whitman neighborhood.

Neighborhoods assigned to Sharswood are also assigned to Furness High School. [11] [12]

Public libraries

The Free Library of Philadelphia Whitman Branch serves the community. [13]

Notable people

District and local organization

State Senate district

State House district

City Council district

Ward

Police district

Civic groups and town watches

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References

  1. "The place where you live: Whitman".
  2. neighborhood/|title=Whitman: Up and Coming South Philly Neighborhood | Philadelight|date=2015-08-09|newspaper=Philadelight|access-date=2017-02-25|language=en-US}}
  3. "The 2010 Census | Philly". www.philly.com. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  4. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  5. "Whitman Neighborhood: Up and Coming South Philly". Philadelight Magazine. 10 August 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  6. Lawrence E. Murphy Recreation Center 300 W. Shunk St.
  7. Mifflin Square 500 Wolf St.
  8. Reverend Edward P. Burke Playground, 200 Snyder Ave.
  9. "George Sharswood Elementary School Geographic Boundaries" (Archive). School District of Philadelphia. Retrieved on November 29, 2015.
  10. "John H. Taggart Elementary School Geographic Boundaries" (Archive). School District of Philadelphia. Retrieved on November 29, 2015.
  11. "A Directory of High Schools for 2009 Admissions" (Archive). School District of Philadelphia. p. 15 (PDF p/ 17/40). Accessed November 6, 2008.
  12. "Horace Furness High School Geographic Boundaries" (Archive). School District of Philadelphia. Retrieved on October 4, 2011.
  13. "Whitman Branch." Free Library of Philadelphia. Retrieved on October 19, 2012.
  14. "Whitman Plaza". www.whitmanplaza.com. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
  15. "Whitman Council Inc". whitmancouncil.org. Whitman Council. Retrieved 2016-10-05.