South Philadelphia

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South Philadelphia
Neighborhood of Philadelphia
South Philadelphia, looking south from Southwest Center City into Newbold at Washington Avenue.
South Philadelphia, looking south from Southwest Center City into Newbold at Washington Avenue.
South Philadelphia district, highlighted on a map of Philadelphia County
South Philadelphia district, highlighted on a map of Philadelphia County
Country  United States of America
State  Pennsylvania
County Philadelphia
City Philadelphia
Area
 • Total 9.7 sq mi (25 km2)
Population (2010)
 • Total 168,782
 • Density 16,771/sq mi (6,475/km2)
ZIP code 19145, 19146, 19147, 19148
Area code(s) 267, 215

South Philadelphia, nicknamed South Philly, 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.[1] A diverse community, South Philadelphia is known for its large Italian American population, as well as its Irish American population.

History

South Philadelphia began as a satellite town of Philadelphia, with small townships such as Moyamensing and Southwark.[2] During the Industrial Revolution, the area saw rapid growth, in part due to mass immigration from Ireland. Its urbanized border reached that of Philadelphia. Along with all other jurisdictions in Philadelphia County, South Philadelphia became part of the City of Philadelphia proper with passage by the Pennsylvania legislature of the city/county Act of Consolidation, 1854.

The area continued to grow, becoming a vital part of Philadelphia's large industrial base and attracting immigrants from Italy, Ireland, Poland, and many Southern European and Eastern European countries during the 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as Black American migrants from the southern United States during the Great Migration of the early 20th century. The immigrants and migrants became the basis of South Philadelphia's unique and vibrant culture that developed over the next several decades. Struggling to maintain their Catholic identity in a mostly Protestant city, the Irish built a system of Irish Catholic churches and parochial schools for their children, including Catholic high schools. The later immigrant populations of Italians and Poles were also Catholic. At first they attended existing Catholic churches but built their own ethno-national churches when possible. Ethnic Irish controlled the Catholic clergy and hierarchy for decades in Philadelphia and throughout the region, often excluding the more recent Italian population from participating in the church hierarchy. In addition to the influx of Catholic immigrants, many Polish Jews and other Jews from Eastern Europe settled in South Philadelphia during the first half of the 20th Century, especially in the diverse area now known as Queen Village where Jewish immigrants lived among Catholic Polish immigrants, Irish-Americans, and Italian immigrants . Despite the dramatic growth in population, the low funding of education by the city resulted in the first public high school not being formed in South Philadelphia until 1934.[3]

Attracted to the industrial jobs, the new residents created communities that continued many of their traditions. While many of the new arrivals were Catholic, neighborhood parishes reflected their national traditions. Monsignor James F. Connelly, the pastor of the Stella Maris Catholic Church and an editor of the 1976 work The History of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, said in a 2005 Philadelphia Inquirer article that each parish church "offer[s] the immigrants the faith they were familiar with."[4] With the dramatic loss of industrial jobs during mid-20th century restructuring, there were population losses in South Philadelphia as well as other working-class parts of the city, and some neighborhood Catholic schools had to close.

Many of South Philadelphia's communities are largely Italian American. Many communities contain both older and more recent Italian immigrants and Italian speakers, and Italian saint festivals and cultural celebrations, including the South 9th Street Italian Market festival, are popular in the South Philadelphia Italian-American communities. There also continue to be many ethnic Irish Americans and African Americans in South Philadelphia. Both Irish American and African American communities can be found in the neighborhood Grays Ferry, while the nearby neighborhood of Point Breeze is largely African American. The neighborhood of Pennsport remains primarily a working class Irish-American neighborhood. An increase in late 20th-century immigration has given South Philadelphia significant populations from Asia, especially populations from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. In addition, there has been an increase in recent years of immigrants from Russia, Mexico, and Central American nations. Today, many vendors that work alongside Italian-Americans at the Italian Market are of Asian descent and Mexican descent, and Vietnamese, Thai, Mexican, and Central American restaurants are interspersed with historic Italian restaurants in the Market area. The recent revitalization of Center City Philadelphia and the subsequent gentrification of adjacent neighborhoods has led to dramatic rises in prices of housing in the neighborhoods of historic Queen Village, Bella Vista, and some other northern parts of South Philadelphia.

Many of the community clubs that create the annual Mummers Parade every New Year's Day have traditionally been from South Philadelphia, especially those located on the largely Irish American S. 2nd Street ("Two Street") in the PennsportPennsport neighborhood.[5][6][7]

Government and infrastructure

Portions of South Philadelphia are within Philadelphia City Council Districts 1 and 2. As of 2014 Councilman Mark Squilla and Councilman Kenyatta Johnson represent the two districts.[1]

The Philadelphia Fire Department operates nine fire stations serving South Philadelphia.[8] Most of South Philadelphia resides in Fire Battalion 1, headquartered at 711 South Broad Street. Portions of South Philadelphia reside in Battalion 4, headquartered at North 4th Street and Arch Street, and Battalion 11, headquartered at 43rd Street and Market Street.[1]

The Philadelphia Police Department patrols three districts located within South Philadelphia. The three patrol districts serving South Philadelphia are the 1st, 3rd, and 17th districts.[9]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, South Philadelphia has an area of 9.7 sq. miles, of which none is water. South Philadelphia is located at Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found..

Demographics

Row housing in South Philly, 2004

In 2010, the area's population was 168,782. It is home to a diverse population of Italian Americans, Irish Americans, African Americans, and Mexican Americans, as well as growing populations of Cambodian Americans, Indonesian Americans, Vietnamese Americans, Thai Americans, Chinese Americans, and Central Americans. In addition, the area contains smaller but significant Greek American and Jewish American communities. Many residents have lived in the neighborhood for decades. Many family-owned businesses are found in South Philadelphia.[citation needed]

On January 22, 2010 the Associated Press said "South Philadelphia has been growing more diverse for decades, but the last 20 years have seen the greatest influx of Asian and Hispanic families."[10] David Elesh, a Temple University urban sociologist, said that of the almost 60,000 Philadelphia residents who reported being born in China, many lived in South Philadelphia.[10]

As of the 2010 Census, there are 168,782 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 South Philadelphia area comprises the zip codes of 19145, 19146, 19147, and 19148. Data for the zip codes that make up South Philadelphia as of the Census 2000 Summary File:

Racial demographics[11][12]

  • Non-Hispanic White: 87,268 (51.8%)
  • African-American: 43,404 (25.7%)
  • Asian: 20,926 (12.4%)
  • Hispanic or Latino: 12,866 (7.6%)
  • Mixed or Other: 10,531 (6.1%)
  • American Indian: 656 (0.3%)

Italian Americans

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The largest and oldest Italian settlements in Philadelphia are in South Philadelphia.[13] Though rare and small in size, some early Italian settlements appeared in South Philadelphia prior to the 1860s; however, these small settlements generally consisted of skilled workers, merchants, and artists from Genoa and other wealthier areas of Northern Italy.[14] In contrast, the vast majority of Italian immigrants that settled in Philadelphia came from impoverished regions of Southern Italy beginning after the Italian unification in 1861, with most Italian immigration to Philadelphia occurring in the 20th century. Though Italians in Philadelphia emigrated from various Southern Italian regions, most Italians in Philadelphia emigrated from or have origins in three main areas: the previously combined regions of Abruzzo and Molise; the city of Messina in Sicily and the surrounding province; and Salerno and Avellino in Campania. To this day, dialects from those regions mixed with English are spoken in many South Philadelphia households and neighborhoods.

Italians in South Philadelphia experienced widespread discrimination from the larger majority populations of Philadelphia. For example, Italian neighborhoods in South Philadelphia were heavily redlined for decades specifically due to their Italian-American demographics. However, Italian-Americans in South Philadelphia have contributed greatly to the culture of Philadelphia, establishing the Italian Market, creating both the cheesesteak and the hoagie, and introducing roast pork sandwiches, water ice, tomato pie, and pizza to the cuisine of Philadelphia. Over time the Italian community reduced in size, with many members moving to Southern New Jersey.[13] However, the Italian-American population in Philadelphia remains the second largest in the country.

The Italian Market is located in South Philadelphia. In 1852 St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi in South Philadelphia,[13] the first Italian Catholic parish in the United States, was founded by pre-mass immigration Italians.[14] Donna J. Di Giacomo, author of Italians of Philadelphia, wrote that this church "was a hallmark of the neighborhood and touched many a South Philadelphia Italian's and Italian American's life in one way or another for generations."[13]

Irish Americans

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Much of South Philadelphia's Irish population is located is the eastern part of the section. Pennsport, which is also locally referred to as "Two Street", is arguably the most well known Irish neighborhood in South Philadelphia. Pennsport is also home to many of the cities Mummers clubs, where some are known for their Irish American themes. Other Irish neighborhoods include Grays Ferry, Devil's Pocket, and areas of Girard Estate, Southwest Center City, and Whitman.

Philadelphia's large Irish community, however, is more prominent in other sections of the city, most notably Northeast Philadelphia.

Mexican Americans

As of 2000 the largest Mexican community in Philadelphia was in the area bounded by Front Street, 18th Street, Oregon Avenue, and Washington Avenue in South Philadelphia.[15] As of 2011 most Mexicans in South Philadelphia originate from the state of Puebla.[16]

Black Americans

Black Americans have lived in South Philadelphia since the early 19th century at the very least. South Street was originally considered the center of this community. As of 2013, the total Black alone and in combination with another race population totaled 45,482 persons living in zip codes,19145, 19146, 19147, 19148.[17] Marian Anderson, Kenny Gamble, and Chubby Checker to name a few are famous Black South Philadelphians. The Udunde Festival, arguably the largest street festival in Philadelphia, is an African-American celebration that is held annually on South Street (and beyond). South Philly's Black Community served as a the original point of entry for Black people into Philadelphia. The first Black staffed police station and fire station were located on South Street. The Historic Christian Street YMCA is located in South Philadelphia as well. South Philadelphia served as Philadelphia's " Harlem". The Black population in South Philadelphia has historically constituted between 25% and 30% of South Philadelphia's population - 27% Black alone and in combination with another race as of a 2013 population estimate.

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 South Philadelphia 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, 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 (named for Medal of Honor recipient George C. Platt). Broad Street is part of PA Route 611.

SEPTA's Broad Street Line subway services South Philadelphia and provides quick access to Center City and North Philadelphia. A number of SEPTA bus routes also serve South Philadelphia, ferrying commuters to and from Center City and its immediate suburbs, mostly those in Delaware County.

South Philadelphia is served by bike lanes on many streets going in all directions.[18] Snyder Avenue has bike lanes going East and West. Columbus Boulevard has North and South bike lanes. 22nd Street provides Northward lanes for cyclists. Some streets such as 11th Street have both Bike lanes and Sharrows or Shared lane marking.

Crime

In a 2007 Philadelphia Weekly article, the journalist Steve Volk stated that anti-drug activists said that South Philadelphia has secretive recreational drug dealing. More neighborhoods in the region are mixed-income than neighborhoods in some other regions; therefore, many drug dealers hide their activities. As in other parts of the city, drugs have contributed to crime.[19]

The Italian-American Mafia family known as the Philadelphia Crime Family is active in the area, while the African-American Black Mafia and its offshoot, the Junior Black Mafia, have had a presence in the Point Breeze section of South Philadelphia since the late 1960s.

Historical gangs include the Italian Philadelphia poison ring as well as the Lanzetta brothers, a gang of six Italian-American brothers who were drug traffickers and bootleggers. All six brothers were born in the Third Ward of South Philadelphia. South Philadelphia (along with Atlantic City and Little Italy) was a part of their territory, in which they fought with rival bootleggers William Michael "Mickey Duffy" Cusick and Joe Bruno during Prohibition.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

Residents are with the School District of Philadelphia's South District.[1] Zoned public high schools in South Philadelphia include South Philadelphia High School, Audenried High School, and Furness High School.[20][21][22][23]

The Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), a magnet school, is in South Philadelphia.[24]

The Mastery Charter Schools system operates the Thomas School (grades 7-12) in South Philadelphia. It was formerly the district school Thomas Middle School.[25]

Private schools

Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School is in South Philadelphia. It is a merger of the former Saint John Neumann High School and the Saint Maria Goretti High School.[26][27][28] Philadelphia Free School is also located in the area.

Public libraries

Free Library of Philadelphia operates six branches in South Philadelphia: Charles Santore, Fumo Family, Queen Memorial, South Philadelphia, Thomas F. Donatucci, Sr. and Whitman.[29] Prior to its 1999 reopening in a new building, the Fumo Branch was known as the Ritner Children's Branch.[30]

Places of note

Geno's Steaks in South Philadelphia

South Street has long been considered the border between South Philadelphia proper and Center City. It originally ran east and west (although traffic is now routed east one-way). Many bars, nightspots, shops, and restaurants are located along this neon-lit hotspot, with occasional live music venues (including the TLA) along the way.

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 deli market for decades. Also, nearby is the city's open-air Italian Market, specializing in fresh produce, meats, and other foods. It is lined by specialty shops, such as butchers, bakeries and cheese/grocery stores, as well as one for kitchen goods, and new cafes and coffee houses. The area was featured in the film Rocky and its sequels. This is the heart of an annual street festival celebrating the neighborhood's food.

The configuration of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex in early 2004. Clockwise from top right: Citizens Bank Park, Lincoln Financial Field, Wells Fargo Center (formerly the site of John F. Kennedy Stadium), Wachovia Spectrum (razed in 2010–11), and Veterans Stadium (demolished on March 21, 2004). Interstate 95 can be seen running through the bottom-right corner of the photo.

Among the largest landmarks in South Philadelphia is the South Philadelphia Sports Complex at the corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue. Here, the Philadelphia Phillies (professional baseball), Philadelphia Eagles (professional football), Philadelphia 76ers (professional basketball), Philadelphia Flyers (professional ice hockey), Philadelphia Soul (professional arena football), Temple Owls (college football) and the annual Wing Bowl (an event sponsored by the sports talk radio station, WTEL 610) make their home in the massive state-of-the-art sports arenas surrounding the well-known intersection: Citizens Bank Park, Lincoln Financial Field, and the Wells Fargo Center.

The sports complex was once home to Veterans Stadium (The Vet) which stood from 1971 to 2004; John F. Kennedy Stadium, which stood from 1925 to 1992; and the Spectrum, which was in use from 1967 to 2009 and was demolished in 2011. 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 American Swedish Historical Museum is located in Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park. One of Philadelphia's last pre-World War I rowhouse synagogues, Congregation Shivtei Yeshuron-Ezras Israel, remains active in Pennsport.

The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard is located in this section of town along the Delaware River. For decades during the World Wars and after, the shipyard was a major employer, whose craftsmen built new ships and repaired and maintained existing ones. With the decline in the military uses, the area is being redeveloped by the Navy and city for a variety of business and industrial uses.

The Sunoco oil corporation bases its headquarters along South Philadelphia's Passyunk Avenue.

A refurbished area of South Philadelphia alongside Columbus Boulevard/Delaware Avenue (near the Walt Whitman Bridge), Columbus Commons, provides big box shopping and chain restaurants.

Washington Avenue, between 16th St. on the west and Front St. on the east, is home to many Asian businesses, including Vietnamese, Chinese and Korean. Among these are restaurants of all types, two large Asian supermarkets, jewelers and a wide variety of specialty shops.

Passyunk Avenue, running on a diagonal from Broad Street to South Street, is a formerly thriving consumer district currently undergoing revitalization efforts. Within the past few years, several coffeeshops, restaurants and bars have opened which appeal to the younger population beginning to live in the area. In addition, a farmers' market is held on Wednesday nights at one of the squares.

2300 Arena (better known as the ECW Arena) at the corner of Swanson Street and Ritner Street is a venue known for hosting boxing and professional wrestling events.

Famous residents

See also

References

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "The Political and Community Service Boundaries of Philadelphia." City of Philadelphia. Retrieved November 8, 2008.
  2. Where Pennsylvania History Began(by Henry D. Paxon, The Swedish Colonial Society, 1926)
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Woodall, Martha. "Unsteady times for neighborhood Catholic schools; Population changes have meant fewer elementaries and an unexpected merger." Philadelphia Inquirer. March 16, 2005.
  5. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. "Fire Houses." Philadelphia Fire Department. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
  9. PPD Online Patrol Districts, Philadelphia Police Department.
  10. 10.0 10.1 "Bullying against Asian students roils Philadelphia high school." Associated Press at the USA Today. January 22, 2010. Retrieved on January 20, 2013. "South Philadelphia has been growing more diverse for decades, but the last 20 years have seen the greatest influx of Asian and Hispanic families. Many of the city's nearly 60,000 residents who report being born in China live in the neighborhoods, said David Elesh, an urban sociologist at Temple University."
  11. Factfinder at census.gov
  12. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Di Giacomo, p. 11.
  14. 14.0 14.1 Di Giacomo, p. 8.
  15. "Latino Philadelphia at a Glance." (Archive) Historical Society of Pennsylvania. p. 1. Retrieved on January 15, 2014.
  16. "From Puebla to South Philly." Philadelphia Inquirer. October 28, 2011. Retrieved on January 15, 2014.
  17. U S Census Bureau , American Factfinder. census.gov 2009-2013 Population Estimate
  18. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. Volk, Steve. "Top 10 Drug Corners", Philadelphia Weekly, 2 May 2007. Retrieved on January 20, 2009
  20. "A Directory of High Schools for 2009 Admissions." School District of Philadelphia. Retrieved November 6, 2008.
  21. "From the Ashes." South Philly Review. November 1, 2007.
  22. "Academic standards differ in Philadelphia." The Loquitur. May 4, 2006.
  23. "SCHOOL'S FINALLY OUT FOR SUMMER STUDENTS." Philadelphia Inquirer. August 8, 1986. B01.
  24. Snyder, Susan. "It's good to be king - of your high school Guys get their own pageant." Philadelphia Inquirer. March 13, 2005. Retrieved on September 21, 2012.
  25. "Thomas Campus Information." Mastery Charter Schools. Retrieved on September 10, 2012. "927 Johnston Street Philadelphia, PA 19148"
  26. Woodall, Martha. "Neumann graduates its last all-male class." Philadelphia Inquirer. Saturday June 5, 2004. B02.
  27. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. "Branch Map (older version)." Free Library of Philadelphia. Retrieved on November 7, 2008.
  30. "Fumo Family Branch." Free Library of Philadelphia. Retrieved on November 7, 2008.
  31. 31.00 31.01 31.02 31.03 31.04 31.05 31.06 31.07 31.08 31.09 31.10 Broadcast Pioneers. Al Alberts, Broadcast Pioneer". Retrieved 6 November 2008.
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  33. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. 34.0 34.1 DeLuca, Dan. The Philadelphia Inquirer August 2006, "They proclaim to all the land: Philly is cool".
  35. Dawson, Jim Rock Around the Clock: The Record That Started the Rock Revolution, Backbeat Books, 2005.
  36. Rockabilly Hall of Fame. "Danny Cedrone". Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  37. Chubbychecker.com Biography. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  38. 38.00 38.01 38.02 38.03 38.04 38.05 38.06 38.07 38.08 38.09 38.10 38.11 38.12 38.13 38.14 38.15 38.16 38.17 38.18 38.19 38.20 38.21 38.22 38.23 38.24 38.25 38.26 38.27 38.28 38.29 38.30 38.31 38.32 38.33 38.34 38.35 38.36 38.37 38.38 38.39 38.40 38.41 38.42 38.43 38.44 38.45 38.46 38.47 38.48 38.49 38.50 38.51 38.52 38.53 38.54 Dubin, Murray. South Philadelphia: Mummers, Memories, and the Melrose Diner. Temple University Press, 1996. ISBN 1-56639-429-5, ISBN 978-1-56639-429-1
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  40. South Philadelphia High School Alumni Association. "SPHS Hall of Fame". Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  41. Jon's Bar and Grille. "About Larry". Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  42. Porter, Lewis. John Coltrane: His Life and Music, University of Michigan Press, 1999. ISBN 0-472-08643-X, 9780472086436.
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  45. The Museum of Broadcast Communications. "HEMSLEY, SHERMAN". Retrieved 6 November 2008.
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  47. Kane, Larry. Larry Kane's Philadelphia, 2000. Temple University Press, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ISBN 1-56639-806-1.
  48. "MEMOIR: Me and Frank" Philadelphia Weekly, September 2005
  49. Dilulio, John J. Jr. Washington Monthly, July–August, 1993. "Frank Rizzo, The Last Big Man in Big City America pt. 1"
  50. USA Today. 26 September 2005, "Philadelphia rapper Beanie Sigel cleared". Retrieved 6 November 2008.

External links