Pennsport

Boundaries: Fourth Street to the Delaware River, Snyder to Washington avenues

Population: 26,300 (combined with the populations of Southwark, Whitman and Queen Village in the 2000 Census)

Demographics: White, 70 percent; black, 17 percent; Asian, 8 percent; Latino, 5 percent. About 40 percent of the population is under 18.

Origin of name: According to residents, the name "Pennsport" was coined roughly 30 years ago. It came at a time when the federal government was spending money on urban renewal. As boundary lines were drawn, the city named certain communities.

Brief history: Originally developed during the colonial period, Pennsport is architecturally rich. Considered one of the oldest sections of South Philadelphia, the neighborhood has properties with great historical significance. Some homes date back to 1815.

Unbeknownst to many, the newly revitalized Jefferson Square Park, Third and Federal streets, is also an historic landmark. While President Lincoln was more than 100 miles away reciting the famous Gettysburg Address, his wife Mary was giving the very same speech to soldiers camped at this site.

The neighborhood later became the city's manufacturing sector. Since then, the same families have been living there for generations.

The first official Mummers Parade in 1901 brought something unique to the community. String bands joined the gussied-up marchers a year later.

A century later, Mummer mania still grips the area. The main New Year's Parade returned to South Broad Street last year, but the annual "Two Street" march never left.

Famous residents: Former Republican state Rep. Connie McHugh, an outspoken and beloved community activist, who died in 1997 at age 58; Quaker City Captain Bob Shannon

Major landmarks: The Mummers Museum, 1100 S. Second St.; Jefferson Square Park, Third and Federal streets; the former Mt. Sinai Hospital, Fourth and Reed

Architecture: While the "styles have changed as periods have changed," the dominant façade in the neighborhood is red brick. Colonial and Federal-style homes can be found on certain streets. Formstone finishes, popular in the 1950s and '60s, also remain on many properties.

Civic groups and townwatches: Pennsport Civic Association, Pennsport/Whitman Town Watch

Schools: Furness High, Third and Mifflin streets; George Sharswood Elementary, Second and Wolf; Abigail Vare Elementary, Morris Street and Moyamensing Avenue; Sacred Heart of Jesus, 1329 E. Moyamensing Ave.

Rec centers: Rizzo Rink, Front Street and Washington Avenue; Sacks Playground, Fourth and Washington

Highlights of living there: Racially and economically diverse, this river ward is a model of progress.

"We're an example of a good mix in a solid urban community," says Rene Goodwin, who has lived on the 100 block of Federal Street for more than 40 years.

Starting every October, residents can hear the Mummers practicing underneath I-95 in preparation for the parade. From May to September, residents can enjoy a free Mummers concert at the museum.

Reputation: This ain't your grandma's Two Street. Once mocked as a "shanty town," it's now a coveted up-and-coming neighborhood with expensive new property.

Major concerns/issues: Noise and pollution from I-95; pricing residents out of the area with new construction

The future: The neighborhood is looking to extend the I-95 sound barriers that stop in Queen Village. The much-desired Jefferson Square housing is raising property values at the northern end of the neighborhood. Younger folks are "catching the Pennsport fever," says Goodwin.

 

Provided by Southphillyreview.com and Pennsport Civic Association

 

View price index and find out how much homes are worth in this area.

 

 

Zip codes  [where: 19147]