Kensington

Kensington

Type	Neighborhood
Location	River Wards
ZIP code(s)	19122, 19125, 19133, 19134
Established	1730 (Kensington District)
Named for	Kensington, London
Boundaries	Roughly Lehigh Avenue to Girard Avenue, Delaware River to 5th Street
Adjacent	Fishtown, Port Richmond, Northern Liberties, Fairhill
Major streets	Kensington Avenue, Allegheny Avenue, Front Street
Transit	Market-Frankford Line (multiple stations)
Landmarks	Kensington Avenue, historic industrial buildings

Kensington is a large neighborhood in the River Wards section of Philadelphia, historically one of the city's great industrial centers. The neighborhood's story is one of dramatic transformation—from a thriving manufacturing district employing tens of thousands, to an area devastated by deindustrialization, to a community grappling with one of the nation's most severe opioid crises while parts experience significant redevelopment.

Kensington's complexity defies simple characterization. It contains areas of active development and new investment alongside blocks facing profound challenges. The neighborhood's future remains uncertain but is the subject of intense community organizing, city attention, and private investment.

History

Industrial Heyday

Kensington developed as an industrial powerhouse in the 19th and early 20th centuries:

• Textile manufacturing - One of world's largest textile centers
• Carpet mills - Major carpet production
• Shipbuilding - Along Delaware River
• Metal works - Various manufacturing

At its peak, Kensington employed tens of thousands of workers and was one of the most productive industrial districts in America.

Immigration

Kensington attracted waves of immigrants:

• Irish (mid-1800s)
• German (late 1800s)
• Polish (late 1800s-early 1900s)
• Puerto Rican (mid-1900s)

These communities built churches, organizations, and tight-knit neighborhood identities.

Decline

Deindustrialization devastated Kensington beginning in the 1950s:

• Textile mills closed or relocated
• Jobs disappeared
• Population declined
• Poverty increased

The neighborhood lost much of its economic base over several decades.

Opioid Crisis

Kensington has become a national symbol of the opioid epidemic. The intersection of Kensington and Allegheny avenues and surrounding blocks became an open-air drug market drawing people from across the region.

The crisis has:

• Caused hundreds of overdose deaths annually
• Created encampments of unhoused people
• Strained neighborhood resources
• Prompted city intervention efforts

Neighborhoods Within Kensington

The broader Kensington area contains distinct sub-neighborhoods:

Fishtown (Adjacent)

Technically separate, Fishtown is sometimes grouped with Kensington but has gentrified significantly.

East Kensington

Transitional area between Fishtown and Kensington proper, experiencing significant new development.

West Kensington

Area west of Kensington Avenue with strong Puerto Rican community.

Norris Square

Centered on Norris Square Park, a center of Puerto Rican cultural activities.

Community and Culture

Resilience

Kensington communities have shown remarkable resilience:

• Strong neighborhood associations
• Community development corporations
• Urban farms and gardens
• Arts organizations
• Mutual aid networks

Puerto Rican Heritage

Western Kensington has a significant Puerto Rican community:

• Cultural organizations
• Latino-owned businesses
• Spanish-language institutions
• Community festivals

Arts

• Mural Arts projects
• Artist collectives
• Community galleries

Redevelopment

Parts of Kensington are experiencing significant investment:

East Kensington

• New apartment construction
• Restaurant and bar openings
• Rising property values

Industrial Conversions

Former factories converted to:

• Artists' studios
• Loft apartments
• Commercial space

Concerns

Development raises concerns about:

• Displacement of long-term residents
• Gentrification pressures
• Loss of affordable housing
• Community character changes

Getting There

Market-Frankford Line

The "El" runs through Kensington:

• Berks Station
• York-Dauphin Station
• Huntingdon Station
• Somerset Station
• Allegheny Station

Bus Routes

Multiple SEPTA bus routes serve the neighborhood.

See Also

• Fishtown
• Port Richmond
• Northern Liberties
• East Kensington
• Fairhill