Northeast Philadelphia

Northeast Philadelphia

Type	Region
Location	Philadelphia
ZIP code(s)	19111, 19114, 19115, 19116, 19124, 19135, 19136, 19149, 19152, 19154
Boundaries	North: Bucks County line, South: Kensington/River Wards, East: Delaware River, West: Cheltenham Township
Major streets	Roosevelt Boulevard, Bustleton Avenue, Frankford Avenue, Cottman Avenue
Transit	Market-Frankford Line (Frankford Transportation Center), SEPTA bus routes
Landmarks	Roosevelt Boulevard, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Pennypack Park

Northeast Philadelphia (commonly called "the Northeast") is the largest region of Philadelphia by area, occupying the northeastern section of the city. The Northeast is characterized by its suburban-style development, predominantly post-World War II housing, and car-oriented street patterns—distinct from the dense rowhouse neighborhoods of South Philadelphia or Center City. The region is home to approximately 400,000 residents and includes diverse neighborhoods ranging from the Near Northeast's rowhouse blocks to the Far Northeast's single-family homes.

Geography

Northeast Philadelphia is typically divided into:

Near Northeast

The section closest to Center City, including:

• Frankford
• Juniata Park
• Mayfair
• Holmesburg
• Tacony

The Near Northeast has older housing stock, including rowhouses, and is served by the Market-Frankford Line.

Far Northeast

The outer section, developed primarily after World War II:

• Bustleton
• Fox Chase
• Somerton
• Rhawnhurst
• Pennypack
• Torresdale

The Far Northeast has more single-family homes, car-dependent development, and limited transit.

Roosevelt Boulevard

Roosevelt Boulevard (U.S. Route 1) is the major north-south arterial through Northeast Philadelphia:

• 12-lane divided highway
• Major commercial corridor
• Notorious for traffic and pedestrian safety concerns
• Connects Center City to Bucks County

The Boulevard defines much of Northeast Philadelphia's character and has been the focus of safety improvement efforts.

Character

Housing

Unlike other Philadelphia regions:

• Single-family homes common (especially Far Northeast)
• Semi-detached homes ("twins")
• Some rowhouses (Near Northeast)
• Suburban-style developments
• Larger lots than Center City

Demographics

Northeast Philadelphia is diverse:

• Historically white, Irish, and Jewish
• Growing Asian-American population
• Latino communities
• African-American neighborhoods
• Russian and Ukrainian immigrants
• Changing demographics

Commercial

• Strip mall development
• Big-box retail
• Auto-oriented shopping
• Some traditional commercial corridors (Frankford Avenue, Bustleton Avenue)

Parks

Pennypack Park

Pennypack Park is the major green space:

• Linear park along Pennypack Creek
• Trails for hiking and biking
• Historic sites
• Nature areas

Other Parks

• Burholme Park
• Fox Chase Farm
• Benjamin Rush State Park

Institutions

Healthcare

• Fox Chase Cancer Center*** - Major cancer research hospital
• Nazareth Hospital
• Aria Health facilities

Education

• Numerous public schools
• Archbishop Ryan High School
• Holy Family University

Getting There

Public Transit

Transit service is limited compared to other regions:

• Market-Frankford Line:*** Terminates at Frankford Transportation Center
• SEPTA Bus Routes:*** Many routes, but long travel times
• Regional Rail:*** Fox Chase Line (limited service)

Driving

Most Northeast Philadelphia is car-dependent:

• Roosevelt Boulevard (US-1)
• I-95 (along Delaware River)
• Bustleton Avenue
• Cottman Avenue

Neighborhoods

Near Northeast

• Frankford - Historic terminus of the El
• Juniata Park - Rowhouse neighborhood
• Mayfair - Residential neighborhood
• Holmesburg - Site of former prison
• Tacony - Along Delaware River

Far Northeast

• Bustleton - Commercial corridor neighborhood
• Fox Chase - Near cancer center
• Somerton - Outer neighborhood
• Rhawnhurst - Residential area
• Torresdale - Along Delaware River

See Also

• Frankford
• Roosevelt Boulevard
• Pennypack Park
• SEPTA