Editing Fishtown (section)

== History ==

=== Origins ===

Fishtown takes its name from the shad fishing industry that defined the area in the 18th and 19th centuries. Fishermen operated along the Delaware River, and fish processing became a major industry. The neighborhood was originally part of the Kensington District, which was incorporated into Philadelphia in 1854.

=== Industrial Era ===

By the late 19th century, Fishtown had evolved from fishing into broader industrial activity. Factories, warehouses, and working-class rowhouses defined the neighborhood. The population was largely immigrant—Irish, Polish, and German families established deep community roots.

=== Decline and Transformation ===

Like many industrial neighborhoods, Fishtown declined in the mid-20th century as manufacturing left Philadelphia. However, affordable housing and proximity to Center City attracted artists and young people beginning in the 1990s.

The transformation accelerated in the 2000s and 2010s. Restaurants, bars, and creative businesses opened along Frankford Avenue. Property values rose significantly, bringing both opportunity and displacement concerns.