Editing Lenape Place Names (section)

== Major Place Names ==

=== Manayunk ===

[[Manayunk]], the neighborhood along the Schuylkill River in Northwest Philadelphia, takes its name from the Lenape word ''ménëyunk'', meaning "where we go to drink" or "place of drinking." This name referred to the Schuylkill River itself, which served as a vital water source for Lenape communities. The name reflects the river's importance as a gathering place and resource. When the area was developed as an industrial mill town in the 19th century, the indigenous name was retained, and it continues to identify one of Philadelphia's most distinctive neighborhoods. Today, Manayunk is known for its steep hills, Main Street shopping district, and proximity to the Schuylkill River Trail.<ref name="bright">{{cite book |last=Bright |first=William |title=Native American Placenames of the United States |year=2004 |publisher=University of Oklahoma Press |location=Norman, OK}}</ref>

=== Wissahickon ===

The [[Wissahickon Valley Park|Wissahickon]], both the creek and the valley through which it flows, derives from the Lenape word ''wísahickon'', generally translated as "catfish creek" or "creek of catfish." The name describes the abundance of catfish that once populated the stream, which served as an important food source for indigenous communities. The Wissahickon Creek runs through a dramatic gorge in Northwest Philadelphia before joining the Schuylkill River near [[Manayunk]]. The valley surrounding the creek was preserved as a park in the late 19th century and remains one of the most significant natural areas within Philadelphia's boundaries, attracting hikers, bikers, and nature enthusiasts throughout the year.<ref name="donehoo"/>

=== Passyunk ===

Passyunk, the name attached to [[Passyunk Square]] and the famous Passyunk Avenue in South Philadelphia, likely derives from a Lenape word meaning "in the valley" or "the place in the lowland." The term described the geographic character of the area, which sits lower than surrounding terrain. Passyunk Avenue, one of Philadelphia's oldest roads, follows the path of an ancient [[Lenape Trails|Lenape trail]] that connected the Delaware River to the interior. The street's diagonal route across South Philadelphia's grid makes it one of the city's most distinctive thoroughfares, home to the famous cheesesteak rivals [[Pat's King of Steaks]] and [[Geno's Steaks]] as well as a vibrant dining corridor along East Passyunk Avenue.<ref name="weigley">{{cite book |last=Weigley |first=Russell F. |title=Philadelphia: A 300-Year History |year=1982 |publisher=W.W. Norton |location=New York}}</ref>

=== Schuylkill ===

The Schuylkill River, Philadelphia's secondary waterway, presents a more complex etymological case. The name as spelled is Dutch, meaning "hidden river" or "hidden creek," applied by Dutch explorers who initially missed the river's mouth when sailing up the Delaware. However, some scholars believe the Dutch name may have incorporated or translated an existing Lenape term. The Lenape called the river ''Ganshowahanna'' or similar variants, meaning "falling water" or "roaring waters," likely referring to the falls that once existed near present-day [[Fairmount]]. Whether the current name preserves Lenape elements or not, the river itself was central to Lenape life in the region, providing fish, transportation routes, and access to the rich hunting grounds of the interior.<ref name="kraft">{{cite book |last=Kraft |first=Herbert C. |title=The Lenape-Delaware Indian Heritage: 10,000 BC to AD 2000 |year=2001 |publisher=Lenape Books |location=Elizabeth, NJ}}</ref>