Editing Lenape Trails (section)

== Ridge Avenue ==

Ridge Avenue, one of Philadelphia's oldest and longest streets, follows the route of an ancient Lenape trail that ran along the ridge separating the Delaware and Schuylkill watersheds. This trail, known to early colonists as the "Ridge Road," connected the Delaware River near the falls at present-day [[Fairmount]] to the northwest, eventually reaching the Schuylkill River and continuing toward the interior. The ridge itself was a natural travel corridor, offering dry ground above the floodplains and marshes that characterized much of the lowland terrain. Travelers along this route would have had commanding views of the surrounding landscape while avoiding the difficult terrain of the river valleys.<ref name="wallace"/>

The Ridge Road became an important colonial thoroughfare almost immediately after European settlement, as colonists recognized its value for travel and commerce. By the early 18th century, it was a well-established road connecting Philadelphia to Germantown, Norristown, and the agricultural regions of the Schuylkill Valley. Today, Ridge Avenue remains a major artery through Northwest Philadelphia, passing through neighborhoods including [[Fairmount]], [[Brewerytown]], [[Strawberry Mansion]], and [[Roxborough]]. The street's diagonal route across the city's grid pattern reflects its pre-colonial origin, cutting across the regular street blocks that William Penn's surveyors imposed on the landscape.<ref name="weigley"/>