Editing Rittenhouse Square (section)

=== William Penn's Original Plan ===

William Penn designed Philadelphia in 1682 with five public squares intended as open spaces for the health and recreation of residents. Penn believed these green spaces were essential to creating a "greene countrie towne" that would provide relief from the crowded, disease-prone conditions of European cities. The five squares were arranged in a cruciform pattern:

* '''Centre Square''' - Now the site of [[Philadelphia City Hall]]
* '''Northeast Square''' - Now Franklin Square
* '''Southeast Square''' - Now Washington Square
* '''Northwest Square''' - Now Logan Square
* '''Southwest Square''' - Now Rittenhouse Square

For its first 142 years, the park was known simply as Southwest Square. The area remained largely undeveloped until the mid-19th century, when wealthy Philadelphians began building grand townhouses around the square.