Olney

Olney

Type	Neighborhood
Location	Northwest Philadelphia
ZIP code(s)	19120, 19141
Named for	Olney, England
Boundaries	Roughly Cheltenham Avenue to Wyoming Avenue, Broad Street to the west
Adjacent	Logan, Fern Rock, East Oak Lane, Feltonville
Major streets	Olney Avenue, North Broad Street, 5th Street
Transit	Broad Street Line (Olney Transportation Center), Bus Routes
Landmarks	Olney Transportation Center, Einstein Medical Center

Olney is a diverse neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia centered on the Olney Transportation Center, a major transit hub on the Broad Street Line. The neighborhood is one of Philadelphia's most ethnically diverse, with significant Korean, Vietnamese, Latino, and African-American populations. Olney Avenue serves as the commercial corridor, featuring international restaurants and shops reflecting the community's diversity.

History

Early Development

Olney developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as Philadelphia expanded northward along the rail lines that would become the Broad Street Line. The neighborhood was named for Olney, England.

Ethnic Transitions

Olney has experienced several demographic transitions:

• Originally Jewish and Irish-American
• African-American community growth (mid-20th century)
• Korean immigration (1970s-1990s)
• Latino and Southeast Asian immigration (1990s-present)

Modern Era

Today, Olney is one of Philadelphia's most diverse neighborhoods:

• Korean businesses along 5th Street
• Vietnamese restaurants
• Latino markets
• African immigrant communities
• Multi-cultural character

Commercial Corridors

Olney Avenue

The main commercial corridor features:

• International restaurants
• Ethnic grocery stores
• Small businesses
• Service providers

North 5th Street

Known as Philadelphia's "Koreatown":

• Korean restaurants
• Korean grocery stores
• Korean businesses
• H Mart (supermarket)

Olney Transportation Center

The Olney Transportation Center is a major transit hub:

• Broad Street Line station
• Major bus terminal
• Thousands of daily passengers
• Commercial activity around station

Character

Architecture

• Rowhouses (predominant)
• Some larger homes
• Commercial buildings along corridors
• Apartment complexes

Community

• Highly diverse
• Immigrant communities
• Multi-generational families
• Strong faith communities

Living in Olney

Housing

• Affordable rowhouses
• Lower prices than Center City
• Mix of owner-occupied and rental

Demographics

• One of Philadelphia's most diverse neighborhoods
• Korean, Vietnamese, Latino, African-American communities
• African immigrants
• Multi-ethnic and multi-lingual

Getting There

Broad Street Line

• Olney Transportation Center*** - Major station

Bus Routes

Numerous routes connect at Olney Transportation Center.

See Also

• Logan
• Fern Rock
• Northwest Philadelphia
• North Broad Street