Wister

Wister

Type	Neighborhood
Location	Northwest Philadelphia / Germantown
ZIP code(s)	19138
Named for	Wister family (historic)
Boundaries	Roughly Wister Street to Chelten Avenue, Germantown Avenue to Wayne Avenue
Adjacent	Germantown, Mount Airy, Ogontz
Major streets	Germantown Avenue, Wister Street, Wayne Avenue
Transit	SEPTA Regional Rail (Wister Station), bus routes
Landmarks	Historic Wister area, near Germantown

Wister is a neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia on the border of Germantown, named for the Wister family who were prominent in colonial Philadelphia. The neighborhood has Regional Rail access and historic character.

History

The Wister family owned significant property in this area during colonial times. The neighborhood developed as part of Germantown's expansion and maintains connections to that community's historic heritage.

Character

Housing

• Mix of rowhouses and singles
• Victorian and early 20th-century homes
• Historic architecture in places
• Variable conditions
• Affordable to moderate prices

Community

• Working-class to middle-class families
• African-American community
• Near Germantown's historic district
• Mix of longtime and newer residents

Transportation

Wister Station provides Regional Rail access:

• Chestnut Hill West Line
• Connection to Center City
• Historic station area

Living in Wister

• Regional Rail access
• Historic character
• Near Germantown amenities
• Affordable housing

Getting There

• SEPTA Regional Rail: Wister Station (Chestnut Hill West Line)
• SEPTA buses: 23, 53
• Germantown Avenue: Main corridor

See Also

• Germantown
• Mount Airy
• Northwest Philadelphia