Tacony

Type	Neighborhood
Location	Northeast Philadelphia
ZIP code(s)	19135
Named for	Lenape word (meaning varies by interpretation)
Boundaries	Roughly Cottman Avenue to Pennypack Creek, Delaware River to Frankford Avenue
Adjacent	Holmesburg, Mayfair, Bridesburg
Major streets	Torresdale Avenue, Cottman Avenue, State Road
Transit	SEPTA Regional Rail (Tacony Station), bus routes
Landmarks	Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, Disston Saw Works site

Tacony is a neighborhood in Northeast Philadelphia along the Delaware River, historically significant as an industrial company town built around the Disston Saw Works. The neighborhood retains its working-class character and offers riverfront access via the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge to New Jersey.

History

Disston Saw Works

Tacony's identity was shaped by Henry Disston, who established his saw manufacturing company here in 1872:

Built company town for workers
Housing, stores, and facilities for employees
One of the world's largest saw manufacturers
Factory closed 1955
Site now Tacony industrial park

Company Town Legacy

Workers' rowhouses still standing
Grid street pattern from company planning
Historic architecture from industrial era
Strong neighborhood identity

Tacony-Palmyra Bridge

The Tacony-Palmyra Bridge connects Philadelphia to New Jersey:

Opened 1929
Toll bridge to Palmyra, NJ
Alternative to Betsy Ross Bridge
Delaware River crossing

Character

Housing

Brick rowhouses (many from Disston era)
Working-class homes
Well-maintained properties
Affordable prices

Community

Working-class families
Strong neighborhood identity
Longtime residents
Pride in industrial heritage

Commercial Area

Torresdale Avenue

Traditional commercial strip
Local businesses and services
Historic storefronts
Neighborhood character

Living in Tacony

Affordable rowhouses
Historic character
Delaware River access
Regional Rail service
Bridge to New Jersey

Getting There

SEPTA Regional Rail: Tacony Station (Trenton Line)
SEPTA buses: 58, 84
Tacony-Palmyra Bridge: To New Jersey