Kingsessing
Kingsessing
| Type | Neighborhood |
|---|---|
| Location | Southwest Philadelphia |
| ZIP code(s) | 19142, 19143 |
| Named for | Kingsessing township (historic) |
| Boundaries | Roughly 49th Street to 67th Street, Woodland Avenue to Cobbs Creek |
| Adjacent | Cobbs Creek, Elmwood, Cedar Park |
| Major streets | Woodland Avenue, Chester Avenue, 58th Street |
| Transit | SEPTA trolleys (36), bus routes |
| Landmarks | Bartram's Garden (nearby), historic housing |
Kingsessing is one of the oldest named areas in Philadelphia, originally a township predating the city's 1854 consolidation. Located in Southwest Philadelphia, the neighborhood has historic significance and provides affordable housing options.
History
[edit | edit source]Colonial Origins
[edit | edit source]Kingsessing was one of the original Swedish settlements in the region:
- Swedish colonists in the 17th century
- Name may derive from Swedish "Kingsholmen" or a Lenape word
- Kingsessing township until 1854 consolidation
- Historic farms and estates
Bartram's Garden
[edit | edit source]Near Kingsessing lies Bartram's Garden:
- America's oldest botanical garden (founded 1728)
- John Bartram's historic home and garden
- National Historic Landmark
- Public park and garden today
Character
[edit | edit source]Housing
[edit | edit source]- Mix of housing types
- Rowhouses and twins
- Some older homes
- Affordable prices
- Varied conditions
Community
[edit | edit source]- Working-class families
- African-American community
- Longtime residents
- Community organizations
Living in Kingsessing
[edit | edit source]- Affordable housing
- Historic neighborhood
- Near Bartram's Garden
- Transit accessible
Getting There
[edit | edit source]- SEPTA trolley: Route 36
- SEPTA buses: 52
- Near: Woodland Avenue corridor
See Also
[edit | edit source]- Cobbs Creek
- Elmwood
- Southwest Philadelphia
- Bartram's Garden