About Pennsport

Dickinson Square Park is a focal point of the Pennsport neighborhood of South Philadelphia. Below are some cursory statistics, factoids, and snippets of information about the neighborhood*.

Boundaries
Fourth Street to the Delaware River, Snyder to Washington Avenues.

Population
26,300 (combined with the populations of Southwark, Whitman and Queen Village in the 2000 Census).

Demographics
White, 70 percent; black, 17 percent; Asian, 8 percent; Latino, 5 percent. About 40 percent of the population is under the age of 18.

Nomenclature
According to residents, the name "Pennsport" was coined roughly 30 years ago. It came at a time when the federal government was spending money on urban renewal. As boundary lines were drawn, the city named certain communities.

Brief History
Originally developed during the colonial period, Pennsport is architecturally rich. Considered one of the oldest sections of South Philadelphia, the neighborhood has properties with great historical significance. Some homes date back to 1815.

Unbeknownst to many, the newly revitalized Jefferson Square Park, Third and Federal streets, is also an historic landmark. While President Lincoln was more than 100 miles away reciting the famous Gettysburg Address, his wife Mary was giving the very same speech to soldiers camped at this site.

The neighborhood later became the city's manufacturing sector. Since then, the same families have been living there for generations.

The first official Mummers Parade in 1901 brought something unique to the community. String bands joined the gussied-up marchers a year later.

A century later, Mummer mania still grips the area. The main New Year's Parade returned to South Broad Street last year, but the annual "Two Street" march never left.

Famous Residents
Former Republican state Rep. Connie McHugh, an outspoken and beloved community activist, who died in 1997 at age 58; Quaker City Captain Bob Shannon.

Major Landmarks
The Mummers Museum, 1100 S. Second St.; Jefferson Square Park, Third and Federal streets; the former Mt. Sinai Hospital, Fourth and Reed.

Architecture
While the "styles have changed as periods have changed," the dominant façade in the neighborhood is red brick. Colonial and Federal-style homes can be found on certain streets. Formstone finishes, popular in the 1950s and '60s, also remain on many properties.

Median Home Sale Price (2004)
$178,000

State Senate District
First, Larry Farnese (D)

State House District
184th, William Keller (D)

City Council District
First, Frank DiCicco (D)

Ward
First and 39th

Police Districts
Third and Fourth

Civic Groups and Townwatches
Pennsport Civic Association, Pennsport/Whitman Town Watch

Schools
Furness High, Third and Mifflin streets; George Sharswood Elementary, Second and Wolf; Abigail Vare Elementary, Morris Street and Moyamensing Avenue; Sacred Heart of Jesus, 1329 E. Moyamensing Ave.

Recreation Centers
Rizzo Rink, Front Street and Washington Avenue; Sacks Playground, Fourth and Washington.

Highlights of Living There
Racially and economically diverse, this river ward is a model of progress.

"We're an example of a good mix in a solid urban community," says Rene Goodwin, who has lived on the 100 block of Federal Street for more than 40 years.

Starting every October, residents can hear the Mummers practicing underneath I-95 in preparation for the parade. From May to September, residents can enjoy free Mummers concerts at the Mummer's Museum or occasionally in Dickinson Square Park.

Reputation
This ain't your grandma's Two Street. Once mocked as a "shanty town," it's now a coveted up-and-coming neighborhood with expensive new property.

Major Concerns/Issues
Noise and pollution from I-95; pricing residents out of the area with new construction.

The Future
The neighborhood is looking to extend the I-95 sound barriers that stop in Queen Village. The much-desired Jefferson Square housing is raising property values at the northern end of the neighborhood. Younger folks are "catching the Pennsport fever," says Goodwin.

* From “The Place Where You Live: Pennsport”
The South Philly Review, October 7, 2004
by Fred Durso, Jr.
http://www.southphillyreview.com