Center City, Philadelphia

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Use American English|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Center City | official_name = | native_name = | native_name_lang =  | settlement_type = [[List of Philadelphia neighborhoods|Neighborhood]] and [[central business district]] | image_skyline = Philadelphia skyline 20240528 (cropped).jpg | image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = The [[Schuylkill River]] (foreground) and Center City Philadelphia (background) in 2024 | image_flag = | flag_alt = | image_seal = | seal_alt = | image_shield = | shield_alt = | nickname = | motto = | image_map = CCPhilaDistrict.PNG | map_alt = | map_caption = Center City within Philadelphia | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = | coordinates = {{Coord|39.952|-75.164|region:US-PA_type:city_scale:10000|display=title,inline}} | coor_pinpoint = | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}} | subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]] | subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Pennsylvania}} | subdivision_type2 = [[City]] | subdivision_name2 = {{flag|Philadelphia}} | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | seat_type = | seat = | government_footnotes = | leader_party = | leader_title = | leader_name = | unit_pref = US | area_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |title=2018 State of Center City Philadelphia |url=https://centercityphila.org/uploads/attachments/cjg41pk8s01e4nrqdi1dso6qx-socc-2018-final-web.pdf |website=2018 State of Center City Philadelphia |publisher=centercityphila.org |access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref> | area_total_sq_mi = 2.16 | area_land_sq_mi = | area_water_sq_mi = | area_water_percent = | area_note = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_ft = | population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |title=2022 State of Center City Philadelphia |url=https://centercityphila.org/uploads/attachments/cl2s3w8150887y1qdut72k9o3-socc-2022-web-downtown-living.pdf |website=2018 State of Center City Philadelphia |publisher=centercityphila.org |access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref> | population_total = 69433 | population_as_of = 2020 | population_density_sq_mi = 32151 | population_demonym = | population_note = | timezone1 = | utc_offset1 = | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST = | postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]]s | postal_code = 19102, 19103, 19106–19107, 19109, 19146–19147 | area_code_type = | area_code = | iso_code = | website =  | footnotes = }}

'''Center City''' includes the [[central business district]] and central neighborhoods of [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania, United States. It comprises the area that made up the City of Philadelphia prior to the [[Act of Consolidation, 1854]], which extended the city borders to be coterminous with [[Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia County]].

==Geography== ===Boundaries=== {{multiple image | align = right | direction = horizontal | header = [[Schuylkill Expressway]] near Center City | header_align = center | header_background = | footer = Views of the [[Schuylkill Expressway]] near Center City in 2022 | footer_align = left/right/center | footer_background = | width = | image1 = 2022-10-09 13 33 59 View east along Interstate 76 and U.S. Route 30 (Schuylkill Expressway) from the overpass for Spring Garden Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.jpg | width1 = 200 | caption1 = Eastbound | image2 = 2022-10-09 14 46 51 View west along Interstate 76 (Schuylkill Expressway) from the overpass for the rail line just east of South Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.jpg | width2 = 200 | caption2 = Westbound }} Center City is bounded by [[South Street (Philadelphia)|South Street]] to the south, the [[Delaware River]] to the east, the [[Schuylkill River]] to the west, and Vine Street to the north.<ref>[http://www.centercityphila.org/docs/SOCC2015.pdf "The State of Center City 2015, page 4"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912083616/http://www.centercityphila.org/docs/SOCC2015.pdf |date=September 12, 2015 }}</ref> The district occupies the old boundaries of the City of Philadelphia before [[Act of Consolidation, 1854|the city was made coterminous]] with Philadelphia County in 1854. The Center City District, which has special powers of taxation,<ref>[http://www.centercityphila.org/docs/SOCC-2008-LR.pdf "The State of Center City 2008"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905181740/http://www.centercityphila.org/docs/SOCC-2008-LR.pdf |date=September 5, 2008 }}, The Center City District and the Central Philadelphia Development Corporation, May 2008.</ref> has a complicated, irregularly shaped boundary that includes much but not all of this area and also extends beyond it.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.centercityphila.org/ccdmap/ | title = Center City District Boundary Map | access-date = 2010-08-27 | work = Center City District web site | publisher = Center City District | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100830001115/http://www.centercityphila.org/ccdmap/ | archive-date = 2010-08-30 | url-status = dead }}</ref> The [[Philadelphia Police Department]] patrols four districts located within Center City – the 6th, 9th, 3rd, and 17th districts.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20041212112048/http://www.ppdonline.org/ops/ops_districts.php PPD Online Patrol Districts]}}, [[Philadelphia Police Department]].</ref>

Among Center City's neighborhoods and districts are [[Penn's Landing]], [[Old City, Philadelphia|Old City]], [[Society Hill]], [[South Street (Philadelphia)|South Street]], [[Washington Square West, Philadelphia|Washington Square West]], [[Market Street (Philadelphia)|Market East]], [[Chinatown, Philadelphia|Chinatown]], [[Logan Square, Philadelphia|Logan Square]], the [[Museum District, Philadelphia|Museum District]] (located along the [[Benjamin Franklin Parkway]]), [[Rittenhouse Square]], [[Fitler Square]], the [[Avenue of the Arts (Philadelphia)|Avenue of the Arts]] (South Broad Street), and [[Jewelers' Row, Philadelphia|Jewelers' Row]].

Center City is home to most of Philadelphia's tallest buildings, including [[Philadelphia City Hall|Philadelphia's City Hall]], the second-tallest [[masonry]] building in the world and, until 1987, the tallest in Philadelphia, as well as the [[History of the world's tallest buildings|tallest building in the world]] for fourteen years (1894–1908). In March 1987, [[One Liberty Place]] broke the [[gentlemen's agreement]] not to exceed the height of the [[William Penn (Calder)|statue of William Penn]] atop City Hall. Upon the completion of One Liberty Place, no Philadelphia major-league sports team won a world championship for the next two decades, a phenomenon known as the "[[Curse of Billy Penn]]". In an effort to reverse the curse, a three-foot statue of Penn was affixed to the top of the [[Comcast Center (Philadelphia)|Comcast Center]] upon its completion as the city's new tallest building in 2007. On October 29, 2008, the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] won the [[2008 World Series]], ending the "[[Curse of Billy Penn|curse]]".

Seven other [[skyscraper]]s now exceed the height of Penn's statue, including One Liberty Place's little sister, [[Two Liberty Place]]. The Comcast Center, which was completed in 2007, became the [[List of tallest buildings in Pennsylvania|tallest building in Pennsylvania]], 30 feet taller than One Liberty Place. In 2018, the [[Comcast Technology Center]] opened, which is now the tallest building in Philadelphia and the tallest building in the United States outside of [[Manhattan]] and Chicago. 1441 Chestnut, which is currently under construction, is also slated to be taller than City Hall. The first publicly accessible vantage point higher than City Hall opened at [[One Liberty Observation Deck]] on the 57th floor of One Liberty Place in 2015.

Other Center City skyscrapers include the [[BNY Mellon Center (Philadelphia)|BNY Mellon Center]] and the [[Three Logan Square]], which houses a traffic camera used by the Philadelphia branch of the [[Westwood One (1976–2011)|Westwood One]] MetroNetworks traffic service.

Across the street from City Hall is the [[Masonic Temple (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)|Masonic Temple]], the headquarters of the [[Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania]], a legacy of the [[Founding Fathers of the United States|Founding Fathers]] and signers of the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]], many of whom were [[freemasonry|Freemasons]]; these include [[George Washington]] and [[Benjamin Franklin]]. While Philadelphia's population declined between 1990 and 2000, Center City's population increased by 10% over that same period.

In 2007, the city designated the area bound by 11th Street, Broad Street, Chestnut Street and Pine Street as the [[Washington Square West, Philadelphia#The Gayborhood|Gayborhood]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20070419_New_signs_make_it_official__We_have_a_gayborhood.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070430074123/http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20070419_New_signs_make_it_official__We_have_a_gayborhood.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 April 2007|title=New signs make it official: We have a 'gayborhood' - Daily News - 04/19/2007|date=30 April 2007}}</ref>

=== Neighborhoods === * [[Callowhill, Philadelphia|Callowhill]] * [[Chinatown, Philadelphia|Chinatown]] * [[Fitler Square, Philadelphia|Fitler Square]] * [[Washington Square West, Philadelphia#The Gayborhood|Gayborhood]] * [[French Quarter, Philadelphia|French Quarter]] * [[Logan Square, Philadelphia|Logan Square]] * [[Center City East, Philadelphia|Market East]] * [[Old City, Philadelphia|Old City]] * [[Penn Center, Philadelphia|Penn Center]] * [[Penn's Landing]] * [[Rittenhouse Square]] * [[Society Hill]] * [[Washington Square West, Philadelphia|Washington Square West]]

==Economy== [[File:Comcast Philly.JPG|thumb|The 58-story [[Comcast Center]] in Center City, the second-tallest building in [[Philadelphia]] and 23rd-tallest building in the nation]] [[File:Bassett's Ice Cream at Reading Terminal.JPG|thumb|[[Reading Terminal Market]] in Center City in January 2011]]

[[Sunoco]] has its headquarters in the [[BNY Mellon Center (Philadelphia)|BNY Mellon Center]].<ref>"[http://www.sunocoinc.com/Site/ContactSunoco/ Contact Sunoco] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925001618/http://www.sunocoinc.com/site/contactsunoco |date=2009-09-25 }}." [[Sunoco]]. Retrieved on August 24, 2009.</ref> [[Cigna]] has its corporate headquarters in [[Liberty Place|2 Liberty Place]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cigna.com/about_us/directions.html |title=Directions to CIGNA Corporate Offices |website=[[Cigna]] |access-date=August 24, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209044355/http://www.cigna.com/about_us/directions.html |archive-date= Feb 9, 2010 }}</ref> [[Aramark]] is headquartered in Center City on the east bank of the Schuylkill River on Market Street.<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.aramark.com/Contact.aspx |title=Contact Us |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150515022441/http://www.aramark.com/contact.aspx |archive-date=May 15, 2015 |website=[[Aramark]] |access-date=August 24, 2009}}</ref> [[Comcast]] is headquartered in the [[Comcast Center (Philadelphia)|Comcast Center]].<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.comcast.com/2008annualreview/shareholder_info.html |work=Comcast 2008 Annual Review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091126121520/http://www.comcast.com/2008annualreview/shareholder_info.html |archive-date=November 26, 2009 |publisher=[[Comcast]] |access-date=August 24, 2009 |title=Shareholder Information }}</ref> The law firm [[Cozen O'Connor]] has its headquarters in Center City.<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.cozen.com/office_detail.asp?d=1&ofid=21 |title=Offices: Philadelphia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091107223504/http://www.cozen.com/office_detail.asp?d=1&ofid=21 |archive-date=2009-11-07 |website=[[Cozen O'Connor]] |access-date=November 11, 2009}}</ref> [[Kogan Page]] has its U.S. headquarters in Center City.<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.koganpageusa.com/pages/ContactUs.aspx?tab=about |title=Contact |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606095710/http://www.koganpageusa.com/pages/ContactUs.aspx?tab=about |archive-date=2011-06-06 |website=[[Kogan Page|Kogan Page USA]] |access-date=5 July 2011 |quote=Kogan Page Publishers 1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100 Philadelphia, PA 19102}}</ref>

[[Lincoln National Corporation]] moved its headquarters from [[Fort Wayne, Indiana]] to Philadelphia in 1999.<ref name="DelInv">Blumenthal, Jeff. "[http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2009/08/17/daily18.html Lincoln sells Delaware Investments]". ''[[Philadelphia Business Journal]]''. August 19, 2009. Modified August 20, 2009. Retrieved on August 24, 2009.</ref> In Philadelphia Lincoln was headquartered in the West Tower of [[Centre Square (Building)|Centre Square]] in Center City.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20000622021431/http://www.lfg.com/f_contct.htm Contact Us]". [[Lincoln National Corporation]]. Retrieved on August 24, 2009.</ref> In 2007, the company moved 400 employees, including its top executives, to [[Radnor Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania|Radnor Township]] from [[Philadelphia]].<ref name="DelInv"/>

==Government and infrastructure== {{See also|Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia|James A. Byrne United States Courthouse|Philadelphia City Hall}}

===Buildings=== Center City is home to some of the largest and most prominent buildings in the United States, including:

*[[1818 Market Street]] *[[Centre Square (building)|Centre Square]] *[[Comcast Center]], the 23rd tallest skyscraper in the nation *[[Liberty Place]] *[[Philadelphia City Hall]], the world's largest free-standing masonry building *[[Three Logan Square]]

===Infrastructure=== [[File:US Custom House.JPG|thumb|[[United States Custom House (Philadelphia)|The U.S. Custom House]] in [[Old City, Philadelphia|Old City]] in July 2014]]

The [[Philadelphia Fire Department]] operates five fire stations in Center City:

*'''Engine 1, Ladder 5, Medic 35, Battalion 1''' - 711 S. Broad St. *'''Snorkel 2, Medic 44B, Battalion 4, Field Comm. Unit 1''' - 101 N. 4th St. *'''Engine 11, Medic 21''' - 601 South St. *'''Pipeline 20, Ladder 23, Medic 1''' - 133 N. 10th St. *'''Squirt 43, Ladder 9, Medic 7''' - 2108 Market St.

The [[Federal Bureau of Prisons]] Northeast Region Office is in the U.S. Custom House, a part of the [[Independence National Historical Park]], in [[Old City, Philadelphia|Old City]], Center City.<ref>"[http://www.bop.gov/locations/regional_offices/nero/ Northeast Regional Office]". [[Federal Bureau of Prisons]]. Retrieved on June 9, 2015. "U.S. Custom House, 7th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19106"</ref>

The William J. Green Jr. Federal Building houses the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] Philadelphia [[List of FBI field offices|Field Office]].<ref>"[https://www.fbi.gov/philadelphia Philadelphia]". [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]]. Retrieved on June 9, 2015. "William J. Green, Jr. Building 600 Arch Street, 8th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19106"</ref>

===Diplomatic offices and consulates=== The [[List of diplomatic missions of Italy|Consulate-General of Italy in Philadelphia]] is located in the 1026 Public Ledger Building at 150 South Independence Mall West.<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.consfiladelfia.esteri.it/Consolato_Filadelfia |trans-title=Welcome to the web site of the Consulate General of Italy in Philadelphia |title=Benvenuti sul sito web del Consolato Generale d'Italia a Filadelfia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116110224/http://www.consfiladelfia.esteri.it/Consolato_Filadelfia |archive-date=January 16, 2014 |website=[[Diplomatic missions of Italy|Consulate-General of Italy in Philadelphia]] |access-date=February 1, 2009}}</ref> The [[List of diplomatic missions of Panama|Consulate-General of Panama in Philadelphia]] is located in Suite 1 at 124 Chestnut Street.<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.embassyofpanama.org/cms/consulates3.php |title=Panamanian Consulates in the U.S. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122041407/http://embassyofpanama.org/cms/consulates3.php |archive-date=2009-01-22 |website=[[Diplomatic missions of Panama|Embassy of Panama in Washington D.C.]] |access-date=February 2, 2009}}</ref> The [[List of diplomatic missions of Mexico|Consulate of Mexico in Philadelphia]] is located in Suite 310 of the [[Philadelphia Bourse|Bourse Building]] off of Independence Mall.<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://portal.sre.gob.mx/filadelfia/index.php?option=contact&Itemid=6 |title=Contactenos |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302190132/http://portal.sre.gob.mx/filadelfia/index.php?option=contact&Itemid=6 |archive-date=2009-03-02 |website=[[Diplomatic missions of Mexico|Consulate of Mexico in Philadelphia]] |access-date=February 1, 2009}}</ref>

The [[List of diplomatic missions of the Dominican Republic|Consulate-General of the Dominican Republic in Philadelphia]] was located in Suite 216 in the Lafayette Building at 437 Chestnut Street.<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021024030718/http://www.domrep.org/embassy/Dipmissions.htm |archive-date=October 24, 2002 |url=http://www.domrep.org/embassy/Dipmissions.htm |date=16 Jan 2002 |title=Consulates of the Dominican Republic in The United States |website=[[Diplomatic missions of the Dominican Republic|Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Washington, DC]] |access-date=February 1, 2009}}</ref> It closed on November 7, 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/world/2005/11/8/6857/DR-to-close-four-consulates-in-the-USA |title=DR to close four consulates in the USA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620035546/http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/world/2005/11/8/6857/DR-to-close-four-consulates-in-the-USA |archive-date=2009-06-20 |website=[[Dominican Today]] |date=November 8, 2005 |access-date=February 1, 2009}}</ref> The Consulate-General of Israel in Philadelphia was located on the 18th Floor at 1880 John F. Kennedy Boulevard.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://philadelphia.mfa.gov.il/mfm/web/main/Document.asp?SubjectID=7030&MissionID=75&LanguageID=0&StatusID=3&DocumentID=-1 |title=Consular Services: Consular Reception Hours |website=[[Diplomatic missions of PeIsraelnnsylvania|Consulate-General of Israel in Philadelphia]] |access-date=February 1, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619200813/http://philadelphia.mfa.gov.il/mfm/web/main/Document.asp?SubjectID=7030&MissionID=75&LanguageID=0&StatusID=3&DocumentID=-1 |archive-date= Jun 19, 2009 }}</ref> Israel closed the Philadelphia consulate in 2016.<ref>{{cite news |last=Marks |first=Jon |date=September 6, 2017 |title=A Year On, City Adjusts to Life Sans Consulate |url=https://www.jewishexponent.com/2017/09/06/year-city-adjusts-life-sans-consulate/ |work=Jewish Exponent |location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|access-date=August 31, 2020}}</ref>

==Education== ===Public schools=== {{Further|School District of Philadelphia}} [[File:Nebinger School Philly.JPG|thumb|[[George W. Nebinger School]] in the [[Bella Vista, Philadelphia|Bella Vista]] neighborhood in May 2010]] [[File:Albert M. Greenfield School.jpg|thumb|Albert M. Greenfield School on [[Chestnut Street (Philadelphia)|Chestnut Street]] in Center City in April 2019]]

Residents of Center City are included within the [[School District of Philadelphia]]. From the 1940s to the opening of what is now known as the Greenfield School in 1954, many residents attended public schools in other areas and private schools due to the low number of public schools in Center City.<ref name=Greenfieldhist>"[https://greenfield.philasd.org/about-us/ About Us]". Albert M. Greenfield School. Retrieved on April 5, 2018.</ref>

In 2005, in an attempt to slow the flight of middle-class families, the school district and Center City District, an economic development agency, launched a program that promoted public schools in Center City, including [[Rittenhouse Square]] and [[Society Hill]], and adjacent areas in [[Fairmount, Philadelphia|Fairmount]], [[Northern Liberties, Philadelphia|Northern Liberties]], and [[South Philadelphia]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Snyder |first1=Susan |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10C2FB8DC92293C8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Selling schools - to families, A new campaign touts 20 Center City sites. Its aim: Retain the middle class. Schools pitch aims at stemming flight of the middle class |website=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |date=August 22, 2005 |access-date=November 8, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304195248/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10C2FB8DC92293C8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |archive-date= Mar 4, 2016 }}</ref>

K-8 schools that have attendance boundaries in Center City and areas around Center City include:<ref>"[https://archive.today/20070927031352/http://www.centercityschools.com/enrollment.php Center City Public Elementary Schools]". ''Center City District''.</ref> * Albert M. Greenfield ** It opened in September 1954 as the Center City School after the Center City Residents Association (CCRA) advocated for its establishment. It was initially housed in a [[YWCA]] and later in the former Jerrold Electronics Building. In 1964 the school district bought the site for a permanent campus, which began construction in 1966 and opened in September 1970.<ref name=Greenfieldhist/>

* [[Andrew Jackson School (Philadelphia)|Andrew Jackson School]] * Bache-Martin * Chester A. Arthur * Edwin M. Stanton * General Philip Kearny * [[George A. McCall School]] * [[George W. Nebinger School]] * James R. Ludlow * Laura Wheeler Waring * [[Spring Garden School]] * William H. Harrison * [[William M. Meredith School]]

Neighborhood high schools for Center City and the Center City area, located outside of Center City, include:<ref>"[http://centercityschools.com/map_n_info.php Center City Schools — Maps & Info] {{webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20070706202854/http://centercityschools.com/map_n_info.php |date=July 6, 2007 }}." ''Center City District''.</ref><ref>"[http://www.phila.k12.pa.us/pdf/07Directory.pdf A Guide for September 2007 High School Admissions] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704025406/http://www.phila.k12.pa.us/pdf/07Directory.pdf |date=2007-07-04 }}." ''[[School District of Philadelphia]]''.</ref><ref name="Highschooldirectory">"[http://www.phila.k12.pa.us/students/09Directory_English.pdf A Directory of High Schools for 2009 Admissions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106091014/http://www.phila.k12.pa.us/students/09Directory_English.pdf |date=2015-11-06 }}." ''[[School District of Philadelphia]]''. Accessed November 6, 2008.</ref> * [[Benjamin Franklin High School (Philadelphia)|Benjamin Franklin High School]] * [[Furness High School]]<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20041205214741/http://centercityschools.com/McCall/graduates.html General George A. McCall School - Where the graduates go]". ''Center City District''.</ref> * [[South Philadelphia High School]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.centercityschools.com/Greenfield/graduates.html |title=Albert M. Greenfield School - Where the graduates go|website=Center City District |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531033748/http://www.centercityschools.com/Greenfield/graduates.html |archive-date= May 31, 2008 }}</ref>

Other high schools include: * [[Bodine High School for International Affairs]] * [[Constitution High School for American Studies]] * [[Franklin Learning Center| Franklin Learning Center High School]] * [[Parkway Center City Middle College]] * Philadelphia High School for Business and Technology * [[Science Leadership Academy]]

Combined middle and high schools include: * [[Julia R. Masterman School]]

====Charter schools==== Charter schools not operated by the School District of Philadelphia include:<ref>{{Citation |title=Center City Schools — Maps & Info |type=website |work=Center City District |publisher=Center City District/Central Philadelphia Development Corporation |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070706202854/http://centercityschools.com/map_n_info.php |url=http://centercityschools.com/map_n_info.php |archive-date=6 July 2007 }}</ref>

*Grades 1–12: **[[Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School]] *Grades 7–12: *The [[Mastery Charter Schools]] system operates the Mastery Charter Lenfest Campus (7-12) in [[Old City, Philadelphia|Old City]]. It moved from [[North Philadelphia]] to Old City in 2002.<ref>"[http://www.masterycharter.org/schools/lenfest-campus/about-3.html Lenfest Campus]". [[Mastery Charter Schools]]. Retrieved on September 10, 2012. "35 South 4th Street Philadelphia, PA 19106"</ref> *Grades 5–8: **Freire Charter Middle School *Grades 6–12: **World Communications Charter School *Grades 9–12: **Architecture and Design Charter School **Freire Charter High School **Mastery Charter High School **Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter School *Grades K–8: **Laboratory Charter School of Communication and Languages **Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures Charter School *Grades 6–8: **Wakisha Charter School *Grades K–7: **Christopher Columbus Charter School **Independence Charter School grades K–8 **People for People Charter School *Grades Pre-K-8: **Russell Byers Charter School *Grades K–6: **Universal Institute Charter School

===Private schools=== ====Roman Catholic parochial schools==== The [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia]] operates the following [[Roman Catholic]] parochial schools in the Center City area [https://web.archive.org/web/20070706202854/http://centercityschools.com/map_n_info.php]:

*Grades 9-12: **[[J. W. Hallahan Catholic Girls High School]] **[[Roman Catholic High School]] *Grades Pre-K-8: **St. Francis Xavier School **St. Peter the Apostle School *Grades K-8: **St. Mary's Interparochial School *Grades 1-8: **Holy Redeemer School

====Other private schools==== Other private schools in the Center City area include:

*Grades Pre-K-12: **[[Friends Select School]] *Grades 9-12: **City Center Academy *Grades Pre-K-8: **St. Peter's School **The Philadelphia School

===Public libraries=== {{See also|Free Library of Philadelphia|Library Company of Philadelphia|Parkway Central Library}}

The [[Free Library of Philadelphia]] operates the [[Parkway Central Library]] at 1901 Vine Street,<ref>"[http://libwww.freelibrary.org/branches/branch.cfm?loc=CEN Central Library]". ''[[Free Library of Philadelphia]]''. Retrieved on January 20, 2009.</ref> the Independence Branch at 18 South 7th Street,<ref>"[http://libwww.freelibrary.org/branches/branch.cfm?loc=IND Independence Branch]". ''[[Free Library of Philadelphia]]''. Retrieved on January 20, 2009.</ref> the Philadelphia City Institute on the first floor and lower level of an apartment complex at 1905 [[Locust Street]],<ref>"[http://libwww.freelibrary.org/branches/branch.cfm?loc=PCI Philadelphia City Institute]". ''[[Free Library of Philadelphia]]''. Retrieved on January 20, 2009.</ref> and the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped at 919 Walnut Street.<ref>"[http://libwww.freelibrary.org/branches/branch.cfm?loc=LBH Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped]". ''[[Free Library of Philadelphia]]''. Retrieved on January 20, 2009.</ref>

===Other institutions=== [[Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools]] is headquartered in Center City.<ref>[http://www.middlestates.org/ Home page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414203800/http://www.middlestates.org/ |date=2012-04-14 }}. [[Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools]]. Retrieved on May 12, 2015. "200 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19104"</ref>

==Culture== ===Music and theatre=== {{See also|Avenue of the Arts (Philadelphia)}}

Center City Philadelphia is home to some of the nation and world's leading cultural institutions. [[Avenue of the Arts (Philadelphia)|Avenue of the Arts]], a city-designated cultural district, includes [[Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts]], which houses the [[Philadelphia Orchestra]] (a [[Big Five (orchestras)|Big Five orchestra]]) and the [[Academy of Music (Philadelphia)|Academy of Music]], home of the [[Philadelphia Ballet]] and [[Opera Philadelphia]]. The avenue is home to multiple theatres, including the [[Miller Theater (Philadelphia)|Miller]], [[Suzanne Roberts Theatre|Suzanne Roberts]], and [[Wilma Theater (Philadelphia)|Wilma]] theatres. [[Forrest Theatre]] is also located in center city, at 1114 [[Walnut Street (Philadelphia)|Walnut Street]].

===Museums=== [[Mütter Museum]], a medical museum, is located in center city at 19 S. 22nd Street.

[[Museum of the American Revolution]]

[[African American Museum in Philadelphia]]

[[Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History]]

===Recreation=== Center City Philadelphia has a vast number of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. [[McGillin's Olde Ale House]], at 1310 Drury Street, is one of the nation's oldest pubs (founded in 1860).

==Transportation== {{main|Transportation in Philadelphia}} [[File: 2012_Ben_Franklin_Bridge_and_Race_Street_Pier.jpg|thumb|[[Benjamin Franklin Bridge]], a {{convert|2,917.86|m|sp=us}} bridge connecting Center City with [[Camden, New Jersey]] in March 2012]]

===Major highways=== *[[Interstate 76 (Ohio–New Jersey)|Interstate 76]] *[[Interstate 95 in Pennsylvania|Interstate 95]] *[[Interstate 676]]/[[Benjamin Franklin Bridge]] *[[U.S. Route 30 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 30]] *[[Pennsylvania Route 3|PA Route 3]] *[[Pennsylvania Route 611|PA Route 611]]

===Streets and bridges=== Center city streets and bridges include [[Benjamin Franklin Bridge]], which connects the city with [[Camden, New Jersey]], and [[Benjamin Franklin Parkway]], a one-mile long parkway that runs from [[Philadelphia City Hall]] to the [[Philadelphia Museum of Art]]. Three major center city streets are [[Broad Street (Philadelphia)|Broad]], [[Market Street (Philadelphia)|Market]], and [[South Street (Philadelphia)|South]] Streets.

===Local public transit=== {{see also|SEPTA}} * [[Center City Commuter Connection]] *[[SEPTA]] **[[Jefferson Station (Philadelphia)|Jefferson Station]] (Regional Rail) **[[Suburban Station]] (Regional Rail) **[[Market-Frankford Line]] ([[2nd Street (SEPTA station)|2nd Street]], [[5th Street/Independence Hall station|5th Street/Independence Hall]], [[8th Street (SEPTA station)|8th Street]], [[11th Street (SEPTA station)|11th Street]], [[13th Street (SEPTA station)|13th Street]], and [[15th Street station (SEPTA)|15th Street]] stations) **[[Broad Street Line]] ([[Spring Garden (SEPTA Broad Street Line station)|Spring Garden]], [[Race-Vine (SEPTA station)|Race-Vine]], [[City Hall (SEPTA station)|City Hall]], [[Walnut–Locust station|Walnut-Locust]] and [[Lombard-South station|Lombard-South]] stations on main line; [[Chinatown (SEPTA station)|Chinatown]] and [[8th Street (SEPTA station)|8th Street]] stations on Broad-Ridge Spur) **[[SEPTA Subway-Surface Trolley Lines|Subway-surface trolley lines]] ([[13th Street (SEPTA station)|13th Street]], [[15th Street (SEPTA|15th Street]], [[19th Street (SEPTA station)|19th Street]], and [[22nd Street (SEPTA station)|22nd Street]] stations; all stations on Market Street) **Various bus routes *[[PATCO Speedline]] (Franklin Square, 8th & Market, 9-10th & Locust, 12-13th & Locust, and 15-16th & Locust Street stations) *[[New Jersey Transit Bus Operations|New Jersey Transit]] (various bus routes & stops) There is a 500,000+ sq ft underground pedestrian concourse that connects many of the center city Septa stations to businesses and office buildings. Primarily running under [[Market Street (Philadelphia)|Market Street]] and [[Broad Street (Philadelphia)|Broad Street]], the concourse spans east to west from 8th street to 18th street and north to south from [[John F. Kennedy Boulevard (Philadelphia)|John F. Kennedy Boulevard]] to [[Spruce Street (Philadelphia)|Spruce Street]].

===Intercity public transit=== [[File:30th Street Station concourse March 2019.jpeg|thumb|Interior of Philadelphia's [[30th Street Station]], one of the nation's busiest passenger train stations]]

*Greyhound at two locations: **618 Market **JFK and 30th Street *Peter Pan, and various Trailways buses at 618 Market Street *[[Megabus (North America)|Megabus]] (30th Street Station) *Various [[Chinatown bus lines]] (various operators & stops; most stops near 11th & Arch Streets)

[[Amtrak]]'s primary Philadelphia station, [[30th Street Station]], is located immediately west of Center City, just across the Schuylkill River. SEPTA Regional Rail trains, New Jersey Transit [[Atlantic City Line]] trains, Market-Frankford Line trains, and subway-surface line trolleys also service 30th Street Station, and both Megabus and [[BoltBus]] stop on streets adjacent to the station.

{{Asof|2016}} Taiwanese airline [[China Airlines]] provides a private bus service to and from [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]] in New York City for customers based in the Philadelphia area. This service previously stopped in Center City in front of the Marriott Hotel.<ref>"[http://www.china-airlines.com/en/promotion/b7052507-c51b-4049-93f8-e5457e9e05d7.html Free Shuttle Service To/From JFK Airport] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306024440/http://www.china-airlines.com/en/promotion/b7052507-c51b-4049-93f8-e5457e9e05d7.html |date=2016-03-06 }}." [[China Airlines]]. September 15, 2015. Retrieved on February 29, 2016.</ref>

== Center City Residents' Association == The '''Center City Residents' Association''', originally formed in 1947 to prevent [[Rittenhouse Square]] from being turned into a parking lot, is a primary advocate for quality of life issues in Center City. Other community organizations of this type include Logan Square Neighborhood Association, Society Hill Civic Association, South of South Street Neighborhood Association, Washington Square West Civic Association, and the Queen Village Neighbors Association.

==Gallery== <gallery mode="packed" heights="140"> File:Center City East from One Liberty Observation Deck.jpg|The eastern portion of Center City from the [[One Liberty Observation Deck]] image :CarpentersHall00.jpg|[[Carpenters' Hall]] Image :LOVE Park Philly.JPG|[[LOVE Park]] with the [[Philadelphia Museum of Art]] in the distant background Image :National Museum of American Jewish History.jpg|[[Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History]] Image :Friendship Gate Chinatown Philadelphia from east.jpg|Friendship Gate in Chinatown Image:Jewelers Row.jpg|[[Jewelers' Row, Philadelphia|Jewelers' Row]] Image:Interior Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul crop.JPG|Interior of the [[Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia|Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul]] Image:Curtis_building.jpg|Curtis Center Image:Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.jpg|[[Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts]] Image:Mikveh Israel Cemetery.jpg|[[Mikveh Israel Cemetery]] Image :The Grand Court.jpg| The Grand Court at Macys Department Store (in the [[Wanamaker's]] building) Image:Pennsylvania Hospital 2007.jpg|[[Pennsylvania Hospital]] Image:Kimmel Center exterior-daytime.JPG|Kimmel Center Image:Liberty Bell, Independence Hall.jpg|[[Independence Hall]] as seen from the [[Liberty Bell]] Image:Inquirerbldgfull.jpg|Inquirer Building Image:First national bank US HABS.jpg|First Bank of the United States Image:Headhouse.jpg|[[Reading Terminal]] Image:Center City Philadelphia 2018.jpg|Center City viewed from the PSFS Building File:GardenStreetBridgeSchuylkillRiverSkylinePhiladelphiaPennsylvania.jpg|A panoramic view of Center City skyline from the northwest </gallery>

==See also== {{Portal|Philadelphia}} *[[Curtis Publishing Company]] *[[Independence National Historical Park]] *[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Center City, Philadelphia]]

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{commons category|Center City, Philadelphia}} * [http://www.centercityphila.org Center City District and Central Philadelphia Development Corporation] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20071107145846/http://www.brynmawr.edu/cities/archx/05-600/proj/p1/jbebac/ How the 700 block of Market Street evolved] * [http://www.centercityresidents.org/ Center City Residents' Association]

[[Category:Center City, Philadelphia| ]] [[Category:Central business districts in the United States]] [[Category:Economy of Philadelphia]] [[Category:Neighborhoods in Philadelphia|Center City]]