Fishtown, Philadelphia

{{Other uses|Fishtown (disambiguation){{!}}Fishtown}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox settlement | background_color=    |image_skyline=Penn at PTPark.JPG |imagesize=250px |image_caption=[[Penn Treaty Park]] in Fishtown |image_flag= |name=Fishtown |settlement_type = [[List of Philadelphia neighborhoods|Neighborhood of Philadelphia]]   |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{USA}} |subdivision_type1 = State |subdivision_name1 = [[Pennsylvania]] |subdivision_type2 = County |subdivision_name2 = [[Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia County]] |subdivision_type3 = City |subdivision_name3 = [[Philadelphia]]  | mapsize = 300px | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Philadelphia | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_mapsize = | coordinates = {{Coord|39.965|-75.135|format=dms|display=title}}  |postal_code_type= |postal_code= |area_codes=[[Area codes 215, 267, and 445|215, 267 and 445]] }} '''Fishtown''' is a neighborhood in the [[north Philadelphia, Philadelphia|north Philadelphia]] section<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.visitphilly.com/media-center/press-releases/neighborhood-guide-fishtown-river-wards/ | title=Fishtown and the River Wards }}</ref> of [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], United States.<ref name="CP Oct 2008">{{cite news | first= Isaiah | last= Thompson | url= http://www.citypaper.net/articles/2008/10/30/the-fishtown-effect | title= The Fishtown Effect | newspaper= [[Philadelphia City Paper]] | date= 2008-10-29 | url-status= dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081102043331/http://www.citypaper.net/articles/2008/10/30/the-fishtown-effect | archive-date= 2008-11-02 }}</ref> Located northeast of [[Center City, Philadelphia|Center City Philadelphia]], its borders are somewhat disputed today due to many factors, but are roughly defined by the triangle created by the [[Delaware River]], [[Front Street (Philadelphia)|Front Street]], and York Street.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ABOUT |url=https://www.fishtown.org/about.html |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Fishtown Neighbors Association |language=en}}</ref> Some newer residents expand the area to Lehigh Avenue to the northeast, while some older ones shrink the area to Norris Street.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fishtown And The River Wards |url=https://www.visitphilly.com/media-center/press-releases/neighborhood-guide-fishtown-river-wards/ |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Visit Philadelphia |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-10-31 |title=Maps make you wonder, what is Fishtown? |url=https://www.phillyvoice.com/maps-make-you-wonder-what-fishtown/ |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=PhillyVoice |language=english}}</ref> It is served by the [[Market–Frankford Line]] rapid transit subway/elevated line of the [[SEPTA]] system, and the historic [[SEPTA Route 15|Route 15]] Girard Avenue trolley line. Fishtown has long been a largely [[working class]] [[Irish Catholic]] and [[Irish American]] neighborhood, though in recent years it has seen a large influx of [[Yuppies|young urban professionals]] and [[gentrification]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phillymag.com/citified/2015/02/17/insane-surge-philadelphia-gentrification/ |title=Insane Surge in Philadelphia Gentrification |date=17 February 2015 |publisher= Metro Corp |access-date=February 27, 2017}}</ref>

The name Fishtown derives from one of the original occupations of its residents. Early settlers were fishermen and over time, they controlled the fishing rights to both sides of the Delaware River, from [[Cape May, New Jersey|Cape May]] to the falls at [[Trenton, New Jersey|Trenton]]. The apocryphal local legend traces the name of Fishtown to [[Charles Dickens]], who purportedly visited the neighborhood in March 1842, but records show this to be false, as it was named Fishtown prior to his visit, at least as early as 1808, as evidenced in a newspaper article in ''The Tickler'', an early 19th century Philadelphia newspaper.

==History== {{More citations needed section|date=March 2016}} {{recentism|date=November 2019}} The area was originally inhabited by members of the Turtle Clan of the [[Lenape]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Indian]] tribe (whom the Europeans named the Delaware Indian Tribe). The first [[Ethnic groups in Europe|European]] settlers were a group of six [[Sweden|Swedish]] farming families, later replaced by [[United Kingdom|British]] landed gentry, then British shipbuilders and [[Germany|German]] fishermen. Fishtown was originally a small section of the town of Old Kensington, close to the Delaware River and just a few blocks long, roughly from Palmer Street north to Gunnar's Run, from the Delaware River to Moyer Street. The original town of Kensington was only 191.5 acres of land and originally called the Fairman Estate. Today's [[Penn Treaty Park]] sits where the Fairman Mansion once stood (actually Fairman Mansion sat in the middle of Beach Street, curb to curb, right north of Columbia Avenue). [[File:Palmer Cemetery gatehouse, Philly.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|Palmer Cemetery gatehouse]] Kensington was founded by Captain Anthony Palmer, an Englishman by way of Barbados. Using proceeds from the sale of the Hope Farm estate (present day [[Port Richmond, Philadelphia|Port Richmond]]), which included three slaves named Abraham, Hannibal, and Phillis,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Milano|first=Kenneth W.|title=Remembering Kensington & Fishtown: Philadelphia's Riverward Neighborhoods|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|year=2008}}</ref> Palmer purchased the Fairman Estate in 1729 and laid out his town and sold parcels to the local fishermen and shipbuilders. Anthony Palmer eventually became active in the provincial council and became acting Governor of Pennsylvania in 1747–1748. Palmer died in 1749 and was buried in Christ Church Cemetery in Philadelphia. (The [[Kensington Burial Grounds]] in Fishtown, also known as Palmer Cemetery, was founded around 1732 and is still an active burial ground, situated on land deeded to the community by the Palmer Family after Anthony Palmer's death. It is believed that the cemetery was in use from about the time Palmer started to lay out the town of Kensington, but the actual date of the first burial is unknown.)

Within a few generations there was another influx of [[German people|German]] immigrants, then still later in the late 19th century [[Polish people|Polish]] and Irish Catholic immigrants. The community had two [[Roman Catholic]] Churches, [[St. Laurentius Parish, Philadelphia|St. Laurentius]], built by Polish immigrants, and the Holy Name of Jesus, built predominantly by Irish immigrants. Holy Name continues to serve as the parish church. St. Laurentius was sold to private developers and was to be turned into apartments, but became embroiled in legal disputes for years. Meanwhile, the structure deteriorated, leading to its eventual demolition beginning in 2022.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://whyy.org/articles/philadelphia-fishtown-st-laurentius-church-demolition/ | title=Demolition of St. Laurentius Church in Fishtown begins after long battle }}</ref> [[File:Fishtown Philadelphia.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1 |1500 block of E. Berks Street, a typical residential street in Fishtown, in 2007.]]

The neighborhood had been [[working class]] for centuries; while poverty grew after jobs left during the [[deindustrialization]] era, which afflicted many "rust belt" cities, Fishtown's workers continued to maintain a stable working-class community. Fishtown was highly segregated in the mid-20th century: between 1950 and 1970, only 0.1-0.2% of the population was not white.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Beauregard |first=R A |date=July 1990 |title=Trajectories of Neighborhood Change: The Case of Gentrification |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1068/a220855 |journal=Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space |language=en |volume=22 |issue=7 |pages=855–874 |doi=10.1068/a220855 |bibcode=1990EnPlA..22..855B |issn=0308-518X|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Most long-time residents trace their ancestry to Irish, German, and Polish Catholic immigrants. In an analysis of 2013 data, Fishtown was the third most segregated white neighborhood in Philadelphia (after [[Girard Estate, Philadelphia|Girard Estates]] and [[Bridesburg, Philadelphia|Bridesburg]]), with 96% white residents.<ref>{{Cite web|title=A Tale of Two Philadelphias: Census data reveals income inequality around the city's most segregated neighborhoods|url=https://billypenn.com/2015/09/14/a-tale-of-two-philadelphias-census-data-reveals-income-inequality-around-the-citys-most-segregated-neighborhoods/|access-date=2020-06-23|website=Billy Penn|date=14 September 2015 |language=en-US}}</ref> By 2024, the percentage of white residents had decreased further to 86%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Demographic Statistical Atlas of the United States - Statistical Atlas |url=https://statisticalatlas.com/neighborhood/Pennsylvania/Philadelphia/Fishtown/Race-and-Ethnicity |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=statisticalatlas.com}}</ref>

Since 2005 Fishtown has experienced moderate [[gentrification]] characterized by significant rises in housing prices and the opening of upscale art, entertainment, and dining establishments. An influx of artists and professionals has joined the ranks of police officers, fire fighters, nurses, carpenters, electricians, stonemasons, plumbers, sheet-metal workers, and teamsters. As of 2023, the neighborhood was one of the highest-income areas in Philadelphia, with a median household income of over $110,000.<ref>{{Cite web |last2=Duchneskie |first1=Jesse |last1=Bunch |first2=John |date=2023-12-07 |title=Philly's wealthiest neighborhoods have median incomes that are $100,000 more than the poorest areas |url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/philadelphia-neighborhoods-median-income-map-20231207.html |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=www.inquirer.com |language=en}}</ref>

The neighborhood was chosen by the state of Pennsylvania to be the site of the [[Rivers Casino Philadelphia]] gaming complex on Delaware Avenue near Frankford Avenue. This choice deeply divided the neighborhood, causing conflict between those who believe it will bring jobs and economic development and those who believe it will lead to increased crime, addiction, and other social problems which negatively impact quality of life. A Community Benefits Agreement was reached between SugarHouse Casino (now [[Rivers Casino Philadelphia|Rivers Casino]]) and the membership of Fishtown Action and the New Kensington CDC, which will provide money for community projects that would not otherwise be available to the residents.

==Landmarks== {{See also|National Register of Historic Places listings in Northeast Philadelphia}} [[File:Green Tree Tavern.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Green Tree Tavern]]]]

The [[George Chandler School]], [[Green Tree Tavern]], and [[Penn Treaty School|Penn Treaty Junior High School]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

Listed in the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, the following buildings are protected by the City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Historical Commission:

* Bradlee & Co.'s Empire Chain Works, 1615-31 N. Delaware Avenue (1905–10)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Oscar Beisert |date=October 2, 2019 |title=Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: Bradlee & Co.'s Empire Chain Works, 1615-31 N. Delaware Avenue, Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA. |url=https://www.phila.gov/media/20200904135328/1615-31-N-Delaware-Ave-nomination.pdf |access-date=November 27, 2020 |publisher=Keeping Society of Philadelphia}}</ref> * The Edward Corner Warehouse, 1100-02 N. Delaware Avenue (1921).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Oscar Beisert|date=August 11, 2015|title=Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: The Edward Corner Warehouse, 1100-02 N. Delaware Avenue, Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA. |url=http://keepingphiladelphia.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/1100-N-Delaware-Ave-Nomination.pdf |access-date=November 27, 2020 |publisher=Keeping Society of Philadelphia}}</ref> * The Frederick J. Rapp House, 1003 Frankford Avenue (c. 1786).<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Beisert |first1=Oscar |last2=Duffin |first2=J. M. |date=October 6, 2015 |title=Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: The Frederick J. Rapp House, 1003 Frankford Avenue, Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA. |url=http://keepingphiladelphia.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/1003-Frankford-Ave-Nomination.pdf |access-date=November 27, 2020 |publisher=Keeping Society of Philadelphia}}</ref> * The Fifth Dutch Reformed Church, 2345-49 East Susquehanna Avenue (c. 1863). * The Jacob Souder Frame Dwelling, 1132 Marlborough Street (c. 1810).<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Beisert |first1=Oscar |last2=Duffin |first2=J. M. |date=September 3, 2019 |title=Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: The Jacob Souder Frame Dwelling, 1132 Marlborough Street, Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA. |url=https://www.phila.gov/media/20200727153309/1132-Marlborough-St-nomination.pdf |access-date=November 27, 2020 |publisher=Philadelphia Historical Commission}}</ref> * The Joseph Paxson Frame Store & Dwelling, 1250 E. Palmer Street (ca.1827).<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Beisert |first1=Oscar |last2=Duffin |first2=J. M. |date=August 3, 2017|title=Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: Joseph Paxson Frame Store & Dwelling, 1250 E. Palmer Street, Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA. |url=http://keepingphiladelphia.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/1250-E-Palmer-nomination.pdf |access-date=November 27, 2020 |publisher=Keeping Society of Philadelphia}}</ref> * The Morse Elevator Company, 1101-03 Frankford Avenue.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beisert |first=Oscar |date=September 1, 2015 |title=Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: The Morse Elevator Company, 1101-03 Frankford Avenue, Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA. |url=http://keepingphiladelphia.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/1101-03-Frankford-Ave-Nomination-final.pdf |access-date=November 27, 2020 |publisher=Keeping Society of Philadelphia}}</ref> * The Morse Elevator Company, 1105-09 Frankford Avenue.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beisert |first=Oscar |date=September 1, 2015 |title=Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: The Morse Elevator Company, 1105-09 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. |url= |publisher=Keeping Society of Philadelphia}}</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=March 2024}} * The Morse Elevator Company, 1111-17 Frankford Avenue. * The Otis Elevator Company's Boiler & Engine House, 1045-49 Sarah Street (1904).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beisert |first=Oscar |date=January 3, 2019|title=Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: Otis Elevator Company's Boiler & Engine House, 1045-49 Sarah Street, Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA. |url=https://www.phila.gov/media/20201106115210/1045-49-Sarah-St-nomination.pdf|access-date=November 27, 2020 |publisher=Philadelphia Historical Commission}}</ref> * The Penn Asylum for Indigent Widows & Single Women (aka The Penn Home), 1401 Susquehanna Avenue (c. 1769).<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Beisert |first1=Oscar |last2=Duffin |first2=J. M. |last3=Wiles |first3=Kelly |date=August 25, 2020 |title=Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: The Penn Asylum for Indigent Widows & Single Women, 1401 E. Susquehanna Avenue, Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA. |url=https://www.phila.gov/media/20201008104201/1401-E-Susquehanna-Ave-nomination.pdf |access-date=November 27, 2020 |publisher=Philadelphia Historical Commission}}</ref> * 10th District Patrol House & Stable, 1416-22 Frankford Avenue (1891–92)<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Beisert |first1=Oscar |date=December 18, 2015 |title=Philadelphia Register of Historic Places Nomination: 10th District Patrol House & Stable, 1416-22 Frankford Avenue, Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA. |url=http://keepingphiladelphia.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/1416-22-Frankford-Ave-nom-with-cover.pdf|access-date=December 18, 2015 |publisher=Keeping Society of Philadelphia}}</ref>

==Education== [[File:Penn Treaty Junior High School.jpg|thumb|[[Penn Treaty School]]]] The [[School District of Philadelphia]] operates public schools. Alexander Adaire School is the elementary school of the community.<ref>{{cite web|author=Komar, Melissa|url=http://www.starnewsphilly.com/2016/mar/2/not-too-cool-school/|title=Not too cool for school|publisher=Star News Philly|date=March 2, 2016|access-date=December 31, 2016}}</ref> [[Penn Treaty School]] (formerly Penn Treaty Middle School), grades 6–12, is in Fishtown.<ref>"[http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/p/penntreaty/about-us About Us] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231170618/http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/p/penntreaty/about-us |date=2016-12-31 }}." [[Penn Treaty School]]. Retrieved on December 31, 2016.</ref> Residents were previously zoned to [[Kensington High School (Philadelphia)|Kensington High School]].<ref>"[https://webapps.philasd.org/sp_files/boundary_maps/5200.pdf Alexander Adaire Elementary School Geographic Boundaries] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225033/https://webapps.philasd.org/sp_files/boundary_maps/5200.pdf |date=2016-03-03 }}." [[School District of Philadelphia]]. Retrieved on December 31, 2016.</ref>

St. Laurentius School is located in Fishtown.<ref>{{cite news|author=O'Reilly, David|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20150323_St__Laurentius_church_in_Fishtown__first_for_city_s_Polish_residents__to_be_demolished.html|title=St. Laurentius, beloved Polish church in Fishtown, to be demolished |newspaper=[[Philadelphia Inquirer]]|date=March 23, 2015|access-date=December 31, 2016}}</ref>

==In popular culture== In the book ''[[Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960–2010]]'' (2012), [[Charles Murray (political scientist)|Charles Murray]] names an imagined entity of white working class decay for Fishtown, inspired by Fishtown, Philadelphia.<ref>Nicholas Confessore (10 February 2012). [https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/12/books/review/charles-murray-examines-the-white-working-class-in-coming-apart.html "Tramps Like Them"]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved January 4, 2014.</ref>

The comic book ''[[Fishtown (comic book)|Fishtown]]'' (2007–2008), by [[Kevin Colden]], portrays a murder that occurred in Fishtown, based on the 2003 [[murder of Jason Sweeney]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}

The neighborhood was partially filmed in and is a focal point in several episodes of the 2020 [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]] television series ''[[Dispatches from Elsewhere]]'', created by and starring [[Jason Segel]].

Season 5 of [[Queer Eye (2018 TV series)|Netflix's reboot series ''Queer Eye'']] was shot in Philadelphia. Fishtown was the primary recording location for episode 1 "Preaching Out Loud".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.visitphilly.com/features/queer-eye-season-5-in-philadelphia/#preaching-out-loud |title=Essential Guide to Philly's Starring Role in ''Queer Eye'' Season 5}}</ref>

==See also== * [[List of Philadelphia neighborhoods]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Fishtown, Philadelphia}} * [http://fishtown.org Fishtown Neighbors Association (FNA) website] * [http://www.fishtown.us Fishtown neighborhood forum] * [http://www.nkcdc.org: New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) website] * [http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=482 Historical Society of Pennsylvania articles about Fishtown and Kensington] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060420084947/http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=482 |date=2006-04-20 }}) * [http://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoArchive Photo History of Philadelphia] * [http://www.philageohistory.org 19th century Philadelphia maps] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090520084510/http://www.fishtownonline.com/ Fishtown information page]

'''K–8 schools:''' * [http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/a/adaire Adaire Alexander School] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222160139/http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/a/adaire/ |date=2016-12-22 }}) * [http://stlaurentius.org St. Laurentius School]

[[Category:River Wards, Philadelphia]] [[Category:German-American culture in Philadelphia]] [[Category:Irish-American culture in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Irish-American culture in Philadelphia]] [[Category:Irish-American neighborhoods]] [[Category:Neighborhoods in Philadelphia]]