# Overbrook, Philadelphia

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Neighborhood of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States

Overbrook Neighborhood of Philadelphia House in Overbrook Farms Overbrook Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia County City Philadelphia Area codes 215, 267, and 445

[Overbrook High School](/source/Overbrook_High_School_(Philadelphia)) at 59th Street and Lancaster Avenue

**Overbrook** is a historic [neighborhood](/source/Neighbourhood) of [Philadelphia](/source/Philadelphia), [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania). It is situated in the northwest of [West Philadelphia](/source/West_Philadelphia).

The area's housing ranges from large, old homes to rowhouses to three- and four-story apartment buildings.

## Physical setting

Overbrook lies in the northwest of [West Philadelphia](/source/West_Philadelphia), surrounded by [Wynnefield](/source/Wynnefield%2C_Philadelphia) to the east, [Carroll Park](/source/Carroll_Park%2C_Philadelphia) to the south, and [Montgomery County](/source/Montgomery_County%2C_Pennsylvania) to the north.[1] The neighborhoods of [Overbrook Farms](/source/Overbrook_Farms%2C_Philadelphia), [Morris Park](/source/Morris_Park%2C_Philadelphia) and [Overbrook Park](/source/Overbrook_Park%2C_Philadelphia) are often considered to be part of Overbrook, but in many city documents they are considered separate from the neighborhood proper, which in a 2004 map from the [Philadelphia City Planning Commission](/source/City_Planning_Commission_(Philadelphia)) was narrowly defined as bounded by North 63rd Street to the west, Lansdowne Avenue to the south, and [SEPTA's](/source/SEPTA) regional rail tracks to the northeast.[2] A map produced by the [Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission](/source/Delaware_Valley_Regional_Planning_Commission) and [The Philadelphia Inquirer](/source/The_Philadelphia_Inquirer) places the boundaries of the neighborhood at the west branch of [Indian Creek](/source/Indian_Creek_(Cobbs_Creek_tributary)) to the west, Lansdowne Avenue to the south, 54th Street to the east, and the city limit at City Line Avenue to the north.[1] Any definition places the neighborhood in close proximity to [Overbrook High School](/source/Overbrook_High_School_(Philadelphia)), the [Overbrook School for the Blind](/source/Overbrook_School_for_the_Blind), the [Overbrook SEPTA Station](/source/Overbrook_station), and Overbrook Avenue.

The neighborhood gets its name from Overbrook station, where the tracks run "over the brook" of [Mill Creek](/source/Mill_Creek_(Philadelphia)), one of two creeks that run thorough the neighborhood. Mill Creek enters a [culvert](/source/Culvert) in Montgomery County close to the station and flows underground through the center of the neighborhood and beyond before emptying into the [Schuylkill River](/source/Schuylkill_River). [Indian Creek](/source/Indian_Creek_(Cobbs_Creek_tributary)) runs primarily above ground through Morris Park before emptying into [Cobbs Creek](/source/Cobbs_Creek).[3]

## History

The land that would become Overbrook, along with the rest of Philadelphia, made up part of the vast [Northeastern coastal forests](/source/Northeastern_coastal_forests) inhabited by the [Lenape](/source/Lenape) people. European settlers moved inland from the [Delaware River](/source/Delaware_River) in the 17th century,[3] including [Welsh settlers](/source/Welsh_Americans) who acquired land in the areas west of Philadelphia in the 1680s, establishing farms and mills. Several large farms owned by Welsh farmers in the Western Liberties would later become the neighborhood of Overbrook.[4]

The agricultural lands near Indian and Mill Creek in 1704 became part of [Blockley Township](/source/Blockley_Township%2C_Pennsylvania)[5] and in 1795 were connected to Philadelphia via the [Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike](/source/Philadelphia_and_Lancaster_Turnpike), what is today [Lancaster Avenue](/source/U.S._Route_30_in_Pennsylvania). The construction of the [Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad](/source/Philadelphia_and_Columbia_Railroad), also known as the Main Line, further connected the area to the city. This line was later incorporated into the [Pennsylvania Railroad](/source/Pennsylvania_Railroad) and in 1860 [Overbrook station](/source/Overbrook_station) was opened[6] and named after Mill Creek, which the tracks ran over.[3]

The first residential development in the Overbrook area was the construction of the planned suburb of [Overbrook Farms](/source/Overbrook_Farms) from the 1890s through the 1920s. In 1892, the investment bank Drexel & Company, led by [Anthony Joseph Drexel](/source/Anthony_Joseph_Drexel), began buying up agricultural land near Overbrook station. Working with the architects Herman Wendell and Walter Bassett Smith, they began the construction of what was billed as a "suburb deluxe" for middle to upper-class families hoping to leave the city. The neighborhood had its own water system, steam heat (from the Overbrook Steam Heat Company), and electricity (from the Overbrook Electric Company), and was well connected to the city with trains running every half hour.[7][8] Overbrook Farms was designated a "historic district" in 2019 by the Philadelphia Historical Commission.[9]

## Architecture

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Overbrook developed in various stages between 1900 and 1960. The dominant housing type is the [row house](/source/Terraced_house), present in a wide variety of styles. Built during the early twentieth century when trolley lines were allowing middle-class Philadelphians to move out from more crowded row house communities, Overbrook was a community of choice at that time. Outside of Overbrook Farms, most of the houses in the Overbrook area date from between 1915 and 1930, when the Great Depression halted new construction nationally and locally.

In addition to rowhouses, there are a number of twin (semi-detached) houses. These semi-detached homes have two or three floors and typically are over 2,000 square feet (190 m2) in size. Prime examples of typical Overbrook twin houses are along Wynnewood Road from Haverford Avenue to Malvern Avenue, North 64th Street between Lansdowne and Lebanon Avenues, or Nassau Road between North 61st and 63rd Streets. There are very few detached single-family homes in Overbrook. Single homes typically pre-date the construction of most of Overbrook's housing or came into existence on select lots after the construction of most of the rowhouses and twin houses. For example, one will see a few single-family homes on Wynnewood Road near Columbia Avenue. A large stone home remains this intersection. This home once sat on acres of land that the owner(s) sold off to developers who then constructed twin houses and rowhouses. The vast majority of the single-family, detached homes in the Overbrook area are in the [Overbrook Farms](/source/Overbrook_Farms%2C_Philadelphia) neighborhood.

## Demographics

Demographic information for [ZIP Code](/source/ZIP_Code) 19151 covers Overbrook and [Morris Park](/source/Morris_Park%2C_Philadelphia) as well as parts of [Carroll Park](/source/Carroll_Park%2C_Philadelphia).[10] This ZIP Code as a whole is sometimes referred to as *Overbrook*.[11] Major trends identified in 2011 were an increase in the [African American](/source/African_American) population and a drop in the [White](/source/Non-Hispanic_whites) population from 1990 to 2010, a change which took place primarily in the 1990s.[11]

Demographics of ZIP Code 19151 Race & Ethnicity 1990[11] 2010[11] 2020[12] Black (Non-Hispanic) 13,386 43.6% 24,656 82.7% 25,834 85% White (Non-Hispanic) 16,004 52.2% 3,175 10.6% 2,387 7.9% Hispanic/Latino (any race) 449 820 979 Other 828 1,181 1,194 Total 30,667 29,832 30,394

## Landmarks

[Overbrook School for the Blind](/source/Overbrook_School_for_the_Blind)

Overbrook, while overwhelmingly residential in character, does have several notable landmark buildings and institutions.

### Natural

- [Mill Creek](/source/Mill_Creek_(Philadelphia)) - runs underground starting near Overbrook station

- [Indian Creek (Cobbs Creek tributary)](/source/Indian_Creek_(Cobbs_Creek_tributary)) - runs through Morris Park

- [Cobbs Creek Park](/source/Cobbs_Creek) – forms southern border of Overbrook section, undergoing restoration in many places

### Educational

Haddington Branch

- [Overbrook Elementary School](/source/Overbrook_Elementary_School) – 2032 N. 62nd St., listed on the [National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places)[13]

- [Overbrook High School](/source/Overbrook_High_School_(Philadelphia)) – 59th and Lancaster, listed on the National Register of Historic Places[13]

- [Overbrook School for the Blind](/source/Overbrook_School_for_the_Blind) – Malvern Avenue near 64th, landmark campus sporting Spanish Revival architecture

- [Lewis C. Cassidy School](/source/Lewis_C._Cassidy_School)/Academics Plus School, 6523 Lansdowne Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19151, listed on the National Register of Historic Places[13]

- Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School and Church – 63rd and Lancaster, historic grade school attended by actor [Will Smith](/source/Will_Smith)[14]

- The [Free Library of Philadelphia](/source/Free_Library_of_Philadelphia) Haddington Branch serves Overbrook-Morris Park.[15]

### Religious

- [African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas](/source/African_Episcopal_Church_of_St._Thomas) - 6361 Lancaster Avenue

- [Mosque of Shaikh M. R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen](/source/Mosque_of_Shaikh_M._R._Bawa_Muhaiyaddeen)

- [Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia](/source/Talmudical_Yeshiva_of_Philadelphia)

- [St. Donato Roman Catholic Church](/source/St._Donato_Roman_Catholic_Church_(Philadelphia))

- [Overbrook Presbyterian Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Overbrook_Presbyterian_Church&action=edit&redlink=1) at the corner of Lancaster Avenue and City Avenue, first constructed in 1889[16]

## Overbrook in media

Entertainer [Will Smith](/source/Will_Smith), who attended [Overbrook High School](/source/Overbrook_High_School_(Philadelphia)), named his production company, [Overbrook Entertainment](/source/Overbrook_Entertainment), after the neighborhood.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-DVRPCmap_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-DVRPCmap_1-1) ["Philadelphia Neighborhoods"](https://www.dvrpc.org/webmaps/pin/index.htm). *Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission*. Retrieved July 26, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-philaplanning.org_2-0)** ["The Political and Community Service Boundaries of Philadelphia"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110307203302/http://www.philaplanning.org/data/boundaries.pdf) (PDF). June 2004. p. 39. Archived from the original on March 7, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-waterhistoryphl.org_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-waterhistoryphl.org_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-waterhistoryphl.org_3-2) Levine, Adam. ["Overbrook, as it was"](https://waterhistoryphl.org/articles/overbrook-as-it-was/). *Water History PHL*. Retrieved July 29, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-upenn-collab_4-0)** Puckett, John L. ["Overbrook"](https://collaborativehistory.gse.upenn.edu/stories/overbrook). *West Philadelphia Collaborative History*. UPenn GSE. Retrieved July 30, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Rea, S.M.; Miller, J. ["Map of Blockley Township, by Rea and Miller"](https://westphillyhistory.archives.upenn.edu/maps/1849-map-rea-miller). *West Philadelphia Community History Center*. University of Pennsylvania University Archives and Records Center. Retrieved July 30, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-upenn-collab-rail_6-0)** Puckett, John L. ["Railroads and Trolleys in Overbrook"](https://collaborativehistory.gse.upenn.edu/stories/railroads-and-trolleys-overbrook). *West Philadelphia Collaborative History*. UPenn GSE. Retrieved July 30, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-upenn-collab-farms_7-0)** Puckett, John L. ["Overbrook Farms"](https://collaborativehistory.gse.upenn.edu/stories/overbrook-farms). *West Philadelphia Collaborative History*. UPenn GSE. Retrieved August 2, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-OverbrookFarmsClub_8-0)** ["Historical Significance"](https://www.overbrookfarmsphila.org/new-page). *Overbrook Farms Club*. Retrieved August 2, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-phila-historic-districts_9-0)** ["Philadelphia Historic Districts"](https://www.phila.gov/documents/philadelphia-historic-districts/). *City of Philadelphia*. Retrieved August 2, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-pwd_10-0)** ["19151"](https://water.phila.gov/projects/zip/19151/). *Philadelphia Water Department*. City of Philadelphia. Retrieved August 7, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-pew2011_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-pew2011_11-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-pew2011_11-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-pew2011_11-3) The Philadelphia Research Initiative. ["A City Transformed"](https://www.pewtrusts.org/~/media/legacy/uploadedfiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/reports/philadelphia_research_initiative/PhiladelphiaPopulationEthnicChangespdf.pdf) (PDF). *The Pew Charitable Trusts*. Retrieved August 7, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-census2020_12-0)** ["ZCTA 19151"](https://data.census.gov/profile/19151?g=860XX00US19151). *United States Census Bureau*. Retrieved August 7, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nris_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nris_13-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-nris_13-2) ["National Register Information System"](https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP). *[National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places)*. [National Park Service](/source/National_Park_Service). July 9, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Iannucci_14-0)** Iannucci, Lisa (2010). *Will Smith: A Biography*. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 4–10. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780313376108](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780313376108).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** "[Haddington Branch](http://libwww.freelibrary.org/branches/branch.cfm?loc=HAD)." [Free Library of Philadelphia](/source/Free_Library_of_Philadelphia). Retrieved on October 19, 2006.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["1889: Overbrook Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, PA"](https://www.history.pcusa.org/blog/2012/08/1889-overbrook-presbyterian-church-philadelphia-pa). *Presbyterian Historical Society*. Retrieved August 2, 2024.

## Further reading

- [Philadelphia portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Philadelphia)
- [Pennsylvania portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Pennsylvania)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Overbrook, Philadelphia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Overbrook,_Philadelphia).

- [Overbrook Farms Club website](http://www.overbrookfarmsclub.org/)

- [InfoResources West Philadelphia Neighborhood - Overbrook](http://westphillydata.library.upenn.edu/infoR_Neigh_Overbrook.htm)

- [Overbrook, as it was](https://waterhistoryphl.org/articles/overbrook-as-it-was/) focused on changes in the Overbrook area watershed and natural landscape

- [Overbrook School for the Blind website](http://www.obs.org/)

v t e Communities of Philadelphia Former municipalities are below. Sections and Neighborhoods Center City Avenue of the Arts Broad Street Chinatown Fitler Square Franklin Square Jewelers' Row Logan Square Old City Penn's Landing Rittenhouse Square Society Hill South Street Washington Square West South Bella Vista Central South Philadelphia Devil's Pocket Dickinson Square West East Passyunk Crossing Fabric Row FDR Park Girard Estate Grays Ferry Greenwich Hawthorne Italian Market Little Saigon Lower Moyamensing Marconi Plaza Moyamensing Newbold Packer Park Passyunk Square Pennsport Point Breeze Queen Village Southwark Southwest Center City Sports Complex West Passyunk Wharton Whitman Wilson Park Southwest Angora Bartram Village Clearview Eastwick Elmwood Park Hog Island Kingsessing Mount Moriah Paschall Southwest Schuylkill West Avenue of Technology Belmont Village Carroll Park Cathedral Park Centennial District Cedar Park Cobbs Creek Dunlap Garden Court Haddington Haverford North Mantua Mill Creek Overbrook Overbrook Farms Overbrook Park Parkside Powelton Village Saunders Park Spruce Hill Squirrel Hill 30th Street Station University City Walnut Hill Woodland Terrace Wynnefield Wynnefield Heights North Lower North Badlands Belfield Brewerytown Callowhill Cecil B. Moore El Centro de Oro / Fairhill Fairmount Francisville Hartranft Ivy Hill Ludlow N3RD Street North Central Northern Liberties North Philadelphia East North Philadelphia West Poplar Sharswood South Lehigh Spring Garden Stanton Strawberry Mansion Yorktown Upper North Allegheny West Badlands Franklinville Glenwood Hunting Park Nicetown–Tioga Olde Kensington Swampoodle West Kensington Olney-Oak Lane East Oak Lane Feltonville Fern Rock Koreatown Logan Ogontz Olney West Oak Lane Northwest Lower Northwest Andorra East Falls Manayunk Parkland Roxborough Wissahickon Upper Northwest Beggarstown Cedarbrook Chestnut Hill Germantown Morton Mount Airy Wister Northeast Near Northeast Burholme Castor Gardens Crescentville Fox Chase Frankford Holme Circle Holmesburg Juniata Lawndale Lexington Park Mayfair Oxford Circle Rhawnhurst Ryers Tacony Wissinoming Far Northeast Academy Gardens Ashton-Woodenbridge Bustleton Byberry Crestmont Farms Millbrook Modena Park Morrell Park Normandy Parkwood Pennypack Somerton Torresdale Upper Holmesburg Winchester Park River Wards Bridesburg Fishtown Harrowgate Kensington Olde Richmond Port Richmond Former Municipalities Cities Philadelphia (Center City) Boroughs Aramingo Bridesburg Frankford Germantown Manayunk West Philadelphia Whitehall Districts Belmont Kensington Moyamensing Northern Liberties Penn Richmond Southwark Spring Garden Townships Blockley Bristol Byberry Delaware Germantown Kingsessing Lower Dublin Moreland Northern Liberties Oxford Passyunk Penn Roxborough Footnotes As a consolidated city-county Philadelphia is its own county seat.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Overbrook, Philadelphia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overbrook%2C_Philadelphia) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overbrook%2C_Philadelphia?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.