Learn How Philadelphia Neighborhoods Earned Their Names

By

Aerial skyline of Philadelphia.
Image via iStock.
Philadelphia's more than 100 neighborhoods all have a story behind their names.

Philadelphia is a historic city of neighborhoods.

Each one has a story as to how they earned their names, and a Reddit page has compiled a list of those stories.

Bartram Village is named in honor of famous botanist, John Bartram, who lived in the nearby area.

Bella Vista is Italian for “Beautiful Sight,” and was developed primarily by Italian immigrants.

Meanwhile, Brewerytown was developed largely by German immigrants and the name is in connection to its peak in the 1860s when there were 21 breweries in the neighborhood.

Center City East is located in the original section of Philadelphia, while Chinatown is named in recognition of the influx of Chinese Americans who arrived from out west after 1869, which marked the completion of the first transcontinental railroad.

The Chestnut Hill area was previously a popular vacation spot and was full of now extinct Chestnut trees.

East Oak Lane is named for the main thoroughfare of the area and in honor of an ancient oak tree that was lost in a storm.

Feltonville, previously named Wyoming Valley, is named in recognition of the prominent landowning Felton family.

Old City is located in the oldest part of the city, where William Penn and the Quakers first settled.

Queen Village is named to honor Queen Christina of Sweden.

David Rittenhouse, the first director of the U.S. Mint, is the namesake of Rittenhouse Square.

Learn more about how Philadelphia’s 100-plus neighborhoods got their names in Reddit.

_____


Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on PHILADELPHIA Today in November 2024.

Connect With Your Community

Subscribe for stories that matter!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is hidden when viewing the form
BT Yes
Advertisement