Bridesburg, Philadelphia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bridesburg
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St. John Cantius Church in Bridesburg
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 Bridesburg
Location in Pennsylvania
Bridesburg
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Philadelphia |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area codes | 215, 267 and 445 |
Bridesburg is a neighborhood in the River Wards section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is the northernmost part of this area. Bridesburg is known for its history and diverse community.
Many families from Germany, Ireland, and Poland have made Bridesburg their home over the years. The neighborhood has two beautiful Catholic churches. These include All Saints Church, built in 1889, and Saint John Cantius Church, built in 1898.
Contents
Where is Bridesburg Located?
Bridesburg is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its historic borders included the Frankford Creek to the south and west. The Delaware River forms its southeastern edge.
Major roads like Aramingo Avenue and I-95 are on its western side. Nearby neighborhoods are Wissinoming to the northeast and Frankford to the northwest. Port Richmond is to the southwest.
Bridesburg's Interesting History
Before Europeans arrived, the Lenni Lenape Native American people lived in this area. Explorer Henry Hudson was the first European to visit in 1609. He found that the Lenni Lenape were the first inhabitants.
Early European Settlements
In 1638, people from Sweden bought land east of the Delaware River from the Native Americans. They called this area New Sweden. The Swedes and Native Americans lived together peacefully.
By 1645, the Swedes had expanded their settlements. Then, in 1647, the Dutch arrived. But the area really started to develop in the 1680s when the English, led by William Penn, came. After 1750, many German families settled in Bridesburg and nearby Frankford.
How Bridesburg Got Its Name
Bridesburg was founded in the early 1800s. It was named after Joseph Kirkbride. He owned a lot of land there and ran a ferry across Frankford Creek. In 1811, he was allowed to build a bridge and charge a toll to cross it.
In 1833, Philadelphia County bought Kirkbride's bridge and some land for $5,500. The name "Kirkbridesburg" was too long, so people shortened it to "Bridesburg."
Bridesburg officially became a borough on April 1, 1848. A borough is like a small town with its own government. However, in 1854, Bridesburg became part of the city of Philadelphia. This happened because of a law called the Act of Consolidation, 1854.
Point-No-Point: A Tricky Name
Before it was called Bridesburg, this area was known as Point-no-Point. This name came from how the land looked at the mouth of Frankford Creek. When you approached it from one direction, it looked like a sharp point sticking out. But as you got closer, it seemed to disappear. Then, if you kept going, it looked like a point again!
Even famous people visited this area. John Adams, who later became the second President of the United States, wrote about his travels through Point-no-Point in 1777. He described the beautiful fields and trees along the Delaware River.
Bridesburg's Industries and Community
After Bridesburg became a borough, industries started to grow. The Bridesburg Manufacturing Company, a textile mill, was set up in 1820. The U.S. Arsenal also opened in 1816, bringing more jobs.
In the late 1800s, a company called Costello, Cooey & Co. made special leather from young goats. They employed over 100 workers. This company moved to Bridesburg in 1897. They had modern factory buildings and equipment.
Polish families began moving to Bridesburg between 1900 and 1920. Many Polish men found work in leather plants. These jobs were often difficult, but they were important for the new immigrants.
Bridesburg is home to the second oldest VFW Post in the world. It was founded in 1899. The neighborhood is also proud of the Joseph A. Ferko String Band. This band is a famous part of the Philadelphia Mummers Parade.
Population Facts
In 2010, Bridesburg had a population of 8,638 people. Most residents (90%) were white. About 5.5% were Hispanic, and 1.9% were black or African-American. The rest were Asian or other mixed races.
Famous Places and Landmarks
Bridesburg has several important landmarks:
- Betsy Ross Bridge
- Bridesburg Recreation Center
- Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery
- Dow Chemical Company
- AdvanSix Phenol Plant
- The historic Bridesburg School (though it was taken down in the late 2000s).
- Aqua String Band
- Ferko String Band
Churches in Bridesburg
For its size, Bridesburg has many churches:
- All Saints Roman Catholic Church (building still stands)
- Bridesburg Emanuel United Church of Christ
- Bridesburg Methodist Episcopal Church
- First Presbyterian Church of Bridesburg (now closed)
- First Baptist Church of Bridesburg (now closed)
- Grace Baptist Church of Bridesburg
- ReaLife Church
- St. John Cantius Roman Catholic Church
Cemeteries
- Holy Redeemer Cemetery
- Emanuel United Church of Christ Cemetery
- All Saints Church Cemetery
Education in Bridesburg
The School District of Philadelphia runs Bridesburg Elementary School for younger students. Older students in the area attend Warren G. Harding Middle School and Frankford High School.
In the past, there were two Catholic schools: All Saints School and St. John Cantius School. Pope John Paul II Regional Catholic School operated from 2004 to 2012. Today, students who choose Catholic education often go to Blessed Trinity Regional School in Mayfair.
There are also charter schools in the area:
- Franklin Towne Charter Elementary School (for grades K-8)
- Franklin Towne Charter High School (for grades 9–12)
- Maritime Academy Charter School (for grades 2–12)
Getting Around: Public Transportation
Several SEPTA bus routes serve Bridesburg, including routes 25, 73, J, and 84. The Bridesburg station is also part of the Trenton Line of SEPTA Regional Rail, making it easy to travel by train.
Images for kids
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Costello, Cooey & Co. Fine Chrome Kid. Bridesburg, Philadelphia. North American. 6 April 1908.
