Fairmount, Philadelphia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fairmount
Neighborhood of Philadelphia
From the 11th floor deck of 2601 Pennsylvania Ave, Overlooking 26th and Aspen Streets intersection
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Philadelphia
City	Philadelphia
Area code(s)	215, 267, and 445

Fairmount is a lively neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It's located in the Lower North Philadelphia area. Its main borders are Fairmount Avenue to the north, Corinthian Avenue to the west, Girard Avenue to the south, and the Schuylkill River to the east.

Sometimes, other nearby neighborhoods like Spring Garden, Franklintown, and Francisville are also considered part of Fairmount. Fairmount and Spring Garden are often called the "Art Museum Area." This is because they are very close to the famous Philadelphia Museum of Art. Fairmount is also home to the historic Eastern State Penitentiary.

The name "Fairmount" comes from a tall hill where the Philadelphia Museum of Art now stands. Long ago, William Penn, who founded Pennsylvania, wanted to build his home there. Later, the name was given to a street that runs through the heart of the neighborhood.

Fairmount's Fascinating History

Fairmount has a rich history, from early farms to important city landmarks.

Early Days and Growth

In the 1600s and 1700s, a few European settlers farmed this area. Back then, Fairmount was outside Philadelphia's city limits. Wealthy city families also built their country homes here. Some of these old estates included Bush Hill, White Hall, and Lemon Hill. Lemon Hill still stands today, overlooking the Schuylkill River. Fairmount became part of Philadelphia in 1854.

During the American Revolutionary War, British soldiers built defenses here. They wanted to stop American troops, led by George Washington, from attacking them from the north. This was the only side of the city not protected by water.

Amazing Inventions and Buildings

In the early 1800s, Fairmount became home to three big, new, and famous places.

The Fairmount Water Works

The first was the Fairmount Water Works, built in 1822. It used water power to pump water from the Schuylkill River. This water went into big tanks on Fairmount Hill. From there, it flowed by gravity to homes and businesses in the city. It was an amazing engineering feat!

The Water Works was also beautiful, with buildings that looked like ancient Greek temples. These are some of the first examples of Greek Revival style in the U.S. Protecting this drinking water led to the creation of Fairmount Park. This is one of the world's largest city park systems. Even famous writer Charles Dickens wanted to see the Water Works when he visited Philadelphia!

Eastern State Penitentiary

The second important place was Eastern State Penitentiary, which opened in 1829. It was less than half a mile from the Water Works. This prison was the first in the country built to help criminals change, not just punish them. Its unique design, like spokes on a wheel, became a model for many prisons worldwide.

However, its system of keeping prisoners in solitary confinement was not successful. It was meant to give prisoners time to think about their actions. But it often caused great sadness and mental problems. Charles Dickens also visited this prison and strongly disagreed with its methods.

Girard College

In 1831, a third important institution opened: Girard College. This school was founded by Stephen Girard, who was one of the richest men in America. He was an orphan himself and wanted to create a great school for poor orphaned boys. This was at a time when public education for everyone didn't exist.

The school's main building, Founders Hall, is a beautiful example of Greek Revival architecture. It is a very important historical landmark, just like the Water Works and Eastern State Penitentiary. In 1968, the United States Supreme Court made a big change. They ruled that Girard College had to accept all students, not just "poor, male, white, orphan" boys. This was a major step for equal access to education in America.

Neighborhood Development

These three places were built when Fairmount was still a quiet, rural area. But starting in the 1830s, Philadelphia began to grow. Homes and factories started to appear on the edges of Fairmount. The Baldwin Locomotive Works, which made train engines, was a big factory nearby. It helped the neighborhood grow in the mid-1800s.

Fairmount's homes were usually smaller row houses. The people living there often worked in factories or other local businesses. The neighborhood had many lumber yards, coal yards, bakeries, and iron foundries. There were also some larger houses built for factory managers and brewery owners.

Fairmount's Modern Attractions

Fairmount is known for its many cultural attractions today.

The Art Museum Area

The neighborhood is very close to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. You might know its famous "Rocky Steps" from the movie Rocky! Fairmount is at the end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. This wide, tree-lined avenue connects City Hall to the Art Museum.

This area is called the "Museum District" because it has so many museums. Along the Parkway, you can find the Rodin Museum, Philadelphia’s Central Library, the Franklin Institute of Science, the Academy of Natural Sciences, and the Barnes Museum. The Parkway was designed like the famous Champs-Élysées in Paris. It's a great place for big outdoor events, parades, concerts, and races in Philadelphia.

Eastern State Penitentiary Tours

Eastern State Penitentiary, located on Fairmount Avenue, is another popular spot. You can take tours of this historic prison, which opened in 1829 and is now abandoned. It's also turned into a haunted house every Halloween season! Because it looks a bit like the old French prison, the Bastille, it's part of Philadelphia’s Bastille Day celebration.

Who Lives in Fairmount?

Fairmount is a diverse neighborhood in North Philadelphia. Over the years, more and more people have moved to the area. Many newcomers choose Fairmount because it's close to Center City, the main downtown area.

According to the 2000 census, the population of Fairmount, Spring Garden, and Francisville included people from many backgrounds. The population of Fairmount grew by 3% between 1990 and 2000.

Learning in Fairmount

Fairmount is part of the School District of Philadelphia.

Elementary Schools

Children in Fairmount attend one of two elementary schools for Kindergarten through 8th grade:

• Bache-Martin Elementary School
• Laura Wheeler Waring Elementary School

There is also a Catholic elementary school in the neighborhood:

• St. Francis Xavier School

High Schools

For high school, students living in Fairmount are usually assigned to Benjamin Franklin High School. However, many residents also attend private high schools like Roman Catholic High School or J. W. Hallahan Catholic Girls High School.

Philadelphia Mennonite High School is a private high school located in Fairmount. It has about 100 students.

Images for kids

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  The Bergdoll Mansion at 22nd and Green Streets in Fairmount.