Grays Ferry, Philadelphia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Grays Ferry
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Grays Road Recreation Center
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| Country |  United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Philadelphia |
| City | Philadelphia |
| Area code(s) | 215, 267 and 445 |
Grays Ferry, also known as Gray's Ferry, is a lively neighborhood in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located near the Schuylkill River.
This area is bordered by 25th Street to the east and the Schuylkill River to the west. Vare Avenue is to the south, and Grays Ferry Avenue is to the north. A part of this neighborhood, west of 34th Street, is also called Forgotten Bottom.
Grays Ferry shares its borders with Southwest Center City to the north. Point Breeze is to the east, and Girard Estate is to the south.
Historically, Grays Ferry was home to many Irish American families. While many Irish families still live there, it is now also home to a large African American community.
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Exploring the History of Grays Ferry
The Grays Ferry area grew up around an important river crossing. In the 1700s, Gray's Ferry was the southernmost of three ferries that crossed the Schuylkill River to reach Philadelphia. A ferry is like a boat that carries people and goods across a body of water.
The ferry that gave the neighborhood its name first belonged to Benjamin Chambers in the 1600s. By 1747, a man named George Gray took over the ferry. He also opened the nearby Gray's Inn and Gray's Garden. These places were very popular in the 1790s. Today, the river is crossed by the Gray's Ferry Bridge and several train bridges.
Before 1854, Grays Ferry was part of a larger area called Moyamensing Township. This township was first set up by a Dutch governor named Alexander d'Hinoyossa. Later, in 1684, William Penn officially approved its boundaries.
This neighborhood was once the location of the Schuylkill Arsenal. An arsenal is a place where weapons and military equipment are made or stored.
Several important buildings in Grays Ferry are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are recognized for their historical or architectural importance. These include the James Alcorn School, Charles Y. Audenried Junior High School, Grays Road Recreation Center, James McCann Foundation, University Avenue Bridge, and Anthony Wayne School.
Understanding Grays Ferry's Population
The people living in Grays Ferry come from different backgrounds. About 56% of the residents are Black, 39% are White, and 5% are from other groups.
More than 30% of the people living here are under 18 years old. This means it's a neighborhood with many young people and families.
Learning and Education in Grays Ferry
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Students in Grays Ferry attend schools within the School District of Philadelphia. Most students in the area go to Alcorn K-8 for elementary and middle school. They then attend Audenried High School.
Some parts of Grays Ferry are zoned for other schools. These include Delaplaine McDaniel School (K-8) and South Philadelphia High School. In the southeast part of the neighborhood, students might attend Stephen Girard Elementary, E. H. Vare Middle, and Audenried High.
The Anthony Wayne School is a building that used to be a school in Grays Ferry.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia used to run King of Peace School. This school closed in 1999. Its students, along with those from another school, joined St. Gabriel School to form Our Lady of the Angels School. In 2012, the old King of Peace building started being used for Alcorn's middle school classes.
St. Gabriel School was also run by the Diocese until 2012. It then became an Independence Mission School, which helped keep it open for a while. However, it closed completely in 2021. Most students from St. Gabriel School were expected to go to St. Thomas Aquinas School.
Housing and Community in Grays Ferry
The Tasker Homes were a large public housing project located at 29th and Morris Streets. They were built to provide homes for many families.
Over time, the city decided to change its approach to public housing. The Tasker Homes were taken down in 2004. In their place, new townhome-style public housing was built, called the Greater Grays Ferry Estates. These new homes are designed to be less crowded.
The neighborhood has seen some changes as the housing market in Philadelphia has grown. An empty lot at 30th and Oakford is being turned into a new park by a group of neighbors. This shows how the community is working to improve the area.
