Hawthorne, Philadelphia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hawthorne
Neighborhood of Philadelphia
Hawthorne Lofts, formerly Nathaniel Hawthorne School
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Philadelphia
City	Philadelphia
ZIP code	19147
Area code(s)	215, 267 and 445

Hawthorne is a neighborhood in the South Philadelphia part of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is located between Broad Street and 11th Street. The neighborhood stretches from South Street to Washington Avenue.

What is Hawthorne Like?

Hawthorne is a neighborhood that is changing and growing. It is one of the few areas near Center City, Philadelphia that has not been fully developed yet. It is located between two neighborhoods that are seeing a lot of new development: Southwest Center City to the west and Bella Vista to the east.

Many old homes in Hawthorne are being updated. Their outsides are often kept the same, but the insides are completely new. Also, old business buildings are being torn down. New townhomes are being built in their place.

• About 10 new homes have been built each year recently.
• New residents are moving in, partly because of tax breaks and homes with parking.

Important Buildings and Landmarks

One important landmark in Hawthorne was the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza. This was a group of tall apartment buildings at 13th and Fitzwater Street. They were first called Hawthorne Square.

• On October 17, 1999, these four towers were taken down in a controlled explosion.
• They are slowly being replaced with smaller public housing. This new housing is based on ideas from New Urbanism. This is a design movement that promotes walkable neighborhoods with a mix of housing and jobs. This project was helped by the HOPE VI program. This program helps improve public housing.

The Nathaniel Hawthorne elementary school was turned into apartments in 2011.

The High School for the Creative and Performing Arts is also in Hawthorne. It is in the old Ridgway Library building. This fancy building was built in 1878. It looks like the Parthenon in Greece. It used to be the home of the Library Company of Philadelphia.

Hawthorne's Past

The area now known as Hawthorne has an interesting history. According to Sandra Robinson, the name Hawthorne Square first referred to the area between Lombard and Bainbridge streets.

• This area was once a popular spot for African American jazz musicians and lively entertainment.
• Over time, as the city worked to improve areas like Society Hill and Washington Square West, the community of Hawthorne Square shifted. This led to the current boundaries of the Hawthorne neighborhood.

Several important buildings and areas in Hawthorne are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are recognized for their historical importance. These include:

• The Washington Avenue Historic District
• The Bartlett School
• The Nathaniel Hawthorne School

Learning and Libraries

Hawthorne Cultural Center, 1200 Carpenter St.

The School District of Philadelphia runs the public schools in the area. One of these is the Academy at Palumbo. This school was formerly known as Bartlett School or Frank C. Palumbo Junior High School.

The Free Library of Philadelphia also has a branch that serves the area. It is called the Charles Santore Branch. It used to be known as the Southwark Branch.

Images for kids

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  Hawthorne Cultural Center, 1200 Carpenter St.