Kensington District, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kensington District
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 Kensington District
Location in Pennsylvania
Kensington District
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 |
The Kensington District, also known as The Kensington District of the Northern Liberties, was once a separate town. It was one of twenty-nine towns that made up Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, before 1854. In that year, it became part of the much larger City of Philadelphia.
Today, the area that was once Kensington District includes parts of several Philadelphia neighborhoods. These are Olde Kensington, West Kensington, and Fishtown. It also covers parts of Ludlow, Hartranft, Fairhill, Northern Liberties, and the modern Kensington. From 1820 to 1854, Kensington District was a self-governing area.
Contents
Kensington's Early History
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 7,118 | — | |
| 1830 | 13,394 | 88.2% | |
| 1840 | 22,314 | 66.6% | |
| 1850 | 46,774 | 109.6% | |
Kensington was first planned as a town in the 1730s. This was done by Captain Anthony Palmer. He was an English merchant who came to Pennsylvania around 1704. Palmer bought land and continued his business.
He later became involved in politics. In 1710, he joined the Pennsylvania Council. In 1729, Palmer bought a large property. It included the old Fairman Mansion and 191½ acres of land. He started to lay out his new town, Kensington.
How Kensington Got Its Name
Palmer sold lots to shipbuilders from nearby Philadelphia. They wanted to expand their businesses. Kensington began with shipbuilding and fishing. The area known as Fishtown today was a small part of the original district.
Kensington was named after Kensington Palace in England. This was a home for the monarch. The early street names in Kensington also reflected this royal theme. Examples include King Street (now Beach), Queen Street (now Richmond), Prince Street (now Girard Avenue), and Duke Street (now Thompson).
Kensington's Brief Time as Capital
Captain Palmer became the acting Governor of Pennsylvania from 1748 to 1749. This happened because the governor had returned to England for health reasons. During Palmer's time as acting governor, Kensington was the working capital for one day. The Council met there because Palmer was too old and unwell to travel to Philadelphia.
Becoming a Self-Governing District
By 1820, Kensington was growing. Many wealthy people lived there. They asked the state to become a self-governing district. At that time, it was part of the Northern Liberties Township.
Kensington was granted self-rule on March 6, 1820. For 34 years, it managed its own affairs. It was a separate district within Philadelphia County.
The Act of Consolidation, 1854
In 1854, Kensington joined with other towns and districts. They all combined to form the larger City of Philadelphia. This was called the Act of Consolidation, 1854.
This change was needed for better public services. Things like utilities and policing could be managed more easily. For example, Kensington had been the site of social unrest. This included the Anti-Irish Catholic Riots in 1844.
Kensington's Industrial Success
Over the years, Kensington became very successful. It was known as the heart of Philadelphia's industrial boom. When people talked about things "Made in Philadelphia," much of it came from Kensington.
There was a saying: "If you can't get it at K & A (Kensington & Allegheny Avenues), you can't get it." This showed how important Kensington was for manufacturing.
Famous Industries in Kensington
Many famous industries started in Kensington. These included:
- William Cramp Shipyard
- John B. Stetson Hat Company
- Schoenhut Toy Factory
- Bromley Mills
- Disston’s Keystone Saw Works
Before the Great Depression in the 1930s, Kensington had a huge number of jobs. At one point, there were 35,000 textile jobs alone.
Leaders of the Kensington District
The Kensington District had a Board of Commissioners. These leaders helped manage the district's affairs during its time as a self-governing area. They included people like John C. Brown, Henry Remmey, Jr., and John Robbins, Jr. These individuals served as presidents of the board, guiding Kensington's growth and development.
