Kingsessing, Philadelphia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kingsessing
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The Kingsessing Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia
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| Country |  United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Philadelphia |
| City | Philadelphia |
| Area code(s) | 215, 267, and 445 |
Kingsessing is a neighborhood in the Southwest part of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It sits on the west side of the Schuylkill River. Kingsessing is next to neighborhoods like Cedar Park and Mount Moriah. It also borders the town of Yeadon in Delaware County. Its general borders are 53rd Street to the northeast, Baltimore Avenue to the northwest, Cobbs Creek and 60th Street to the southwest, and Woodland Avenue to the southeast.
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A Look Back at Kingsessing
The name Kingsessing, sometimes spelled Chinsessing, comes from a Lenape word. The Lenape are a group of Native Americans who lived in this area. Their word means "a place where there is a meadow." The historic Lenape people had a village with this same name. It was located roughly where the Kingsessing neighborhood is today. When the area was officially organized, it was also named Kingsessing.
In 1669, a Swedish settler named Hans Månsson received a special land grant. This grant was for a large 1,100-acre farm along the Schuylkill River. This land stretched from where 60th Street is now to the Woodlands Cemetery. It also went as far west as Cobb's Creek.
Bartram's Garden: A Historic Green Space
Bartram's Garden is a very old and important garden in this neighborhood. It was started in 1728 by a colonial botanist named John Bartram. A botanist is a scientist who studies plants. This garden became famous around the world. Many people consider it the first true botanical garden in the United States. Today, Bartram's Garden is still open and is a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a place recognized for its special historical importance.
Learning in Kingsessing
Public Libraries for Everyone
The Free Library of Philadelphia has a branch right in Kingsessing. It's called the Kingsessing Branch. You can find it at 1201 South 51st Street, just below Chester Avenue. Libraries are great places to read, learn, and find information.
