Penn District, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Penn District
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Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania highlighting Penn District prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854
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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 Penn District was once a small area in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It was like a mini-township within the larger county. This district no longer exists today.
In 1854, the Penn District became part of the much larger City of Philadelphia. This happened because of a special law called the Act of Consolidation, 1854. This law brought many smaller towns and districts together.
Contents
History of Penn District
How the District Was Formed
The Penn District was originally part of a bigger area called Penn Township. It was located north of Spring Garden, between Sixth Street and the Schuylkill River. Its boundaries were a bit complicated. They included areas near what is now Fairmont Avenue and Broad Street.
The Penn District officially became its own district on February 26, 1844. This change was made by a law passed by the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The General Assembly is like the state's main law-making group. The new district was known as "the Commissioners and Inhabitants of the district of Penn."
Joining the City of Philadelphia
For about ten years, the Penn District operated as its own local government. However, the area around Philadelphia was growing very fast. There were many small towns, boroughs, and districts, each with its own rules. This made things confusing and hard to manage.
To fix this, the state passed the Act of Consolidation, 1854. This important law combined all these smaller areas, including the Penn District, into one big city. That city was the modern-day City of Philadelphia. After 1854, the Penn District stopped existing as a separate place.
Want to Learn More?
- Information courtesy of ushistory.org
- Incorporated District, Boroughs, and Townships in the County of Philadelphia, 1854 By Rudolph J. Walther - an excerpt from a book on the ushistory.org website
