Point Breeze, Philadelphia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Point Breeze
|
|
|---|---|
David Landreth School
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Philadelphia |
| City | Philadelphia |
| ZIP Code |
19145, 19146
|
| Area code(s) | 215, 267 and 445 |
Point Breeze is a lively and diverse neighborhood in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It's located in the city of Philadelphia. The neighborhood is bordered by 25th Street to the west, Washington Avenue to the north, 18th Street to the east, and Moore Street to the south.
Contents
History of Point Breeze
Long ago, in the 1800s, much of South Philadelphia, including Point Breeze, was open land. It wasn't yet part of the city's street plan.
Around the 1860s, a place called "Point Breeze" on the Schuylkill River became important. It was used for processing oil. Oil from Western Pennsylvania was brought here, processed, and then shipped out to sea.
The road leading to this oil spot was first called "Long Lane." Later, it became "Point Breeze Avenue." This avenue gave its name to the neighborhood that grew up around it, starting around 1895.
Who Lived Here?
At first, many working-class families from Europe moved to Point Breeze. These included Jewish, Italian, and Irish immigrants.
In the 1930s, many African Americans moved to Point Breeze. They were part of a big movement called the Great Migration. They left the Southern states to find work and escape unfair laws.
By the 1960s, Point Breeze was a safe and friendly place. It had many businesses along Point Breeze Avenue, which people called "The Breeze." Over time, some people and businesses moved away. This changed the neighborhood's population to mostly African American.
New Growth and Changes
In the 1990s, efforts were made to improve the neighborhood. Organizations like South Philadelphia H.O.M.E.S. helped build new homes and schools.
Also in the 1990s and 2000s, new immigrants moved to Point Breeze. Many people from Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam, made Point Breeze their home.
Since the 2000s, Point Breeze has seen even more new development. New homes and businesses have been built, especially near Broad Street and Washington Avenue.
Several historic buildings in Point Breeze are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the George W. Childs School and the David Landreth School.
Why is it Called Point Breeze?
The name 'Point Breeze' first belonged to a specific spot on the west side of the Schuylkill River. Point Breeze Avenue was the road that connected the city to this spot. The avenue cuts diagonally through the neighborhood's streets.
Culture in Point Breeze
Point Breeze is home to several beautiful murals from the Mural Arts Program in Philadelphia.
One famous mural is We the Youth. It was created in 1987 by artist Keith Haring and a youth group. You can find it at 22nd and Ellsworth. In 2013, the mural was restored, and a small community garden was built nearby.
Education in Point Breeze
Students in Point Breeze attend schools run by the School District of Philadelphia. The neighborhood has different "catchment areas," which means certain schools serve specific parts of the neighborhood.
- The Delaplaine McDaniel School (grades K–8) serves the western part.
- The Edwin M. Stanton School (grades K-8) serves the northern part.
- The George W. Childs School (grades K–8) serves the eastern part.
Students from these three schools can go on to attend South Philadelphia High School.
In the southernmost part of Point Breeze, students attend:
- Stephen Girard School (grades K–4)
- Universal Institute Charter School at Vare (grades 5–8)
- Universal Institute Charter School at Audenried (grades 9-12)
Transportation
Getting around Point Breeze is easy with SEPTA. The SEPTA Broad Street Line subway has stations at Snyder, Tasker-Morris, and Ellsworth-Federal. Several SEPTA bus routes also run through the neighborhood.
Notable People from Point Breeze
Many talented people have come from Point Breeze, including:
- Black Thought (Tariq Trotter), a rapper from the Grammy-winning group The Roots.
- Rasual Butler, a professional basketball player.
- Beanie Sigel (Dwight Grant), a rapper.
- H. Patrick Swygert, a former president of Howard University.
- The Heath Brothers, a famous jazz trio.
- Gene Perret, a TV writer.
- Richie Rome, a music producer and conductor.
- Anthony Burrell, a dancer and choreographer.
- Anna C. Verna, a former president of the Philadelphia City Council.
- John Blake, an American jazz violinist.
- Mamie Nichols, a local community activist.
- Josh Kruger, a journalist and social justice advocate.
Images for kids
-
Washington Avenue and 19th Street, looking into Point Breeze
