Rhawnhurst, Philadelphia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rhawnhurst
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The intersection of Rhawn Street and Castor Avenue in Rhawnhurst
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| Country |  United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Philadelphia County |
| City | Philadelphia |
| ZIP code |
19152, parts of 19111
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| Area code(s) | 215, 267 and 445 |
Rhawnhurst is a neighborhood located in the Northeast part of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is a place where many families live. The neighborhood was named after George and William Rhawn by the people who developed the land.
Rhawnhurst is generally bordered by Cottman Avenue to the south and Pennway Street to the west. To the north, you'll find the Pennypack Creek, and to the east is Roosevelt Boulevard. The main center of Rhawnhurst is where Castor Avenue and Rhawn Street meet. This area uses ZIP codes 19152 and parts of 19111.
Contents
How Rhawnhurst Grew
Before the 1940s, much of Rhawnhurst was open farmland. While nearby areas like Mayfair were already growing, the land between Pennypack Park and Cottman Avenue was still mostly empty.
After World War II, many families were started, leading to a "baby boom." This meant there was a big need for new homes. So, during the 1950s and 1960s, many houses were built in the open areas of Northeast Philadelphia. Most homes in Rhawnhurst are "twins" (two homes connected), along with some "ranchers" (single-story homes) and "duplexes" (two separate living units in one building). A local builder named A.P. Orleans built many of these homes.
Getting Around Rhawnhurst
People in Rhawnhurst usually travel by car or by public transportation. Some of the main roads include Cottman Avenue (PA 73), Bustleton Avenue (PA 532), Castor Avenue, Rhawn Street, and the Roosevelt Boulevard (U.S. 1).
The intersection of Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard is a very busy spot. To help keep people safe, special red light cameras have been put in place there. These cameras help reduce traffic violations.
Several SEPTA bus lines serve Rhawnhurst. These buses can connect you to the Market-Frankford Line (an elevated train), the Broad Street Line (a subway), and regional train lines.
Schools in Rhawnhurst
Rhawnhurst has five schools for children and teenagers.
The School District of Philadelphia runs four of these schools:
- Farrell Elementary School is a school for students from kindergarten to 8th grade. It opened in the 1960s.
- Rhawnhurst Elementary School opened in 1948. It serves another part of the neighborhood.
- Castor Gardens Middle School is the middle school for students who go to Rhawnhurst Elementary.
- Northeast High School is the high school for the area. The current building opened in 1957.
There is also a private Catholic school called Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic School. It opened in 1929 and is run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Places of Worship
People of many different faiths live in Rhawnhurst. There are several churches and synagogues in the neighborhood.
Some of the Catholic churches include Resurrection and BVM. Protestant churches include Redemption Lutheran Church, Rhawnhurst Baptist Church, All Saints Episcopal Church, Rhawnhurst Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia First Church of the Nazarene, and the Philadelphia Boulevard Seventh-day Adventist Church.
There are also several synagogues and Jewish congregations, such as Ahavas Torah, Beth Medrash Harav, B'nai Israel – Ohev Zedek, The Lubavitcher Center, Mesillat Yesharim, and Congregation Dibrot Eliyahu.
Shopping in Rhawnhurst
Rhawnhurst does not have many factories or big industries. However, it has many places to shop!
Some of the main shopping centers include the Bell's Corner Shopping Center and the Cottman Bustleton Center. The Roosevelt Mall is another large shopping center that opened in 1964. You can also find many smaller shops along Castor Avenue, Bustleton Avenue, and Cottman Avenue.
Fun and Recreation
One of the biggest and best places for fun in Rhawnhurst is Pennypack Park. It is one of the largest parks in a city in the United States and forms the northern border of the neighborhood.
Other places for recreation include:
- Bradford Park: This is a smaller park that is very popular as a dog park. It is located near the Roosevelt Mall.
- Pelbano Recreation Center: This place is often called "Solly" because it's on Solly Avenue. It's a playground run by the City of Philadelphia.
- Northeast Regional Library: This is a great place to find books and learn new things.
Famous People from Rhawnhurst
Many interesting people have come from Rhawnhurst:
- Rubén Amaro Jr. is a former professional baseball player, a general manager for baseball teams, and a coach.
- Ralph Garman is known for his impressions and as a radio personality.
- Duane Swierczynski is a writer who writes crime stories.
- Dennis Duffy is a stunt double, known for working with actor Timothée Chalamet.
- Howard Eskin is a well-known sports commentator on radio and TV.
