Southwark, Philadelphia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Southwark District
|
|
|---|---|
Corner of 3rd and Queen Streets
|
|
Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania highlighting Southwark District prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Philadelphia |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 215, 267 and 445 |
|
Southwark District
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | Bounded by Delaware, Washington Aves., 5th, Lombard, Front, and Catharine Sts., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Area | 720 acres (290 ha) |
| Built | 1703 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001172 |
| Added to NRHP | May 19, 1972 |
Southwark was originally the Southwark District. It was like a small town or area in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States, during the time of the American colonies. Today, it is a neighborhood located in the South Philadelphia part of Philadelphia. Because it was located south of the early city of Philadelphia, its name was chosen to be like the Southwark area in London, England, which is also just south of the city of London.
Contents
Exploring Southwark's Past
Southwark is one of the very first English settlements in Philadelphia County. It's actually the oldest district founded by settlers in Philadelphia. This is because it was part of an even older Swedish colony called New Sweden. Southwark started as a piece of land between two areas called Passyunk and Wicaco. Because many Swedish settlers lived in Wicaco and Moyamensing, Southwark grew faster than other parts of the county, besides the main city of Philadelphia.
How Southwark Became a District
The Pennsylvania General Assembly (which was like the state's government at the time) officially created the district of Southwark on May 14, 1762. They did this to help people work together on building streets. By 1838, the district even had its own police force to keep things safe.
Shipbuilding and Famous Figures
Southwark was an important place for building ships. It was home to the shipbuilding area of Joshua Humphreys. He was a famous shipbuilder and naval architect. He built the first six ships for the United States Navy and is known as the "Father of the U.S. Navy."
Joining the City of Philadelphia
In 1854, Southwark became part of the larger city of Philadelphia. This happened because of a law called the Act of Consolidation, 1854. At that time, the Southwark district covered an area bounded by South Street to the north and went down to Mifflin Street near the river.
Southwark's Name Today
Not many things still use the name "Southwark" in this part of Philadelphia today. You can find the Southwark Post Office at 925 Dickinson Street. There's also a Southwark Restaurant at 4th and Bainbridge Streets. A public housing project along Washington Avenue is called Southwark Development Corp. Even though it's not in the original district, the word "Southwark" is painted on a wall at 23rd Street and Washington Avenue.
Modern Neighborhoods in the Area
In 1969, this area of Philadelphia was given new names. The northern part is now usually called Queen Village. The neighborhood of Pennsport makes up the main southern half of what used to be Southwark. This area is a mix of different people, including middle-class, working-class, and professional families from many backgrounds.
Historic District Boundaries
The historic district, which is recognized by the National Register of Historic Places, has specific boundaries. It's bordered by 5th Street on the west, Lombard Street on the north, and Washington Avenue on the south. On the east, it's bordered by Front, Catharine, and Queen Streets, and Columbus Boulevard (which used to be called Delaware Avenue).
Learning in Southwark
Students living in this area attend schools that are part of the School District of Philadelphia.
Most residents are zoned to attend Southwark School for grades K-8. After that, they go to South Philadelphia High School.
The Vare-Washington School is also nearby. This school is located in the building that used to be the George Washington School. Students who are zoned for Vare-Washington also go to Furness High School. Also, students from the area that used to be the Abigail Vare School zone go to Furness High School.
Images for kids
-
"The Swedish Church Southwark with the building of the Frigate Philadelphia," Plate 29 of Birch's Views of Philadelphia (1800)
-
Southwark School
Related Reading
- Johnson, Amandus (1927) The Swedes on the Delaware (International Printing Company, Philadelphia)
- Weslager, C. A. (1988) New Sweden on the Delaware 1638-1655 (The Middle Atlantic Press, Wilmington ) ISBN: 0-912608-65-X
