Southwest Philadelphia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Southwest Philadelphia
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Southwest Philadelphia as viewed from an airplane
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Southwest Philadelphia, as defined by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission
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| Country | United States |
| State |  Pennsylvania |
| County | Philadelphia |
| City | Philadelphia |
| Area | |
| • Total | 10.6 sq mi (27 km2) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 123,829 |
| • Density | 5,192/sq mi (2,005/km2) |
| ZIP code |
19142, 19143, 19153
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Southwest Philadelphia is a part of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It's located west of the Schuylkill River and stretches to the city's edge. The northern border runs along Baltimore Avenue, then follows train tracks and streets like Kingsessing Avenue.
This area was once home to many Irish-American families. Today, it has a large African American population. Many people from West African countries also live here. Because of this, some people call it "Little Africa."
Southwest Philadelphia is home to Philadelphia International Airport. You can also find large oil refineries and other big industries here. The houses are varied, from fancy Queen Anne-style twin homes to simpler ones. Many newer rowhouses with porches are also common.
Less than 1% of Southwest Philadelphia has tree cover. This means it has one of the lowest amounts of shade trees in the city. The Philadelphia Police Department helps keep the area safe.
A Look Back: Southwest Philadelphia's Past
This area was once known as Kingsessing Township. It covered the far southwestern part of Philadelphia County. The name Kingsessing or Chinsessing comes from the Lenape word for "a place where there is a meadow."
The first European settlers were Swedes and Finns in 1646. They started the village of Kingsessing. This was the first village settled by Europeans in what is now Philadelphia. Fort Nya Vasa was also built here.
Later, William Penn took control of the colony. Kingsessing Township was created soon after. In 1854, the township became part of the City of Philadelphia. This happened because of the Act of Consolidation, 1854.
For many years, Kingsessing was a rural area. It had farms, orchards, and gardens. A famous garden, Bartram's Garden, was located here. It was often called the "Kingsess Garden." By the mid-1800s, Kingsessing was a major spot for plant nurseries and flower gardens.
Who Lives Here: A Diverse Community
More than 80,000 people call Southwest Philadelphia home. About 60% of residents are Black, 36% are White, and 4% are Asian.
In the past, until the late 1960s, many Irish-Americans lived in Southwest Philadelphia. Later, people from Southeast Asia and African-Americans from nearby West Philadelphia moved to the area.
Since the late 1990s, many West African immigrants have settled here. This community grew a lot in the early 2000s. Most of these immigrants are refugees from countries like Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Côte d'Ivoire. Southwest Philadelphia has often been a safe place for refugees.
Getting Around: Public Transit
Southwest Philadelphia has good public transportation. The SEPTA system helps people get around. Several trolley lines run through the area. They use streets like Chester, Woodland, and Elmwood Avenues. These trolleys make it easy to reach Center City. They also go to nearby towns like Darby and Yeadon.
Four of the five Subway-Surface Lines serve Southwest Philadelphia:
- Route 11 runs along Woodland Avenue to Darby.
- Route 13 runs along Chester Avenue to Yeadon.
- Route 34 runs along Baltimore Avenue to Angora.
- Route 36 runs along Elmwood Avenue to Eastwick, near the airport.
The area also has many bus routes. These include routes 12, 37, 52, 64, 108, and G. You can also use the Airport and Media/Elwyn Regional Rail lines.
- The Airport Line has stops at Eastwick Station and the Airport.
- The Media/Wawa Line stops at 49th Street and Angora Station.
