Spruce Hill, Philadelphia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Spruce Hill
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Dickens Statue in Clark Park in Spruce Hill
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| Country |  United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Philadelphia |
| City | Philadelphia |
| Area code(s) | 215, 267 and 445 |
Spruce Hill is a lively neighborhood in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is part of the larger University City area. You can find Spruce Hill between 40th and 46th streets, stretching from Market Street south to Woodland Avenue.
Exploring Spruce Hill's Past
Spruce Hill is home to over 16,000 people from many different backgrounds. It's a place where you can see lots of old buildings. Many of these are Victorian-style rowhouses. These large homes were built a long time ago. Today, many have been turned into apartments for several families.
This neighborhood grew between 1850 and 1910. It was designed as a "streetcar suburb." This means people could easily travel by streetcar to Center City. One important person in its development was Clarence Howard Clark Sr.. He was a financier who helped build many rowhouses. He also gave land for the Walnut Street West Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. Clark also helped create the 9.1-acre Clark Park. This park is a popular spot for residents.
In Clark Park, you can see a statue of the famous writer Charles Dickens. This statue was made in 1890 by Francis Edwin Elwell. It is one of only two known statues of Dickens in the world!
Learning in Spruce Hill
Spruce Hill has several schools and libraries for its residents.
Schools for Young Learners
The School District of Philadelphia operates two schools in the area. These are the Penn Alexander School and the Paul Robeson High School for Human Services. There is also a private school, the Spruce Hill Christian elementary and middle school. It is located on Baltimore Avenue.
Higher Education in the Neighborhood
The campus of the University of Pennsylvania extends into Spruce Hill. This is a large and well-known university. The campus of the University of the Sciences is also located in this neighborhood. These universities bring many students and a lively atmosphere to Spruce Hill.
Local Libraries
The Free Library of Philadelphia has a branch here. It's called the Walnut Street West Branch. This library serves the people of Spruce Hill. It offers books, computers, and programs for everyone in the community.
Images for kids
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Chestnut Street Baptist Church
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Ethnic restaurants on 42nd and Chestnut
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Walnut Street's West Branch Library
