Wynnefield, Philadelphia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wynnefield
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4900 block of Wynnefield Avenue
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| Country |  United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Philadelphia County |
| City | Philadelphia |
| Area code(s) | 215, 267 and 445 |
Wynnefield is a lively neighborhood in West Philadelphia. It is known for its diverse community. The neighborhood's borders are 53rd Street to the south. Fairmount Park is to the east. City Avenue is to the north. The Amtrak train tracks are to the west.
Nearby neighborhoods include Bala Cynwyd and Wynnefield Heights. Also close are Belmont Village and Parkside. Overbrook is to the west. Main streets for shops and businesses are North 54th Street and City Avenue. Wynnefield is also home to the TV station WPHL-TV (PHL 17).
A Look Back in Time
Wynnefield gets its name from Thomas Wynne. He was a doctor for William Penn, who founded Pennsylvania. Thomas Wynne built his home, Wynnestay, here in 1690. It is located at 52nd Street and Woodbine Avenue.
There used to be an amusement park called Woodside nearby. It was in Fairmount Park. Now, that area is a separate neighborhood called Wynnefield Heights.
Before the 1900s, Wynnefield was mostly farms. It was a quiet, undeveloped area. This changed when new train and trolley lines were built. These lines made it easier for people to live farther from their jobs. Many people moved into the undeveloped parts of the city. Today, most of Philadelphia's trolley lines still run in West Philadelphia.
Around 1900, many people moved to Wynnefield. It became a popular place to live. Many families from different backgrounds moved here. This included people from Russia and Germany.
In the 1920s, Wynnefield grew even more. More homes were built, especially row houses. New streets like Diamond Street were added in 1923. This helped the neighborhood's population grow. A church called Saint Barbara's Roman Catholic Church was founded in 1921. It is on Georges Lane near 54th Street.
In the mid-1960s, the neighborhood began to change. More African American families moved to Wynnefield. Today, Wynnefield is one of Philadelphia's most diverse neighborhoods. It is similar to Mt. Airy in its mix of cultures.
A very important person for Wynnefield was Katie B. Jackson (1929–1993). She was known as "Queen of Wynnefield." She started the Wynnefield Academy in 1975. This was a private school for young children. The Katie B. Jackson Senior Citizens Complex is named after her.
Har Zion Synagogue was built in Wynnefield in 1924. It was a part of the community for many years. In 1976, it moved to a larger building in Penn Valley, PA.
The William Mann School and Wynnestay are very old buildings. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites.
Who Lives Here?
Based on information from 2019, the area including Wynnefield has many residents. About 82% of the people are African-American. About 13% are Caucasian. There are also Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic/Latino residents.
Wynnefield offers many types of homes. You can find two-story brick town homes. There are also row duplexes and garden apartments. Mid-rise and high-rise apartment buildings are also available.
Learning in Wynnefield
Wynnefield has several schools and learning centers.
Colleges and Universities
Saint Joseph's University is very close to Wynnefield. The university's athletic fields are actually inside Wynnefield. They are located near North 54th Street and City Line Avenue.
Primary and Secondary Schools
The School District of Philadelphia serves Wynnefield.
Public Schools
- Samuel Gompers Elementary School (Kindergarten to 8th grade)
- William B. Mann Elementary School (now a Mastery Charter School)
High Schools
- Overbrook High School is the main high school for Wynnefield students.
- Science Leadership Academy at Beeber (used to be Beeber Middle School)
Charter Schools
- The Laboratory Charter School of Communication and Languages
Private Schools
- Woodbine Academy
- St. Rose of Lima Catholic School
- Settlement Music School, Wynnefield Branch
Public Libraries
The Free Library of Philadelphia has a branch in Wynnefield. It is called the Wynnefield Branch.
Famous Faces
Many famous people have connections to Wynnefield. Some grew up here.
- Will Smith is a famous actor and rapper.
- Lee Daniels is a film producer. He worked on movies like Monster's Ball.
- Charles Stone III is a film director.
- Will Mega was a contestant on the TV show Big Brother.
- Tigre Hill is a documentary filmmaker.
- Former basketball player Julius Erving once lived here.
- Boxer Michael Spinks also lived in Wynnefield.
Several local politicians have ties to Wynnefield. These include:
- Former Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter.
- Former mayor Wilson Goode.
- City councilman Curtis Jones, Jr.
- Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown.
Places to Worship
Wynnefield is home to many different places of worship. This shows the diverse community.
- Wynnefield Presbyterian Church
- Pinn Memorial Baptist Church
- West Side Baptist Church
- Wynnefield Baptist Church
- St. Barbara Catholic Church
- Bethel Holiness Pentecostel Church
- Overbrook Avenue Gospel Hall
- New Testament Church of God
- Endtime Zion Church of Jesus
- Community Bible Tabernacle Church
- International Church of God
- Church of the Advocate
- Evelyn Graves Ministries Church
- Baha'i Community of Phila
- Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship Mosque
- Kol Tzedek Synagogue
