Oxford Circle, Philadelphia

Not to be confused with Oxford Circus.
Oxford Circle
Neighborhood of Philadelphia

Laura H. Carnell School in Oxford Circle, September 2010
Country  United States
State Pennsylvania
County Philadelphia County
City Philadelphia
Area code(s) Area code 215

Oxford Circle is a neighborhood in the lower Northeast section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Its namesake is the much used traffic circle at Roosevelt Boulevard and Oxford Avenue.[1] The Oxford Circle neighborhood has traditionally included the areas up to Rhawnhurst and Mayfair but does not really have a fixed boundary other than in publications about Philadelphia which are of a public relations or informational nature.[2]

Oxford Circle is also the colloquial name for the nearby Summerdale neighborhood, which is located west of Roosevelt Boulevard, opposite the city's Frankford section. However, Summerdale is, for the most part, a different neighborhood than the one that is discussed in this article.

Geography/topography

Physical boundaries are: Roosevelt Boulevard on the southeast, Oxford Avenue on the west, and Cottman Avenue on the northeast. Oxford Circle's boundaries (including Castor Gardens) seem to have a general basis in the course of three creeks which were part of the landscape long before the development of the neighborhood. Most of Oxford Circle lies between these creeks. To the northwest was the Wissinoming Creek running from above Castor Avenue along Tyson Avenue and on towards Mayfair. To the east was the Pennypack Creek and to the southeast was the Tacony Creek. As late as 1928, a branch of the Tacony called the Little Tacony Creek still flowed from Castor Avenue past Levick Street and Large Street and on to Roosevelt Boulevard. This Little Tacony Creek connected into the main Tacony Creek which flows into the Delaware River near the site of today's Betsy Ross Bridge.

History

Oxford Circle, along with Castor Gardens, Mayfair, and Tacony, was originally part of Oxford Township and was one of the early suburbs of Philadelphia.[3] The area, which included waterways such as the Tacony Creek and Wissinoming Creek, had been mostly utilized for farming up until the time that the land was sold off to developers just prior to World War II.[4] Most of the brick and stone row houses which characterize this neighborhood today were built by the Hyman Korman Company starting in the early 1940s and continuing into the 1950s. During that time and in the 1960s and 1970s Oxford Circle was a relatively prosperous white middle-class neighborhood and the majority of its residents were first and second generation Eastern European immigrants. White flight[5][6] and rising crime rates have dramatically changed the neighborhood since the late 1990s to early 2000s. Today's Oxford Circle contains a diverse population, including Caucasian, Jewish, Korean, Hispanic (mostly Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and Brazilians), West Indian (mostly Haitians), and African American. Oxford Circle is about 37% Black, 32% White, 22% Hispanic, and 9% Asian.

The Laura H. Carnell School, named for educator Laura H. Carnell, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.[7]

Demographics

According to the US Census of 2000 for the area of 19149. The demographics are as follows.

General characteristics Number Percent U.S.
Total population 48,483
Male 22,732 46.9 49.10%
Female 25,751 53.1 50.90%
Median age (years) 35.7 (X) 35.3
Under 5 years 3,336 6.9 6.80%
18 years and over 36,005 74.3 74.30%
65 years and over 8,118 16.7 12.40%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Summary File 1 (SF 1) and Summary File 3 (SF 3)

Government

Oxford Circle is now predominantly represented in the state house by Mark B. Cohen. Others who represent parts of it in the legislature are Kevin Boyle and James Clay. In the state senate, it is represented by Christine Tartaglione and Mike Stack. Its city council members are Marian Tasco and Maria Quinones-Sanchez.

Structures and landmarks

Residents

Public libraries

Free Library of Philadelphia operates the Bushrod Branch at 6304 Castor Avenue at Stirling Street.[13]

References

  1. ↑ 40°01′53″N 75°05′04″W / 40.031482°N 75.08449°W
  2. ↑ City-Data.com: Oxford Circle neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA), 19111, 19149 detailed profile
  3. ↑ Oxford Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
  4. ↑ http://www.philageohistory.org/rdic-images/view-image.cfm/PTS1928.PhilaMetroAerials.055
  5. ↑ http://www.northeasttimes.com/2001/0131/stmartin.html Northeast Times
  6. ↑ http://www.northeasttimes.com/2003/1113/pastor.html Northeast Times
  7. ↑ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  8. ↑ Welcome to St. Martin of Tours
  9. ↑ Street Life: The New Yorker
  10. ↑ http://www.northeasttimes.com/2006/0907/janitor.html
  11. ↑ http://www.philly.com/community/pa/philadelphia/netimes/NEWS_Sister_Mary_gives_life_support_to_homeless.html
  12. ↑ http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/cityhall/Top_Media_Scholar_Phyllis_Kaniss_Passes_Away.html
  13. ↑ "Bushrod Branch." Free Library of Philadelphia. Retrieved on November 6, 2008.

Coordinates: 40°02′37″N 75°04′43″W / 40.0435°N 75.0785°W / 40.0435; -75.0785

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