Whitman, Philadelphia
| Whitman | |
|---|---|
| Neighborhood of Philadelphia | |
|
Whitman Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia | |
| Country |
 United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Philadelphia County |
| City | Philadelphia |
| Zip code | 19148 |
| Area code(s) | Area code 215 |
Whitman is a neighborhood in the South Philadelphia section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It is bounded on the west by Sixth Street, on the east by Front Street, on the south by Bigler Street, and on the north by Snyder Avenue. The name "Whitman" was adopted when the nearby Walt Whitman Bridge was being constructed in the 1950s.[1] Coordinates: 39°55′03″N 75°09′13″W / 39.91757°N 75.15365°W In 2015, Whitman and nearby South Philadelphia neighborhoods were named by Philadelphia Magazine as one of the safest and most family-friendly neighborhoods in Philadelphia.
Demographics
In 2015, Whitman experienced a large surge of young professionals and students who moved into blocks previously occupied by single families. Single family homes still make up the majority of neighborhood occupants. The Navy Yard reports Whitman to be one of the most desirable neighborhood for Navy Yard young professionals due to its proximity to the Navy Yard and nearby amenities.
According to the 2000 Census, Whitman has 26,300 inhabitants (combined with Queen Village and Southwark). The racial makeup of the community is White, 60 percent; Black, 27 percent; Asian, 8 percent; Latino, 5 percent. About 40 percent of the population is under 18. It has a large Catholic Italian American population and very large Irish American population as well. The 2010 Census showed progressive changes in demographics, including an increase in total inhabitants, with a marked increase in Asian American and young professional population.[2]
Architecture
Mostly two-bedroom row homes that later were expanded to include extra rooms; most are constructed from brick. Many homes have front lawns. Some special areas in Whitman were built in an urban-meet-suburban style to have front lawns, driveways, and garages. Some of these exclusive neighborhoods include the notoriously sought after Saint Michael Dr and Saint Christopher Dr, named after their respective saints.
Major landmarks
- Baby Saigon, 320 Oregon Ave.
- Burke Playground, 2nd and Jackson.
- Mifflin Square, Fifth and Wolf Streets.
- Murphy Recreation Center, 300 W Shunk St.
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 2319 S. Third St., which is more than 100 years old.
- South Bowl, 19 E Oregon Ave.
- Whitman Library, 200 Snyder Ave.
- Whitman Plaza shopping center, Fourth Street and Oregon Avenue.
- YPC Shari-Eli synagogue, 728 W Moyamensing Avenue
The George Sharswood School and SS United States are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[3][4]
Education
Schools
The School District of Philadelphia operates public schools in the Whitman neighborhood.
- George Sharswood Elementary, 2300 S. Second St.[5]
- John H. Taggart Elementary, 400 Porter St.[6]
Neighborhoods assigned to Sharswood are also assigned to Furness High School.[7][8]
Public libraries
The Free Library of Philadelphia Whitman Branch serves the community.[9]
Trivia
Origin of the name
When the neighborhood was declared an urban-renewal area in the mid-1950s, the nearby Walt Whitman Bridge also was being constructed. It was only logical, then, to lend the poet's name to the neighborhood as well.
Famous residents
- Joey Coyle, who stole $1.2 million that fell from an armored truck. His story was developed into a 1993 movie, Money for Nothing, starring John Cusack.
District and local organization
State Senate district
- First, Larry Farnese (D)
State House district
- 184th, William Keller (D)
City Council district
- First, Mark Squilla (D)
Ward
- 39th
Police district
- Third
Civic groups and town watches
- Whitman Plaza Community[10]
- Pennsport/Whitman Town Watch
- Whitman Council, which holds monthly meetings and distributes bimonthly newsletters.[11]
References
- ↑ The place where you live: Whitman
- ↑ "The 2010 Census | Philly". www.philly.com. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
- ↑ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
- ↑ "Whitman Neighborhood: Up and Coming South Philly". Philadelight Magazine. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
- ↑ "George Sharswood Elementary School Geographic Boundaries" (Archive). School District of Philadelphia. Retrieved on November 29, 2015.
- ↑ "John H. Taggart Elementary School Geographic Boundaries" (Archive). School District of Philadelphia. Retrieved on November 29, 2015.
- ↑ "A Directory of High Schools for 2009 Admissions" (Archive). School District of Philadelphia. p. 15 (PDF p/ 17/40). Accessed November 6, 2008.
- ↑ "Horace Furness High School Geographic Boundaries" (Archive). School District of Philadelphia. Retrieved on October 4, 2011.
- ↑ "Whitman Branch." Free Library of Philadelphia. Retrieved on October 19, 2012.
- ↑ "Whitman Plaza". www.whitmanplaza.com. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
- ↑ "Whitman Council Inc". whitmancouncil.org. Whitman Council. Retrieved 2016-10-05.