Northern Libertiesis a neighborhood inPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania,United States. It is north ofCenter Cityalong theDelaware River.Prior to its incorporation into Philadelphia in 1854, it was among the top 10 largest cities in the U.S. in every census from 1790 to 1840, and 11th in 1850. It was a major manufacturing area that attracted many European immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In the early 21st century, it has attracted many young professionals and new commercial and residential development.
Northern Liberties District | |
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  Northern Liberties District Location of Kensington District in Pennsylvania  Northern Liberties District Northern Liberties District (the United States) | |
| Coordinates:39°57′47″N75°08′42″W/ 39.96306°N 75.14500°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Philadelphia |
| Time zone | UTC-5(EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4(EDT) |
| Area codes | 215, 267 |
Northern Liberties Historic District | |
 Houses on North 5th Street | |
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Brown, Boone & Galloway, Green & Wallace, and Fifth & Sixth Sts. Philadelphia,Pennsylvania |
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| Coordinates | 39°57′47″N75°08′42″W/ 39.96306°N 75.14500°W |
| Area | 20.5 acres (8.3 ha) |
| Built | 1791 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate, Federal |
| NRHP referenceNo. | 85003471[1] |
| Added to NRHP | October 31, 1985 |
Boundaries
editNorthern Liberties is located north ofCenter City(specifically,Old City) and is bordered by Girard Avenue to the north; Callowhill Street to the south; North 6th Street to the west; and the Delaware River to the east (from Callowhill Street to Laurel Street; from Laurel Street to Girard Avenue the eastern boundary is North Front Street).
The historical boundaries were slightly different, with Vine Street as the southern border and theCohocksink Creekserving as the northern border. The creek now flows as a storm sewer under the following streets (starting at the Delaware River and running from southeast to northwest): Canal, Laurel, Bodine, Cambridge, and Orkney Streets.
History
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 9,913 | — | |
| 1800 | 10,718 | 8.1% | |
| 1810 | 19,874 | 85.4% | |
| 1820 | 19,678 | −1.0% | |
| 1830 | 28,872 | 46.7% | |
| 1840 | 34,474 | 19.4% | |
| 1850 | 47,223 | 37.0% |
Originally a portion of theNorthern Liberties Township,the district first gained limited autonomy from the township by an Act ofAssemblyon March 9, 1771. The Act provided for the appointment of persons to regulate streets, direction of buildings, etc. By March 30, 1791 a second Act enabled the inhabitants of that portion of the Northern Liberties between Vine Street and Pegg's Run (Cohoquinoque Creek) and the middle of Fourth Street and the Delaware River to elect three commissioners to lay taxes for the purpose of lighting, watching and establishing pumps within those bounds.
During theyellow feverepidemics of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the Northern Liberties district was hard hit, with many fatalities.[2]
On March 28, 1803, the Legislature passed an act to incorporate that part of the township of the Northern Liberties lying between the west side of Sixth Street and theDelaware Riverand between Vine Street and Cohocksink Creek, thus creating the District of Northern Liberties. Under theAct of Consolidation, 1854,the district ceased to exist, and became a part of Philadelphia.
Early in its history, the location just outside Philadelphia allowed the area to thrive in manufacturing, as mills, breweries, leather tanneries, paints and chemical works, tool making factories, and iron and stove foundries once lined the neighborhood. It also holds the status as a famousred-light districtin theUnited States.Prior to annexation, the township was created as a less densely populated alternative to nearby Philadelphia. Because of this, it was later known colloquially as "Philadelphia's first suburb." However, theSouthwarkneighborhood claims this distinction as well.
Artisan immigrants from Germany settled in the Northern Liberties in great numbers in the 19th century. In the first decades of the 20th century, the area saw an influx of immigrants from Eastern Europe. Numbers of Slovak and Romanians left the challenges they faced in the waning years of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Slovaks established St. Agnes Slovak Roman Catholic Church at the intersection of Fourth and Brown Street. The Romanians who settled in the area established Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Church at the intersection of American and Brown Streets, where they and their descendants continue to worship.
From 1860 to 1987, theChristian Schmidt Brewing Companywas located in Northern Liberties.
In 1985, theNorthern Liberties Historic Districtwas created, dedicated to preserving theItalianate architecture,Greek revival,andFederal stylebuildings which characterizes the area. The historic district is bounded by Brown, Boone and Galloway, Green and Wallace, and Fifth and Sixth Streets. The district encompasses 209 contributing buildings.[3]It was added to theNational Register of Historic Placesin 1985.[4]Also located in Northern Liberties and listed on the National Register of Historic Places are theDaniel Boone School,Burk Brothers and Company,Integrity Title Insurance, Trust and Safe Deposit Company,Thomas Jefferson School,Mifflin School,andSt. John's Church.
Today
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In recent years, Northern Liberties has become a major enclave of young professionals, students, artists, and design professionals. Large improvement and revitalization projects have also been undertaken recently, causing a large jump in property values. The neighborhood's proximity to Center City has made it one of the city's most desirable development districts, both for commercial and residential real estate. Like most Philadelphia neighborhoods, the housing stock is primarily made up ofrowhouses,although new development in recent times has brought apartment and condominium complexes.
Northern Liberties contains two privately owned but public parks, both established and owned by non-profits run by the neighbors. Orianna Hill Park is known as an off-leash area for dogs; the other, Liberty Lands, is a 2-acre (8,100 m2) park and playground.
Northern Liberties is served bySEPTA'sMarket–Frankford Elwith stops atSpring GardenandGirard.The station at Spring Garden is unique for being in the median ofI-95.The elevated line's tracks then break away from the expressway's right-of-way to tower over Front Street through the neighborhood as it heads north away from Center City.
In 2005, service resumed onSEPTA's long-delayedGirard Avenue trolleyat the northern boundary of the neighborhood.
The doughboy statue, erected in memory of ward residents who served inWorld War I,is a long-honored landmark of Northern Liberties.[5] Northern Liberties, an area of the city geographically categorized as north of Old City and bordered by Girard Avenue to the north; Callowhill Street to the south; North 6th Street to the west; and the Delaware River to the east - locals refer to it as NoLibs. CBS Philly quoted Forbes naming NoLibs as making #14 among their annual list of the 20 “Hippest Hipster Neighborhoods” in America.[6]
Economy
editThe area is home to numerous boutique stores and small bars and restaurants.
Yards Brewing Companyis located in Northern Liberties.[7]TheSEER Interactiveheadquarters are also located in the neighborhood.[8]
Education
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Primary and secondary schools
editNorthern Liberties residents are assigned to schools in theSchool District of Philadelphia.
Residents south of Poplar Street are zoned to the General Philip Kearny School for grades Kindergarten through 8.
Students zoned to Kearny are also zoned toBenjamin Franklin High School.[9]
Residents north of Poplar Street are zoned to James R. Ludlow School for grades Kindergarten through 8[10]andKensington High Schoolfor grades 9 through 12.[11]
Other schools in Northern Liberties consist of:
- Laboratory Charter School (one campus)[12]
- Walter D. Palmer Leadership Academy
- Bodine High School of International Affairs
Public libraries
editResidents are served by the Ramonita de Rodriguez Branch of theFree Library of Philadelphia,which is located at 600 West Girard Avenue. The branch was known as the Girard Avenue Branch prior to the 1977 rename.[13]
Religious life
editChurches and houses of worship
edit- Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
- Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Front and Allen Streets
- Seamens Church Institute, 475 N. 5th Street
- St. Andrew's Russian Orthodox Cathedral, 707 N 5th Street
- St. Peter's Catholic Church,/St. John Neumann Shrine 5th Street and Girard Avenue
- St. Michael's Russian Orthodox, 335 Fairmount Avenue
- Covenant House of God, 721 N 5th Street
- St. Agnes-St. John Slovak Catholic Church, 4th and Brown Streets
- Second Christian Missionary, 1150 N 4th Street
- Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Church,723 N. Bodine Street
Notable people
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- Jake Elliott(born 1995), American football kicker
- Gabe Kapler(born 1975), Major League Baseball outfielder and manager[14]
- James Landy(1813–1875), politician
- John T. McIntyre(1871–1951), novelist
- William Millward(1822–1871), politician
- Albert F. Sabo(1920–2002), lawyer and judge
- Charles Yerkes(1837–1905), financier
See also
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References
edit- ^"National Register Information System".National Register of Historic Places.National Park Service.January 23, 2007.
- ^R. La Roche, Yellow Fever, Considered in its Historical, Pathological, Etiological, and Therapeutical Relations, Philadelphia, 1855, 525.
- ^"National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania"(Searchable database).CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System.Note:This includesGeorge E. Thomas (July 1985)."National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: Northern Liberties Historic District"(PDF).RetrievedJune 16,2012.
- ^"National Register Information System".National Register of Historic Places.National Park Service.July 9, 2010.
- ^PlanPhilly | Doughboy Park renovation takes shape in Northern Liberties
- ^Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties Makes List Of America’s Top Hipster Neighborhoods « CBS Philly
- ^"Contact".Yards Brewing Company.RetrievedMarch 14,2010.
901 N. Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19123
- ^"Contact Us".SEER Interactive.RetrievedSeptember 28,2013.
1028 N. 3rd Street Philadelphia, PA 19123 United States
- ^"High School Directory Fall 2017 Admissions"(Archive).School District of Philadelphia.p. 30/70. Retrieved on November 16, 2016.
- ^"K-8 Public Schools Boundary MapArchived2008-09-18 at theWayback Machine."Center City Schools.Retrieved on November 7, 2008.
- ^"Where the Graduates Go."James R. Ludlow School.Retrieved on November 7, 2008.
- ^Home.Laboratory Charter School. Retrieved on December 31, 2016.
- ^"Ramonita de Rodriguez Branch."Free Library of Philadelphia.Retrieved on November 7, 2008.
- ^Inside the Brilliant, Baffling, and Utterly Fascinating Baseball Mind of Gabe Kapler – Philadelphia Magazine
External links
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- NorthernLiberties.orgNorthernLiberties.org - Created in 2001 - Home of the Northern Liberties Message Board, a bulletin board open to all.
- Northern Liberties Neighbors Association (NLNA)
- Friends of Orianna Hill Park
- Chronology of the Political Subdivisions of the County of Philadelphia, 1683-1854(Daly, John; Weinberg, Allen (October 1966).Genealogy of Philadelphia County Subdivisions(Second ed.). Philadelphia Dept. of Records.)
- Informationcourtesy ofushistory.org
- Incorporated District, Boroughs, and Townships in the County of Philadelphia, 1854 By Rudolph J. Walther- excerpted from the book at the ushistory.org website
- Historic Photographs of Northern Liberties,PhillyHistory.org