Bustleton, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
The Bustleton section of Northeast Philadelphia
is located in the Far Northeast, north of Rhawnhurst and Fox Chase
and south of Somerton
; sitting between Roosevelt Boulevard
to the east, the city boundary to the west, Red Lion Road (PA-63
) to the north, and Pennypack Park
to the south, it is centered at the intersection of Grant Avenue and Bustleton Avenue (PA-532
) and is completely included in the 19115 postal zip code.
In the early history of the city, Bustleton was known as a rich farming area. Common legend states that the early neighborhood centered on the Bustleton Tavern, a local bar established before the American Revolution
. Pennypack Park is part of the Fairmount Park
system and was the site of much industry including mills. The area was a trading center and had hotels drawing farmers bringing goods for sale via horse and buggy. Much of the commerce was also conducted via small streams and rivers of the present-day Pennypack Watershed. The old Paul's Run waterway once provided navigation from the Bustleton Tavern all the way to the Delaware River.
One of the early schools went by the name: Bustleton Academy, also known as The Academy at Bustelton, not to be confused with Lower Dublin Academy which was a much older school and was also located in the same township.
Bustleton was originally part of Lower Dublin Township
, also known as Dublin Township, a defunct township
that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
. The township ceased to exist and was incorporated into the City of Philadelphia
following the passage of the Act of Consolidation, 1854
.
Bustleton is home to one of the oldest churches in America, Lower Dublin Baptist Church now known as Pennypack Baptist. Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the large Roman Catholic parish that served as a mother church for most of the parishes in the Northeast section of Philadelphia. Saint Katherine Drexel attended Mass in the Old BVM Church, now included in Pennypack Park.
(especially along Bustleton Avenue) from the many immigrants from Russia
, Ukraine
, and other former Soviet Republics.
Whites made up 87.1 percent of the population (US share was 75.1 percent), blacks were 3.5 percent (US share was 12.3 percent), Asians were 7.0 percent (US share was 3.6 percent) with the majority of those Indian. Nearly one-third of residents spoke a foreign language at home compared with less than 18 percent nationwide.
Economically, only 53.4 percent of those 16 years or older were in the labor force in 2000, well below the US average of 63.9 percent but the per capita income of $21,540 was nearly identical to the national level. Less than 10 percent were below the poverty level (US rate was 12.4 percent).
Four of every 5 adults, 25 years and over, were at least high school graduates in 2000, and 1 in 4 had at least a bachelors degree (slightly more than the US population).
and Fox Chase Line
regional rail lines in nearby communities. Major roads include Welsh Road, Verree Road, Red Lion Road (PA 63), Bustleton Avenue (PA 532), Grant Avenue, Krewstown Road, and the Roosevelt Boulevard (U.S. 1
). Bustleton is the unfortunate home to two of the most dangerous intersections in the United States: Roosevelt Boulevard at Grant Avenue and at Red Lion Road. After decades of complaints due to the large numbers of accidents, these intersections became the first in Philadelphia to have cameras installed which record the license plates of vehicles entering the intersections after the traffic light has turned red. The program has since spread to many intersections throughout the city.
It is bordered on the east by Northeast Philadelphia Airport
, a municipal reliever airport that dates to World War II
.
In 2007, newly constructed single homes were selling for between $350,000 and $500,000. Average existing home values are around $200,000 to $350,000 for single homes and $175,000 to $250,000 for twin homes. There are no row homes in Bustleton, though there are several dozen apartment complexes and condominiums, and a significant number of the homes are side-by-side duplexes, often referred to by locals as "twins".
operates the Bustleton Post Office at 9925 Bustleton Avenue.
The 7th District Police Station at Bustleton and Bowler shares the building with the fire station and other smaller municipal offices.
. The primary public elementary schools are Joseph J. Greenberg Elementary, which is K-8, and Anne Frank Elementary, which is K-5. Most children that attend Anne Frank then attend C.C.A. Baldi Middle School, which is 6-8. The primary public high school, George Washington High School, is located on Bustleton Avenue, just north of the northernmost boundary of Red Lion Road.
Area residents may also attend public magnet schools located throughout the city.
Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic parish sponsors a large elementary school. There are no Roman Catholic parochial high schools in Bustleton, but many students go to Archbishop Ryan High School
(co-ed), Father Judge High School
(all boys), or Bishop McDevitt High School (co-ed). Politz Hebrew Academy and Lehigh Christian Academy both serve Pre-K to 8th grade. Local students may also attend a variety of academies or prep schools (both charter, private, and parochial) both within Bustleton and in the larger metropolitan area.
There are no colleges or universities in the neighborhood.
operates the Bustleton Branch at 10199 Bustleton Avenue at Verree Road, near George Washington High School.
Northeast Philadelphia
Northeast Philadelphia, nicknamed Northeast Philly, the Northeast and the Great Northeast, is a section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. According to the 2000 Census, the Northeast has a sizable percentage of the city's 1.547 million people — a population of between 300,000 and 450,000,...
is located in the Far Northeast, north of Rhawnhurst and Fox Chase
Fox Chase, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Fox Chase is a neighborhood in the Northeast Philadelphia section of the United States city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The origin of the name comes from The "Fox Chase Inn" which opened in 1705...
and south of Somerton
Somerton, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Somerton is located in the Far Northeast section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The neighborhood is generally bound by Red Lion Road to the south, Roosevelt Boulevard to the east, East County Line Road and Poquessing Creek to the north, and the Philadelphia County / Montgomery County...
; sitting between Roosevelt Boulevard
Roosevelt Boulevard (Philadelphia)
Roosevelt Boulevard , often referred to simply as "the Boulevard," is a major traffic artery through North and Northeast Philadelphia...
to the east, the city boundary to the west, Red Lion Road (PA-63
Pennsylvania Route 63
Pennsylvania Route 63 is a long state highway located in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. The western terminus of the route is at PA 29 in Green Lane, Montgomery County. The eastern terminus is at Interstate 95 in Bensalem Township, Bucks County...
) to the north, and Pennypack Park
Pennypack Park
Pennypack Park is a municipal park, part of Philadelphia's Fairmount Park system, in Northeast Philadelphia in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Established in 1905 by ordinance of the City of Philadelphia, it includes about of woodlands, meadows and wetlands. The Pennypack Creek runs through the...
to the south, it is centered at the intersection of Grant Avenue and Bustleton Avenue (PA-532
Pennsylvania Route 532
Pennsylvania Route 532 is a state route located in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area.-Philadelphia:PA 532 begins as Welsh Road, where it intersects with Roosevelt Boulevard in Northeast Philadelphia. After less than a mile, PA 532 leaves Welsh Road and follows Bustleton Avenue...
) and is completely included in the 19115 postal zip code.
In the early history of the city, Bustleton was known as a rich farming area. Common legend states that the early neighborhood centered on the Bustleton Tavern, a local bar established before the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. Pennypack Park is part of the Fairmount Park
Fairmount Park
Fairmount Park is the municipal park system of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It consists of 63 parks, with , all overseen by the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation, successor to the Fairmount Park Commission in 2010.-Fairmount Park proper:...
system and was the site of much industry including mills. The area was a trading center and had hotels drawing farmers bringing goods for sale via horse and buggy. Much of the commerce was also conducted via small streams and rivers of the present-day Pennypack Watershed. The old Paul's Run waterway once provided navigation from the Bustleton Tavern all the way to the Delaware River.
One of the early schools went by the name: Bustleton Academy, also known as The Academy at Bustelton, not to be confused with Lower Dublin Academy which was a much older school and was also located in the same township.
Bustleton was originally part of Lower Dublin Township
Lower Dublin Township, Pennsylvania
Lower Dublin Township, also known as Dublin Township, is a defunct township that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. The township ceased to exist and was incorporated into the City of Philadelphia following the passage of the Act of Consolidation, 1854.-History:Commonly called Lower...
, also known as Dublin Township, a defunct township
Township (Pennsylvania)
A township in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a state of the United States of America, is one of four types of municipalities in the state . Townships were established based on convenient geographical boundaries and vary in size from six to forty square miles...
that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
-History:Tribes of Lenape were the first known occupants in the area which became Philadelphia County. The first European settlers were Swedes and Finns who arrived in 1638. The Netherlands seized the area in 1655, but permanently lost control to England in 1674...
. The township ceased to exist and was incorporated into the City of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
following the passage of the Act of Consolidation, 1854
Act of Consolidation, 1854
The Act of Consolidation, more formally known as the act of February 2, 1854 , was enacted by General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and approved February 2, 1854 by Governor William Bigler...
.
Bustleton is home to one of the oldest churches in America, Lower Dublin Baptist Church now known as Pennypack Baptist. Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the large Roman Catholic parish that served as a mother church for most of the parishes in the Northeast section of Philadelphia. Saint Katherine Drexel attended Mass in the Old BVM Church, now included in Pennypack Park.
Present day
In the present day, Bustleton is largely a residential community with major commercial areas on Roosevelt Boulevard, Bustleton Avenue, Grant Avenue, and Red Lion Road. It has minimal industrial presence. US Census Bureau data show that the community is home to an increasingly racially and ethnically diverse population with many immigrant groups represented; in particular one can see store-fronts, billboards, and newspapers in RussianRussian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
(especially along Bustleton Avenue) from the many immigrants from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, and other former Soviet Republics.
Population
According to the 2000 US Census, the total population was 31,853 of which 45.9 percent were male, less than the 49.1 percent of the total US population that was male in 2000. Just less than 17 percent of area residents were under 18 years old compared with over a quarter throughout the US. Nearly 27 percent were 65 years or older, well more than twice the rate in the general population; 4 percent of the total Bustleton population was 85 years or older. Reflecting the large concentration of older citizens, the median age in Bustleton was 46.8 years compared with 35.3 years nationwide, and local residents were somewhat more likely to be disabled, 26.4 percent versus a national average of 19.3 percent.Whites made up 87.1 percent of the population (US share was 75.1 percent), blacks were 3.5 percent (US share was 12.3 percent), Asians were 7.0 percent (US share was 3.6 percent) with the majority of those Indian. Nearly one-third of residents spoke a foreign language at home compared with less than 18 percent nationwide.
Economically, only 53.4 percent of those 16 years or older were in the labor force in 2000, well below the US average of 63.9 percent but the per capita income of $21,540 was nearly identical to the national level. Less than 10 percent were below the poverty level (US rate was 12.4 percent).
Four of every 5 adults, 25 years and over, were at least high school graduates in 2000, and 1 in 4 had at least a bachelors degree (slightly more than the US population).
Transportation
Public transportation is provided by several SEPTA bus and regional rail routes, including bus routes 19, 58, 67, and the West Trenton LineWest Trenton Line (SEPTA)
The West Trenton Line is a SEPTA Regional Rail line connecting Center City Philadelphia to West Trenton, New Jersey.-Route:The West Trenton Line connects Center City, Philadelphia with the West Trenton section of Ewing, New Jersey...
and Fox Chase Line
Fox Chase Line
The Fox Chase Line is a route of the SEPTA Regional Rail system.Originally known as the Fox Chase/Newtown Branch, service was truncated in January 1983 from Newtown to its current terminus in Philadelphia at Fox Chase due to unreliable train equipment and low ridership...
regional rail lines in nearby communities. Major roads include Welsh Road, Verree Road, Red Lion Road (PA 63), Bustleton Avenue (PA 532), Grant Avenue, Krewstown Road, and the Roosevelt Boulevard (U.S. 1
U.S. Route 1 in Pennsylvania
U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south U.S. Highway, extending from the Florida Keys in the south to the Canadian border in the north. In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, US 1 runs for from the Maryland state line near Oxford to the New Jersey state line near Trenton.-Maryland to Interstate...
). Bustleton is the unfortunate home to two of the most dangerous intersections in the United States: Roosevelt Boulevard at Grant Avenue and at Red Lion Road. After decades of complaints due to the large numbers of accidents, these intersections became the first in Philadelphia to have cameras installed which record the license plates of vehicles entering the intersections after the traffic light has turned red. The program has since spread to many intersections throughout the city.
It is bordered on the east by Northeast Philadelphia Airport
Northeast Philadelphia Airport
Northeast Philadelphia Airport is a public airport located just north of the intersection of Grant Avenue and Ashton Road in the Ashton-Woodenbridge neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia. It is part of the Philadelphia Airport System along with Philadelphia International Airport, and is the...
, a municipal reliever airport that dates to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Housing
According to the 2000 US Census, there were 13,719 occupied housing units, 62 percent were owner-occupied and 38 percent were renter-occupied; the 423 vacant units were just 3 percent of all Bustleton-units, a vacancy rate one-third that of the US. There were 7,209 single-family owner-occupied homes with a median value of $120,000, just $400 more than the median for the US as a whole.In 2007, newly constructed single homes were selling for between $350,000 and $500,000. Average existing home values are around $200,000 to $350,000 for single homes and $175,000 to $250,000 for twin homes. There are no row homes in Bustleton, though there are several dozen apartment complexes and condominiums, and a significant number of the homes are side-by-side duplexes, often referred to by locals as "twins".
Infrastructure and government
The United States Postal ServiceUnited States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Bustleton Post Office at 9925 Bustleton Avenue.
The 7th District Police Station at Bustleton and Bowler shares the building with the fire station and other smaller municipal offices.
Primary and secondary schools
The area is served by the School District of PhiladelphiaSchool District of Philadelphia
The School District of Philadelphia is a school district based in the School District of Philadelphia Education Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that includes all public schools in the city of Philadelphia. Established in 1818, it is the eighth largest school district in the nation.The School...
. The primary public elementary schools are Joseph J. Greenberg Elementary, which is K-8, and Anne Frank Elementary, which is K-5. Most children that attend Anne Frank then attend C.C.A. Baldi Middle School, which is 6-8. The primary public high school, George Washington High School, is located on Bustleton Avenue, just north of the northernmost boundary of Red Lion Road.
Area residents may also attend public magnet schools located throughout the city.
Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic parish sponsors a large elementary school. There are no Roman Catholic parochial high schools in Bustleton, but many students go to Archbishop Ryan High School
Archbishop Ryan High School
Archbishop Ryan High School is a Roman Catholic high school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA...
(co-ed), Father Judge High School
Father Judge High School
Father Judge High School is a Roman Catholic high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It was established in 1954 by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia and is run by the Oblates of St...
(all boys), or Bishop McDevitt High School (co-ed). Politz Hebrew Academy and Lehigh Christian Academy both serve Pre-K to 8th grade. Local students may also attend a variety of academies or prep schools (both charter, private, and parochial) both within Bustleton and in the larger metropolitan area.
There are no colleges or universities in the neighborhood.
Public libraries
Free Library of PhiladelphiaFree Library of Philadelphia
The Free Library of Philadelphia is the public library system serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-History:History of the Free Library of Philadelphia: Initiated by the efforts of Dr...
operates the Bustleton Branch at 10199 Bustleton Avenue at Verree Road, near George Washington High School.