Kensington, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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,...
. It is between the Lower Northeast
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,...
section of Philadelphia and North Philadelphia. Not to be confused with the former Kensington District
Kensington District, Pennsylvania
Kensington District, or The Kensington District of the Northern Liberties, was one of the twenty-nine municipalities that formed Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania prior to the enactment of the Act of Consolidation, 1854, when it became incorporated into the newly expanded City of Philadelphia...
, now commonly referred to as Fishtown, the area modernly referred to as "Kensington" is more of a section of smaller sub-neighborhoods than a clearly defined area. As such, there are disputes among locals as to the boundaries of the area. Generally-accepted boundaries are the triangular area bounded by Erie Avenue to the north, Front Street (and sometimes Fifth Street) to the West and Trenton Avenue to the East. While others say it's bounded by Kensington Avenue to north, Aramingo Avenue to the south, Lehigh Avenue to the west, and Castor Avenue to east. Within these boundaries, sub-neighborhoods include Harrowgate
Harrowgate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Harrowgate is a neighborhood in the Northeast section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Harrowgate is located northeast of Kensington adjacent to Kensington Avenue. It is south of Juniata and northwest of Port Richmond. Its boundary with Kensington is not clear, although it is thought...
, Lower Kensington, West Kensington
West Kensington, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
West Kensington is a neighborhood in the North Philadelphia section of Philadelphia. It is north of Olde Kensington. The Market Frankford El above Front Street forms the line between West Kensington and its bordering neighborhoods to the east , although its other boundaries are less well-defined...
and Fishtown. Due to colloquial changes in the boundaries of the area since 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...
, no clear definition is possible. The Greater Kensington area of the city roughly coincides with the former Kensington District
Kensington District, Pennsylvania
Kensington District, or The Kensington District of the Northern Liberties, was one of the twenty-nine municipalities that formed Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania prior to the enactment of the Act of Consolidation, 1854, when it became incorporated into the newly expanded City of Philadelphia...
, Richmond District
Richmond District, Pennsylvania
Richmond District, also known as Port Richmond District, is a defunct district that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. The district ceased to exist and was incorporated into the City of Philadelphia following the passage of the Act of Consolidation, 1854.-History:Originally the name...
, Aramingo Borough
Aramingo Borough, Pennsylvania
Aramingo Borough is a defunct borough that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. The borough ceased to exist and was incorporated into the City of Philadelphia following the passage of the Act of Consolidation, 1854.-History:...
and Northern Liberties Township. Since incorporation into the City of Philadelphia (see 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...
), these areas have evolved over time to include portions of the modern "Kensington". The area is just a couple of miles northeast of Center City
Center City, Philadelphia
Center City, or Downtown Philadelphia includes the central business district and central neighborhoods of the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. As of 2005, its population of over 88,000 made it the third most populous downtown in the United States, after New York City's and Chicago's...
and just to the West of the Port Richmond
Port Richmond, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Port Richmond, also referred to as simply Richmond, is a neighborhood in the Northeast section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is notable for its extremely large Polish immigrant and Polish American community. The neighborhood is also home to sizable Irish, German and Italian communities as...
neighborhood.
Kensington is home to a large population of Irish Americans, Hispanic Americans
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
, mainly Puerto Ricans
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
and Dominicans, African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s, Italian American
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
s, and Polish Americans.
In the nineteenth century, Kensington was one of the leading centers of the textile industry, particularly in carpet
Carpet
A carpet is a textile floor covering consisting of an upper layer of "pile" attached to a backing. The pile is generally either made from wool or a manmade fibre such as polypropylene,nylon or polyester and usually consists of twisted tufts which are often heat-treated to maintain their...
manufacture. McNeil Laboratories
McNeil Laboratories
McNeil Consumer Healthcare is a medicals products company belonging to the Johnson & Johnson healthcare products group.-History:The company was founded on March 16, 1879 by 23-year-old Robert McNeil, who paid $167 for a drugstore complete with fixtures, inventory and soda fountain, as a retail...
began with the purchase of a pharmacy in the area in 1879 by the company's namesake.
Deindustrialization eventually took its hold on the neighborhood in the 1950s, leading to a significant population loss, high unemployment, economic decline, and the abandoning of homes in the neighborhood. However, some sections of the neighborhood have been revitalized in recent years, especially those near Frankford Avenue, Kensington's neighbor North of Lehigh Avenue, and Fishtown, an area of Kensington where many Shad fisheries were located, another traditionally working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
neighborhood which has seen rents increase. While most of the large manufacturers have left, the area has many small shops and large renovated factories and warehouses for newer artisans to set up shop.
The U.S. Postal Service designates Kensington as ZIP codes 19125 (Kensington Station) and 19134 (Richmond Station). Adjacent neighborhoods are Northern Liberties, Fishtown, Port Richmond, Juniata, and Frankford.
Kensington is noted as the childhood home of fictional Cold Case character Lily Rush.
A small minority of the residents of Kensington refer to themselves as "Kenzos." The term can be used both derogatorily and affectionately.
Government and infrastructure
The United States Post Office operates the Kensington Post Office at 4614 Stiles Avenue.The intersection of Kensington and Allegheny Avenues (commonly referred to by Philadelphians as "K & A") is a major transportation and retail hub in the neighborhood, as it is served by the Frankford Elevated portion of the Market-Frankford Line
Market-Frankford Line
The Market–Frankford Line is a rapid transit line in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority .-Route:The Market–Frankford Line begins at 69th Street Transportation Center, in Upper Darby...
which, running on top of Kensington Avenue, dominates the intersection. SEPTA bus routes 3 (on Kensington Avenue, running underneath the "El") and 60 on Allegheny Avenue, with route 5 nearby on Frankford Avenue, also serve the K & A area.
Primary and secondary schools
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...
operates public schools. Schools in Kensington include Kensington High School Complex, Jules E. Mastbaum Vocational Technical High School, Ascension of Our Lord Parish School, and John H. Webster Elementary School.
Public libraries
The 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 McPherson Square Branch at 601 East Indiana Avenue.
The Kensington Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia
Free 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...
is at 104 W Dauphin St, Philadelphia, PA 19133
Crime
The intersection of Kensington Avenue and Somerset Street was listed number one in a 2007 list of the city's top ten recreational drug corners according to an article by Philadelphia WeeklyPhiladelphia Weekly
Philadelphia Weekly , is an award-winning alternative newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, published every Wednesday.The paper was founded in 1971 as a sister publication to the South Philadelphia Press. In 1995, the paper became Philadelphia Weekly...
reporter Steve Volk.
In 2010, three victims were found strangled. The killer is referred to by the media as "The Kensington Strangler." A "person of interest" in the case was arrested in January 2011.
Movies
The film fictional character Rocky Balboa lived in Kensington, therefore it was the main area used in the Original MovieRocky
Rocky is a 1976 American sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and both written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. It tells the rags to riches American Dream story of Rocky Balboa, an uneducated but kind-hearted debt collector for a loan shark in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
. Parts of Fighting Back, Shooter, and Twelve Monkeys
Twelve Monkeys
12 Monkeys is a 1995 science fiction film directed by Terry Gilliam, inspired by Chris Marker's 1962 short film La jetée, and starring Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt, and Christopher Plummer....
were filmed there, as well.
External links
- Encyclopaedia Kensingtoniana http://www.kennethwmilano.com/page/EncyclopaediaKensingtoniana/tabid/92/Default.aspx
- New Kensington Community Development Corporation
- Frankford Avenue Arts
- http://thekenzos.com.b1.hostkarma.com/faq/
- http://thekenzos.com
- Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby
- http://www.impactservices.org