Parkside, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Parkside is a neighborhood in the West Philadelphia
section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
Much of the Parkside neighborhood was built during the 1876 Centennial Exhibition. It is a National Register of Historic Places
Historic District with many examples of Victorian architecture
, some well-preserved, others in poor condition. The neighborhood was populated by German American
s, followed by Eastern European Jews, before becoming heavily African American
after World War II
. (Directly after WWII it was home to many displaced persons from Eastern Europe, which included Latvians.)
Coming in 2008 to this community is a shopping mall called the Park West Town Village Shopping Center. Its anchor stores are Shop Rite, Lowe's
, McDonald's
and AJ Wright's. It will be located on North 52nd Street.
Parkside was the early home of gangsta rap
per Schoolly D
, and was referenced in his songs "PSK" (Park Side Killers) and "Parkside 5-2".
West Philadelphia
West Philadelphia, nicknamed West Philly, is a section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Though there is no official definition of its boundaries, it is generally considered to reach from the western shore of the Schuylkill River, to City Line Avenue to the northwest, Cobbs Creek to the southwest, and...
section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Much of the Parkside neighborhood was built during the 1876 Centennial Exhibition. It is a National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
Historic District with many examples of Victorian architecture
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
, some well-preserved, others in poor condition. The neighborhood was populated by German American
German American
German Americans are citizens of the United States of German ancestry and comprise about 51 million people, or 17% of the U.S. population, the country's largest self-reported ancestral group...
s, followed by Eastern European Jews, before becoming heavily 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...
after 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...
. (Directly after WWII it was home to many displaced persons from Eastern Europe, which included Latvians.)
Coming in 2008 to this community is a shopping mall called the Park West Town Village Shopping Center. Its anchor stores are Shop Rite, Lowe's
Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a U.S.-based chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves more than 14 million customers a week in its 1,710 stores in the United States and 20 in Canada. Expansion into Canada began in...
, McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
and AJ Wright's. It will be located on North 52nd Street.
Parkside was the early home of gangsta rap
Gangsta rap
Gangsta Rap is a subgenre of hip hop music that evolved from hardcore hip hop and purports to reflect urban crime and the violent lifestyles of inner-city youths. Lyrics in gangsta rap have varied from accurate reflections to fictionalized accounts. Gangsta is a non-rhotic pronunciation of the word...
per Schoolly D
Schoolly D
Jesse B. Weaver Jr. , better known by the stage name Schoolly D, is an American rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.- Career :...
, and was referenced in his songs "PSK" (Park Side Killers) and "Parkside 5-2".