In recent years, it has attracted a significant influx of young professionals, artists, and families, leading to a more diverse, albeit still largely white, population. It's known for its blend of long-time residents and newcomers.
Fishtown [1], a subset of Kensington, is a neighborhood in Philadelphia located northeast of center city. It is nestled at the edge of the city where the Delaware River cants to the east. It is a pie-shaped wedge, the boundaries of which are debated, though it is generally agreed that Fishtown is the area bounded by the River to the east, Frankford Avenue to the west, Girard Avenue to the south, and Norris Street to the north.
Once known for its abundant fishing industry (for which it is named) it is now more widely recognized as an historic neighborhood gaining unsolicited attention for its opportunities in real estate and development.
Fishtown is an intact neighborhood of rowhouses, public spaces and workplaces. Physically, the neighborhood stands as the living memory of its former industrial prowess. The neighborhood possesses a diverse mix of architectural styles that represent various periods of history. Several historically significant buildings can be found in the neighborhood, such as Frank Furness’ Kensington National Bank, the Kensington Soup Society building, and numerous churches. Residents often adorn their homes with various embellishments unique to Fishtown, including quilted aluminum flashing and address markers with a fish emblem. These reinforce the apparent sense of community pride as well unify the local architecture with common decorative threads.
William Buck Campbell [2] writes ... "Kensington also became the textile center of Philadelphia. The section has always had a high percentage of homeowners, largely through the aid of building-loan associations, which first flourished there. Many houses are, however, subject to "irredeemable" ground rents. The river-front part was colloquailly known as Fishtown."
Nearby Neighborhoods
Street Names
Allen Street East • Almond Street • Beach Street • Belgrade Street • Berks Street East • Blair Street • Dauphin Street East • Delaware Avenue North • Delawate Expressway • Eyre Street East • Fletcher Street East • Franklin Avenue • Front Street North • Front Street North • Girard Avenue East • Gordon Street East • Hewson Street East • Leopard Street • Moyer Street • Norris Street East • Oxford Street East • Palmer Street East • Richmond Street • Thompson Street East • Trenton Avenue • Widley Street East • Wilt Street East • York Street