History: Prior to Act of Consolidation, 1854, this neighborhood was part of Moyamensing Township. Moyamensing was originally chartered by the Dutch governor Alexander d’Hinoyossa, and in 1684, William Penn confirmed the title.
The neighborhood began taking shape after the Civil War. In 1870, it was predominantly an Irish American community; however, the neighborhood was in a transitional period, and by 1920, a majority of its residents were African Americans. It continued to experience significant in-migration from the south prior to, during, and immediately after World War II. It remained a solid working-class neighborhood for most of the first half of the twentieth century.
In the 1960s a crosstown expressway running along South Street was planned. Those plans would have created a barrier between center city and the neighborhoods to the south. The result was widespread abandonment of properties in SWCC and the decay of the South Street business corridor. The loss of jobs and residents caused the neighborhood to decline as buildings were abandoned and left to deteriorate.
In recent years the area has experienced growth and gentrification. Hundreds of single family homes and condominium units have been built or refurbished. As a result of the neighborhood’s proximity to Center City and increasing desirability, a variety of new businesses catering to the increasingly gentrified population have opened.
Graduate Hospital goes by many names (Center City South, South of South, G-Ho), which is fitting for a neighborhood that draws its personality from the people inside it: young transplants, born-and-raised neighbors, hip urban professionals, craft beer crowds and more. In recent years, the area stretching from Lombard Street to Washington Avenue and from Broad Street to Gray’s Ferry Avenue has accumulated a healthy dose of restaurants, bars, cafes, shops and markets that reflect the area’s residential and cool vibe. (From Wikipedia / Visit Philly)
Boundaries: The neighborhood is bordered on the north by South Street, on the south by Washington Avenue, on the west by the Schuylkill River, and by Broad Street on the east.
Zip Code: 19146
What To See / Do: The Marian Anderson House, Franklin Hose Company No. 28, William S. Peirce School, Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad Freight Shed, Royal Theater and Tindley Temple United Methodist Church.
Dining, Shopping and Events: SOSNA.
Schools: Public: Chester A. Arthur Elementary School, Edwin Stanton Elementary School, Philadelphia High School CAPA.
Charter: Universal Institute Charter School.
Public Transportation: SEPTA bus transportation is available in the neighborhood. There are two metro stops along the Broad Street Line.
