Country United States County Philadelphia County Area code Area codes 215 and 267 | State Pennsylvania Zip code 19148 | |
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Restaurants City Pizza, Oregon Diner, Night Owls Fast Food, Terryin, South View Pizza | ||
Whitman is a neighborhood in the South Philadelphia section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It is bounded on the west by Sixth Street, on the east by Front Street, on the south by Bigler Street, and on the north by Snyder Avenue. The name "Whitman" was adopted when the nearby Walt Whitman Bridge was being constructed in the 1950s. In 2015, Whitman and nearby South Philadelphia neighborhoods were named by Philadelphia Magazine as one of the safest and most family-friendly neighborhoods in Philadelphia. Whitman is also home to the first vegan-certified farm in the nation.
Contents
- Map of Whitman Philadelphia PA 19148 USA
- Demographics
- Architecture
- Major landmarks
- Schools
- Public libraries
- Origin of the name
- Famous residents
- State Senate district
- State House district
- City Council district
- Ward
- Police district
- Civic groups and town watches
- References
Map of Whitman, Philadelphia, PA 19148, USA
Demographics
In 2015, Whitman experienced a large surge of young professionals and students who moved into blocks previously occupied by single families. Single family homes still make up the majority of neighborhood occupants, as the Whitman Council fights to preserve the single-family nature of its housing. The Navy Yard reports Whitman to be one of the most desirable neighborhood for Navy Yard young professionals due to its proximity to the Navy Yard and nearby amenities.
According to the 2000 Census, Whitman has 26,300 inhabitants (combined with Queen Village and Southwark). The racial makeup of the community is White, 60 percent; Black, 27 percent; Asian, 8 percent; Latino, 5 percent. About 40 percent of the population is under 18. It has a large Catholic Italian American population and very large Irish American population as well. The 2010 Census showed progressive changes in demographics, including an increase in total inhabitants, with a marked increase in Asian American and young professional population.
Architecture
Mostly two-bedroom row homes that later were expanded to include extra rooms; most are constructed from brick. Many homes have front lawns. Some special areas in Whitman were built in an urban-meet-suburban style to have front lawns, driveways, and garages. Some of these exclusive neighborhoods include the notoriously sought after Saint Michael Dr and Saint Christopher Dr, named after their respective saints.
Major landmarks
The George Sharswood School and SS United States are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Schools
The School District of Philadelphia operates public schools in the Whitman neighborhood.
Neighborhoods assigned to Sharswood are also assigned to Furness High School.
Public libraries
The Free Library of Philadelphia Whitman Branch serves the community.
Origin of the name
When the neighborhood was declared an urban-renewal area in the mid-1950s, the nearby Walt Whitman Bridge also was being constructed. It was only logical, then, to lend the poet's name to the neighborhood as well.