Kingsessing

Type	Neighborhood
Location	Southwest Philadelphia
ZIP code(s)	19142, 19143
Named for	Kingsessing township (historic)
Boundaries	Roughly 49th Street to 67th Street, Woodland Avenue to Cobbs Creek
Adjacent	Cobbs Creek, Elmwood, Cedar Park
Major streets	Woodland Avenue, Chester Avenue, 58th Street
Transit	SEPTA trolleys (36), bus routes
Landmarks	Bartram's Garden (nearby), historic housing

Kingsessing is one of the oldest named areas in Philadelphia, originally a township predating the city's 1854 consolidation. Located in Southwest Philadelphia, the neighborhood has historic significance and provides affordable housing options.

History[edit | edit source]

Colonial Origins[edit | edit source]

Kingsessing was one of the original Swedish settlements in the region:

Swedish colonists in the 17th century
Name may derive from Swedish "Kingsholmen" or a Lenape word
Kingsessing township until 1854 consolidation
Historic farms and estates

Bartram's Garden[edit | edit source]

Near Kingsessing lies Bartram's Garden:

America's oldest botanical garden (founded 1728)
John Bartram's historic home and garden
National Historic Landmark
Public park and garden today

Character[edit | edit source]

Housing[edit | edit source]

Mix of housing types
Rowhouses and twins
Some older homes
Affordable prices
Varied conditions

Community[edit | edit source]

Working-class families
African-American community
Longtime residents
Community organizations

Living in Kingsessing[edit | edit source]

Affordable housing
Historic neighborhood
Near Bartram's Garden
Transit accessible

Getting There[edit | edit source]

SEPTA trolley: Route 36
SEPTA buses: 52
Near: Woodland Avenue corridor