Kensington, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Playground in the neighborhood of Kensington, Philadelphia. Note the factories in the background, one of which has been recently converted into the Coral Streets Art House, low-income housing for artists.

Kensington is a neighborhood located in the United States city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is located between the Near Northeast section of Philadelphia and North Philadelphia. Not to be confused with the former Kensington District, now commonly referred to as Fishtown, the area modernly referred to as "Kensington" is more of a section of smaller sub-neighborhoods than a clearly defined area. As such, there are disputes among locals as to the boundaries of the area. Generally-accepted boundaries are the triangular area bounded by Erie Avenue to the north, Front Street (and sometimes Fifth Street) to the West and Trenton Avenue to the East. Within these boundaries, sub-neighborhoods include Harrowgate, Jewtown, Lower Kensington, West Kensington and Fishtown. Due to colloquial changes in the boundaries of the area since the Act of Consolidation, 1854, no clear definition is possible. The Greater Kensington area of the city roughly coincides with the former Kensington District, Richmond District, Aramingo Borough and Northern Liberties Township. Since incorporation into the City of Philadelphia (see Act of Consolidation, 1854), these areas have evolved over time to include portions of the modern "Kensington". The area is located just a couple of miles northeast of Center City and just to the West of the Port Richmond neighborhood.

Kensington is home to a large Hispanic population, mainly Puerto Ricans and Dominicans, Irish Americans, African American, and Polish Americans.

In the nineteenth century, Kensington was one of the leading centers of the textile industry, particularly in carpet manufacture. McNeil Laboratories began with the purchase of a pharmacy in the area in 1879 by the company's namesake.

Deindustrialization eventually took its hold on the neighborhood in the 1950s, leading to a significant population loss, mass unemployment, economic decline, and the abandoning of several homes in the neighborhood. However, some sections of the neighborhood have become arguably gentrified in recent years, especially those near Frankford Avenue, those near Port Richmond, Kensington's neighbor North of Lehigh Avenue, and those in lower Kensington now referred to as Fishtown, a once derogatory name given to area of Kensington where many Shad fisheries were located, another traditionally working class neighborhood which has seen rents increase. While most of the large manufacturers have left, the area has many small shops and large renovated factories and warehouses for newer artisans to set up shop.

Kensington is also known to being the heart of Philadelphia's declining Irish Mob. It is home to the K&A Gang, which is part of Philadelphia's criminal underworld.

The U.S. Postal Service designates Kensington as ZIP code 19125(Kensington Station) AND 19134 (Richmond Station). Adjacent neighborhoods are Northern Liberties, Fishtown, Port Richmond, Juniata, and Frankford.

Kensington is noted as the childhood home of fictional Cold Case character Lily Rush.

The residents of Kensington are often referred to as "Kenzos." The term can be used both derogatively and affectionately. One prominent example is the rock band known as The Kenzos.

[edit] Government and infrastructure

The United States Post Office operates the Kensington Post Office at 1602 Frankford Avenue.^[1]

[edit] Education

[edit] Primary and secondary schools

The School District of Philadelphia operates public schools. Kensington High School Complex is in Kensington.

Jules E. Mastbaum Vocational Technical High School is in Kensington.

[edit] Public libraries

The Free Library of Philadelphia operates the McPherson Square Branch at 601 East Indiana Avenue.^[2]

[edit] Crime

The intersection of Kensington Avenue and Somerset Street was listed number one in a 2007 list of the city's top ten recreational drug corners according to an article by Philadelphia Weekly reporter Steve Volk.^[3]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Philadelphia portal

• Kensington History Encyclopaedia
• New Kensington Community Development Corporation
• Frankford Avenue Arts
• [1]
• [2]
• Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby
• http://www.impactservices.org

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