Kingsessing, Philadelphia

Kingsessing is a neighborhood in the Southwest section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Located adjacent to the neighborhoods of Cedar Park, Southwest Schuykill, and Mount Moriah, as well as Yeadon in Delaware County and is roughly bound by Cobbs Creek and 60th Street to the southwest, Woodland Ave to the southeast, 53rd Street to the norteast, and Baltimore Ave to the northwest. The name Kingsessing or Chinsessing somes from the Delaware Indian word for, "a place where there is a meadow."

History

The orgins of Kingsessing are found in the village of the same name that roughly occupied the same site as the current neighborhood. The village was a part of Kingsessing Township, which roughly encompassed all of what is now know today as Southwest Philadelphia.

Kingsessing became the name of the township in which the original Indian and Swedish village stood. The Kingsessing settlement was called a town by the Swedes, and was the first village entitled to that appellation made by Europeans within the territory of Philadelphia. The township of Kingsessing was created not long after control of the colony was transferd to William Penn.

Kingsessing was the birthplace of naturalist William Bartram.