Whitman, Philadelphia

It 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 the 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. 

Demographics

According to the 2000 Census, Whitman has 26,300 inhabitants (combined with Queen Village and Southwark). The racial makeup of the community is as follows: 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.

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.

History

A close neighbor of Pennsport, Whitman rarely distinguishes itself from its river-ward counterpart. Yet residents say its history provides some distinct moments. During the 1950s, for example, the construction of Whitman Park, a low-income housing development, created quite a stir.

"Many residents were opposing them because they didn't think these houses were beneficial to the community," says Terry Paylor, a 46-year Whitman resident. "I can remember people lying in front of bulldozers."

In fact, the Whitman Council (formerly known as the Whitman Area Improvement Council) was established partly to fight a proposal for the three high-rise apartment complexes. The issue gained national attention and, through negotiations and court fights, the plan was modified to instead include 120 low- to moderate-income houses, says Fred Druding, 63.

A former member of the Whitman Council, Druding is now executive director of the Weccacoe Development Association, a nonprofit group under the council's umbrella that rehabs abandoned homes for resale. The neighborhood honored the civic group's founders -- the Rev. Edward Burke and Lawrence Murphy -- by naming facilities after them.

Famous Residents

Joey Coyle, who stole $1.2 million that fell from an armored truck. His story was developed into a 1993 movie, Money for Nothing, starring John Cusack.

Major Landmarks

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 2329 S. Third St., which is more than 100 years old; Mifflin Square, Fifth and Wolf streets; Whitman Library, 200 Snyder Ave.; Whitman Plaza shopping center, Fourth Street and Oregon Avenue

Architecture

Mostly two-bedroom rowhomes that later were expanded to include extra rooms; most are constructed from brick.

State Senate district

First, Vincent Fumo (D)

State House district

184th, William Keller (D)

City Council district

First, Frank DiCicco (D)

Ward

39th

Police district

Fourth

Civic groups and townwatches

Whitman Town Watch, Whitman Council

Schools

George Sharswood Elementary, 2300 S. Second St.; John H. Taggart Elementary, 400 Porter St.; Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 2329 S. Third St.