National Register of Historic Places

West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Listed
February 5, 1998
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
97001669

About this property

The West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District is an area of West Philadelphia listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It represented the transformation of Philadelphia's rural farmland into urban residential development, made possible by the streetcar, which provided easy access to Center City. This is an early example of the streetcar suburb. Development had proceeded during the 19th century to about 43rd Street. The arrival of electrified streetcars in 1892 accelerated development to the west and southwest. Noted Philadelphia church architect Isaac Pursell (1853-1910) designed the contributing Christ Memorial Church (1887) at 4233-4257 Chestnut Street.

Location

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
39.95250, -75.21032

Categories

ARCHITECTURECOMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District

This page lists West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
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Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Garden Court Historic District
Listed
0.1 mi
Pinehurst Apartments
Industrial
0.1 mi
Breslyn Apartments
Industrial
0.3 mi
Hamilton Family Estate
Industrial
0.3 mi
Lea, Henry C., School of Practice
Industrial
0.3 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Germantown Oct 4 1777
1777Revolutionary War
0.5 mi
Battle of Barren Hill
1778Revolutionary War
2.2 mi
Battle of Fort Mifflin (Pennsylvania)
1777Revolutionary War
4.9 mi
Battle of Fort Mifflin
1777Revolutionary War
4.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District listed on the National Register?

West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 5, 1998.

What type of historic resource is West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District?

West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District?

The period of significance for West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District?

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