Exploring Neighborhoods: Kensington-Fishtown

NEIGHBORHOOD SNAPSHOT

KENSINGTON-FISHTOWN

Kensington-Fishtown is a Philadelphia neighborhood along the Delaware River, south of Port Richmond and north of Northern Liberties. Kensington was established in the colonial era by Anthony Palmer, and by the beginning of the nineteenth century, it had grown to be a shipbuilding center. The far north end, where Gunner’s Run flowed into the river, became known as Fishtown due to the insular community of ethnic German fisherman located there. Kensington-Fishtown soon became a center of Philadelphia’s glass industry and its residents retained a tough and largely nativist reputation. Though the neighborhood’s nativist sentiments eventually faded and the glass factories and shipyards closed up, it has retained its close-knit feel and neighborhood identity.

DISCOVER: KENSINGTON-FISHTOWN

NEIGHBORHOOD SNAPSHOT

KENSINGTON-FISHTOWN

Kensington-Fishtown is a Philadelphia neighborhood along the Delaware River, south of Port Richmond and north of Northern Liberties. Kensington was established in the colonial era by Anthony Palmer, and by the beginning of the nineteenth century, it had grown to be a shipbuilding center. The far north end, where Gunner’s Run flowed into the river, became known as Fishtown due to the insular community of ethnic German fisherman located there. Kensington-Fishtown soon became a center of Philadelphia’s glass industry and its residents retained a tough and largely nativist reputation. Though the neighborhood’s nativist sentiments eventually faded and the glass factories and shipyards closed up, it has retained its close-knit feel and neighborhood identity.

DISCOVER: KENSINGTON-FISHTOWN

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Historic

CRAMP BUMM SITE

Historic

DYOTTVILLE GLASSWORKS

Historic

ARAMINGO CANAL

Historic

REMER

Historic

GUNNER’S RUN

Historic

FISHTOWN ONE

Historic

FISHTOWN TWO

Historic

FISHTOWN THREE

Historic

FISHTOWN FOUR

Historic

GIRARD RICHMOND

Pre-contact

T3