Frankford

Frankford is a neighborhood in the beginnings of Northeast Philadelphia. The area is a melting pot of many different nationalities and lifestyles due to the neighborhood's location.

This section of Philadelphia is the bee hive of SEPTA transportation, aside from Center City. The Frankford Transportation Center, which houses numerous buses and the last (or first) stop on the Market-Frankford Line, is the focal point of the neighborhood.

Convenience stores, music shops, sporting goods, eateries and furniture stores surround the transporation center. There are also catering places and restaurants for a nice night out to eat.The area is always buzzing with activity being the place you must come through if you are heading into the northeast section of the city or beyond especially if by public transportation.

Branching away from the business of the Frankford Transportation Center, the neighborhood is filled with residential architecture. The homes are mostly single-family houses with porches raised slightly above the sidewalks.

The neighborhood has a Catholic, a couple of private and several public schools. They range for children in Kindergarten to 12th grade. There are several daycares as well for children not yet old enough for school.

There is not much of a nightlife here. The area tends to slowly shut down as it gets later into the evening. Once the last El trains leave heading for and come in from 69th Street, Frankford gets as quiet as any other sleeping neighborhood.

Frankford gets a bad rap sometimes because of the amount of foot traffic that filters through the neighborhood. It also can sometimes be rumored as a "bad" place due to the fact that the vicinity isn't as clean as other premiere places in Philadelphia.

However, you cannot be fooled by rumors or even your first glance of the neighborhood. Frankford is actually a very interesting place to live and be, with opportunities to meet all kind of different people.

Sadly, many of the longtime residents have begun to flee this once tightly knit community for the suburbs and sections of New Jersey. Frankford was home to the lower class who worked in the manufacturing plants once located along the Delaware River and in North Philadelphia. Major employers such as Sears & Roebuck and Mrs. Paul’s Foods have gone but the local military supplier remains albeit with a reduced staff.

Settled by Germans, they created a tight community of neighbors who relied on each other. Most attended St. Williams, the local Catholic Parish. Youngsters play sports at the local recreation center on Rising Sun Avenue where there is a pool and a public library nearby. Recently, several of the large Catholic High Schools have closed in the area.

The 4th of July, a time for celebration, began a tradition in 1915. Everyone came to watch the fireworks and the parade. Vendors numbered in the 100s making it one of the largest flea markets in the area.

Today, it is a major center of transportation with two Septa Regional Rail Stations and the Market Frankford Line terminal which runs east to west throughout Philadelphia.

As a longtime resident lamented, many of the new members of the community don’t have the same pride or respect for the area that I grew up with.

The neighborhood of Frankford, located in the northeast corner of Philadelphia was once a booming working classing area with shopping district located along Frankford Ave. These days many of those store fronts are now vacant and the neighborhood has declined considerably.

Many residents utilize SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line as a mode of transportation. There are also bus and trolley routes that run through the neighborhood. Traffic is minimal in the area and parking is available so driving is also an option for those living or visiting the area.
Crime is problem in the area with muggings and drug dealing being a common occurrence on the streets. From 1985 to 1990 Frankford was home to its very own serial killer known as the “Frankford Slasher.” The killer reportedly sexually assaulted and stabbed nine women to death. Though suspects were arrested no one was charged with the murders. So who knows, he/she could still be there!

Today there is talk of improving the Frankford as neighboring areas like Fishtown and Kensington start to show slow improvements. Right now property value is low in Frankford so buying a home is cheap. The demographic is mixed with a larger number of Irish and Polish Americans calling the neighborhood home. Like everywhere in Philadelphia some parts of the neighborhood seem less sketchy than others.