South Philadelphia

South Philadelphia is a fairly residential part of the city, but the excitement of Center City is a quick subway or bus ride away. The area has a primarily Italian makeup, but there is a smaller, diverse population of Irish, African American, Asian, Hispanic and Caucasian representation. Historically, South Philadelphia is a mixed-income area, and as a result crime has always been a bit of an issue. However, many blocks have been revitalized to date.

Most residences are single-family row homes. Community bonds are strong, and neighbors enjoy socializing; block parties are a frequent occurrence. There is a portion of renters, but the majority of residents have been settled in the area for years.

Family-owned businesses appear on busy streets and corners, ranging from bars and restaurants to groceries and novelty stores. Larger chain stores are accessible on Columbus Boulevard, where shops like Target, Walmart, IKEA and Home Depot are featured.

The biggest draw of South Philly is the Philadelphia Sports Stadiums, where local teams like the Phillies, Eagles and Flyers host home games, and touring artists have large-scale concerts. The sports complex is a source of Philadelphia pride, uniting local Philadelphians and outside visitors. There is a dedicated subway station at Broad and Pattison, and bus lines also run to the complexes. In addition to buses and the subway, I-95 and I-76 are easy to get to, making for quick trips to the Philadelphia International Airport or surrounding suburbs.

South Philadelphia High School is located at Broad and Snyder, and there are also a number of public elementary schools. Overall, South Philadelphia has a tight-knit, neighborly feel, with easy access to all parts of the city and suburbs. However, crime rates are still high in certain areas, which should be taken into consideration when searching for properties.

South Philadelphia, better known as South Philly, is a melting pot of nationalities. The community consists of Italian-, Irish-, Mexican-, Asian- and African-Americans. The area becomes more and more diverse with each passing year, making it ideal for those who love to be in a multicultural neighborhood.

Interstate 76 and 95, as well as the Schuylkill Expressway are easily accessible. There are also two bridges that lead to New Jersey. Public transportation is abundant in and around South Philly, with the Broad Street Subway right in the area. There are bike lanes on most streets if you prefer to travel in that way.

South Philly's homes vary in styles. There are townhouses, traditional family homes, and row homes. Lately newly built contemporary mansions and condos have popped up in the neighborhood. The property values vary from average income to wealthy.

The School District of Philadelphia has four public school in the area which includes the prestigious CAPA High School (Creative And Performing Arts). The neighborhood also has one Charter and two private schools in the vicinity. The Free Library of Philadelphia operates six branches in South Philly.

Philadelphia's Sports' Complex is the pinnacle of South Philly. All the facilities for major and minor sports teams in Philadelphia reside in this area. It is also the locale of the annual Wing Bowl. Over the past year there has been an addition to the complex in Xfinity Live, where fans who don't have tickets can go and watch the games in a posh setting.

Aside from an awesome Sportsplex, South Philly has an amazing nightlife. There are bars, restaurants, and lounges throughout the area. A few night clubs scatter the neighborhood as well.

This neighborhood hold a lot of history and has been home to many notable musicians, politicians, artists actors and actresses. It is a perfect place for growing families.

South Philadelphia or “South Philly” as it is affectionally known is a huge area bounded by the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. Quite a lot of Philadelphia history has taken place in South Philly and many historical figures have called South Philly home.

The Philadelphia Navy Yard has built a significant number of ships along the Delaware River and this same area has been the home of sports complexes where the Eagles, Flyers, and Sixers play.

Illustrious artists such as opera singers Marian Anderson and Mario Lanza were born and reared. Along the musical spectrum Chubby Checker who invented the Twist, Frankie Vallie, and The Roots hail from South Philly. Most notable is Kenny Gamble who along with Leon Huff created the Sound of Philadelphia which carried Philadelphia’s music around the world.

While Mayor, Frank Rizzo called the area home as this was key to his Italian political base.

Today, South Philly is a mixture of Irish and Asian with the “Italian” Market housing mainly Asian vendors. However, there are great Italian restaurants and pastry cafes which dot corners throughout the region.

Both the Walt Whitman and Ben Franklin Bridge reach to New Jersey from South Philly.
Buses crisscross the region and the Broad Street Subway is accessible by bus or a quick walk.

South Philadelphia, also referred to lovingly as “South Philly” by the locals, is a neighborhood bound by South Street to the north, the Schuylkill River to the west and the Delaware River to the south and east. It’s a predominantly white neighborhood and has an eclectic mix of Italian Americans, Irish Americans, African Americans, Hispanics and Asian Americans.
South Philly is a neighborhood unlike any other in the city. It has its own personality that definitely shines through when you come into contact with the locals. All of the residents are extremely close-knit and treat each other like family. Crime rate in some parts of the area can be high, but neighbors have each other’s backs and help out when they can.
Parking in South Philadelphia can be a miserable event. It is an unwritten rule that residents can double park on the streets, sometimes blocking a car in on all sides. If you are not familiar with the routine, you will not know how to handle this bizarre occurrence.
Nightlife in South Philly can be super fun and there are a ton of bars to visit. South Street is one of the primary destinations for young people and features plenty of shops, restaurants and other draws.

When you say South Philadelphia you could be speaking about any number of neighborhoods. South Philadelphia as a whole is pretty broad stretching from east to west but for most people it starts at South Street.

The cost of living varies from place to place with the Italian Market area being a bit pricier. But more money doesn’t mean better quality; the area smells of fish and trash and is usually really crowded and impossible to drive through. The further past Washington you go the rent gets a little cheaper but again it is on a block my block basis and most of the blocks west of Broad street are not appealing and the closer you get to Snyder the dirtier it gets.

Dirty, that’s another thing; the streets of South Philadelphia are riddled with trash. I’m not really sure why we ever bother putting our garbage into bags since it somehow manages to be strewn across the streets from the time you put it out until the trash collector comes.

South Philadelphia is also loud, this is partially because it’s all row homes are and the stadiums are nearby so cheering crowds and traffic are a regular part of life. If you’re not into hearing your neighbors scream, tacky year round Christmas lights and getting hit by trash on windy nights then South Philly is not for you.