Bustleton, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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The Bustleton section of Northeast Philadelphia is located in the Far Northeast, north of Rhawnhurst and south of Somerton; sitting between Roosevelt Boulevard to the east, the city boundary to the west, Red Lion Road to the north, and Pennypack Park to the south, it is centered at the intersection of Grant Avenue and Bustleton Avenue (PA-532) and is completely included in the 19115 postal zip code. In the early history of the city, Bustleton was known as a rich farming area. Common legend states that the early neighborhood centered on the Bussleton Tavern, a local bar established before the American Revolution. Pennypack Park is part of the Fairmount Park system and was the site of much industry including mills. The area was a trading center and had hotels drawing farmers bringing goods for sale. Bustleton is home to one of the oldest churches in America, Lower Dublin Baptist Church (Dublin township was the original name of the area) now known as Pennepack Baptist. Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the large Roman Catholic parish that served as a mother church for most of the parishes in the Northeast.

1 Present day
2 Transportation
3 Demographics
4 Crime
5 Education
6 Organizations
7 External links

[edit] Present day

In the present day, Bustleton is largely a residential community with major commercial areas on Roosevelt Boulevard, Bustleton Avenue, Grant Avenue, and Red Lion Road. It has minimal industrial presence. The community is home to a diverse population with many immigrant groups represented; in particular one can see store-fronts, billboards, and newspapers in Russian (especially along Bustleton Avenue) from the many immigrants from Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet Republics reffered to as Russian Americans.

[edit] Transportation

Public transportation is provided by several SEPTA bus and regional rail routes, though most residents beyond their high school years elect to drive automobiles. Major roads include Welsh Road, Verree Road, Red Lion Road (PA 63), Bustleton Avenue (PA 532), Grant Avenue, Krewstown Road, and the Roosevelt Boulevard (US 1). Bustleton is the unfortunate home to two of the most dangerous intersections in the United States: Grant Avenue and the Roosevelt Boulevard, and Red Lion Road and the Roosevelt Boulevard. It is bordered on the east by Northeast Philadelphia Airport, a municipal releiver airport that dates to World War II.

[edit] Demographics

The neighborhood is a primarily middle-upper middle class community where many people who live in the city because of city-related jobs choose to reside. Newly constructed single homes are selling for between $350,000 and $500,000. Average existing home values are around $200,000 to $350,000 for single homes and $175,000 to $250,000 for twin homes. There are no row homes in Bustleton, though there are several dozen apartment complexes and condominiums, and a significant number of the homes are side-by-side duplexes.

[edit] Crime

Major crime is rare.

[edit] Education

Children generally go to public or parochial school, though some go to private schools. The primary public high school, George Washington High School, is located on Bustleton Avenue, just north of the northernmost boundary of Red Lion Road. There are no parochial high schools in Bustleton, but most students go to Archbishop Ryan High School (co-ed), Father Judge High School (all boys), Little Flower High School (all girls), or Bishop McDevitt High School (co-ed). There are no colleges or universities in the neighborhood.

[edit] Organizations

The Greater Bustleton Civic League, originally an alliance of the major local churches but now a neighborhood organization dealing primarily with zoning issues, has served the area for more than sixty years. Youth sports are organized by the Bustleton Bengals which has its home field at Hayes Playground, named for a slain Philadelphia police officer who was an area resident. There is, apparently, a town watch, but it rarely (or never) meets and does not have much influence.