Kensington, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Playground in the neighborhood of Kensington, Philadelphia. Note the factories in the background, one of which has been recently converted into the Coral Streets Art House, low-income housing for artists.

Kensington is a neighborhood located in the United States city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is located in the Near Northeast section of Philadelphia, located just a couple of miles northeast of Center City.

Kensington has served as one of the integral Irish American neighborhoods in the city. Also heavily represented are Polish and Americans of German, English, and Scotch-Irish descent. More recently, in the western end of Kensington (bordering West Kensington), there has been an increase in the number of Hispanic residents, including Puerto Ricans, Dominican Americans, and even some Mexicans. The South Kensington area has a number of Arab groups, such as Palestinians, Egyptians, and Algerians.

In the nineteenth century, Kensington was one of the leading centers of the textile industry, particularly in carpet manufacture.

Traditionally working-class, Kensington was hurt from the closing down of the area's factories beginning in the 60's, which has led to unemployment and the abandoning of some homes in the western areas of the neighborhood. However, some parts are being gentrified, especially those near Fishtown, another traditionally working class neighborhood which has seen rents increase. While most of the large manufacturers have left, the area has many small-shops and large factories for the newer artisans to set up shop.

The western areas of Kensington suffered heavily from the 90's crack epidemic, an area still considered crime-ridden and nicknamed "the Badlands" by the police and media. Much of the traditional population, ethnic Europeans have moved out due to the increasing crime and drug problems. Taking their place are Hispanics and African-Americans. The ethnic Europeans moved out and settled in the areas to the east and southeast, such as Fishtown and Port Richmond, or have moved to the Northeastern sections of Philadelphia.

In 2005, the 19125 zip code, which contains Kensington and Fishtown, had a median home sale price of $129,950. This was a 46% increase over the median price in 2004.

[edit] Kensington District

The Kensington District of Philadelphia County originally designated a larger area now referred to by various names. Fishtown, although today typically excluded from the definition of Kensington by those who do not know their history, was originally a part of this district. Today's neighborhoods of Olde Kensington, West Kensington, were all in the district. Throughout the 1990s, the name Kensington has often been one of exclusion, rather than one of description. If an area within the former Kensington district does not have a more specific name, it is sometimes simply referred to as Kensington. People who live in the area often disagree which blocks fall into which neighborhood.