Manayunk, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Manayunk, Philadelphia, PA February 10, 2006
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Manayunk, Philadelphia, PA February 10, 2006

Manayunk is a neighborhood in the northwestern section of the United States city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Located on the banks of the Schuylkill River, it contains the first canal begun in the United States (although not the first completed due to budget problems). The name comes from the language of the Lenape Indians (who were later renamed the Delaware Indians by Europeans). Manayunk is their name for the Schuylkill River, which literally translates "our place for drinking". Manayunk's zip code is 19127.

Although historically a working class community, in recent years the neighborhood has been gentrified substantially. Today's residents are mostly middle to upper middle class. Housing in Manayunk is fairly expensive. In 2005, the median home sale price was $246,750. This was an increase by 34% over the median price in 2004.

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[edit] History

Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania highlighting Manayunk Borough prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854
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Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania highlighting Manayunk Borough prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854

Manayunk was originally a community in Roxborough Township, Philadelphia County situated near the Schuylkill, south of the Wissahickon. The land that would become Manayunk was first bought from William Penn in 1685-1686 and transferred by several parties to the family of William Levering. A large part of that land was then sold to his son, Jacob Levering, in 1716. Soon thereafter, Jacob built the first house in Manayunk, on the west side of Green lane, below Silverwood street. The growing town was known as as Flat Rock in 1810, the name coming from a peculiar flat rock lying on the lower side of the bridge, which was subsequently called Flat Rock Bridge. The Bridge was part of the Flat Rock Turnpike connecting Roxborough Township with Merion Township.

The settlement got its nineteenth century identity from the construction of the dam, canal and locks there by the Schuylkill Navigation Company. These works were finished about the end of the year 1818, and, the water-power being extensive, the Navigation Company sought for lessees of the power for use in mills and factories. Capt. John Towers was the second person who bought a water right and erected an oil-mill. After that purchases of water-power and the erection of mills and factories increased greatly, and the place became important as a manufacturing village. Manayunk at the time was populated by a mix of German, Irish and Polish immigrants as well as a sizable African American population.

After a time the inhabitants became dissatisfied with the name Flat Rock, and held meetings on the subject. On one such an occasion, in 1824, it was resolved to adopt for the place one of the names of the River Schuylkill, and from that time the village was known as Manayunk, from the Lenape mëneyung or manaiung ("where we go to drink"). The borough of Manayunk was incorporated June 11, 1840.

The borough would only last for 14 years though. In 1854 Manayunk as well as the rest of the boroughs, townships, and districts making up Philadelphia County were disbanded and merged into the City of Philadelphia, through the Act of Consolidation, 1854. Even though it was no longer a separate entity the community maintained its small-town charm and became one of the neighborhoods of the city, continuing to be one of the manufacturing centers of the city for the next 100 years.

In the 1980s, Manayunk suffered from the decline of manufacturing jobs and had many empty storefronts along Main Street, its primary commercial street. In the 1990s, Manayunk's rebirth could be attributed to the opening of several upscale restaurants on Main Street. These restaurants were backed by developers who promoted Manayunk as a place to visit. Manayunk retained its small-town charm with its small 2 and 3-story rowhomes, cobblestone paving, and hilly streets. Many people who visited decided to stay and renovate the small rowhomes characteristic of the area. Demand for housing in the area has lead to the converting of the former mills into loft apartments, and upscale shops started replacing the empty storefronts and mom-and-pop stores. In 2004, a new condominium tower was built on part of Venice Island, and in 2005 there are plans to build more condominium towers to replace the closed soap and paper factories.

Main street continues on as Umbria street when heading West. Originally Umbria Street was Washington Street but the name was changed concurrent with a large influx of Italian immigrants at the turn of the century. Consolo's bakery was a well-known Italian bakery located on Hermitage Street. This family business closed in the 1970s. Originally, Domenico Consolo started his business on Main Street but moved to the site on Hermitage Street in 1924, which had previously been a German bakery. A distinctive product was "regonade" from the word oregano. It is a bread product, in the shape of a ring, where the cross section has a jelly-roll-like structure--the roll bread separating layers of paprika, oregano, and oil.

[edit] Manayunk Facts

Main Street in Manayunk is the only street in the city of Philadelphia officially bearing that name.

Near the end of the American Civil War, a Canonicus-class monitor was launched as USS Manayunk. However, when she was commissioned four years later, the ship was renamed to USS Ajax by the prominent Philadelphian Secretary of the Navy Adolph E. Borie.

[edit] Manayunk Wall

The "Manayunk Wall" is an inclined street, comprising all of Levering Avenue and a few blocks of Lyceum Avenue, that is a part of the U.S. Pro Cycling Championship, an annual one day bicycle race. The "wall" begins at Main Street in Manayunk and most years ends at Pechin Street in Roxborough.

[edit] Transportation

The SEPTA R6 Norristown ex-Reading Railroad rail line runs through Manayunk, partly along an elevated structure above Cresson Street. The Manayunk train station is located on this elevated section. The other end of the R6 line used to have a stop in Manayunk before the line was cut back to its current terminus in Cynwyd. This line used the landmark Manayunk bridge, a concrete railroad viaduct built by the Pennsylvania Railroad which spans the Schuylkill River. This Manayunk bridge is an iconic symbol of Manayunk.

[edit] External links


Neighborhoods of the Northwest Philadelphia section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Andorra - Chestnut Hill - East Falls - Germantown - Manayunk - Morton - Mount Airy - Roxborough - Upper Roxborough - Wissahickon - Wister


Philadelphia neighbohoods

Center City - North Philadelphia - Northwest Philadelphia - The Northeast - South Philadelphia - Southwest Philadelphia - West Philadelphia


Incorporated District, Boroughs, and Townships in the County of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854

Aramingo Borough - Belmont District - Blockley Township - Bridesburg Borough - Bristol Township - Byberry Township - Delaware Township - Frankford Borough - Germantown Borough - Germantown Township - Kensington District - Kingsessing Township - Lower Dublin Township - Manayunk Borough - Moreland Township - Moyamensing District - Northern Liberties District - Northern Liberties Township - Oxford Township - Passyunk Township - Penn District - Penn Township - Philadelphia City - Roxborough Township - Richmond District - Southwark District - Spring Garden District - West Philadelphia Borough - Whitehall Borough -