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ViewsPhiladelphia/WestFrom eTripTips WikiWest Philly is in Philadelphia. West Philly is a mostly residential section of Philadelphia west of the Schuylkill River [1], which represented the western boundary of William Penn's original plan for the colonial city. West Philadelphia is a vibrant, diverse, multi-cultural Urban area. Even though West Philadelphia is home to 3 excellent and world-renowned Universities, there is only a small buffer area of vibrant neighborhoods around the campuses. Beyond these neighborhoods lies a predominantly working class area, sections of which have been troubled in the late 20th and early 21st centuries by urban problems like unemployment and the drug trade. Even farther out, at the very edge of the city, West Philadelphia gradually gives way to newer, and often larger housing in neighborhoods like Overbrook and Wynnefield, the latter of which is home to half of the Saint Joseph's University [2] campus. With the notable exception of a few colonial and early federal mansions like the Woodlands and Bartram's Gardens, most of West Philly developed from farmland as an early "suburb" of the then neighboring 19th Century industrial giant, Philadelphia. Development moved west from the Schulkill following the course of a network of trolleys (many of which still run today) and the El which runs above Market St. Not surprisingly, West Philadelphia today presents a living catalog of 19th Century and early 20th Century residential architecture ranging from dramatic ornate Queen Anne Victorian mansions to more humble brick rowhouses. Although many sections suffered significant decline and urban blight as the heavy industry that fed the demand for housing construction in West Philly dwindled and departed the US, areas like Powelton Village, Spruce Hill and Cedar Park have been largely preserved and provide an opportunity to "step back into time" as you stroll the wide tree-lined streets of stately 19th Century homes. West Philly encompasses several large educational institutions including the University of Pennsylvania [3], Drexel University [4] and the University of Sciences in Philadelphia [5] as well as the largest portion of Philadelphia's expansive Fairmount Park.
[edit] Transportation[edit] Public TransitWest Philadelphia is primarily served by stops 30th St through 63rd St of the Market-Frankford subway/elevated train line [6], which most locals refer to simply as "the El." This transit line which, as its name suggests, runs along Market Street, connects the neighborhoods of West Philadelphia with Center City [7] to the East, ending in the Frankford section of Northeast Philadelphia [8]. To the West, the El connects the city with 69th Street Terminal in the suburb of Upper Darby, where riders can transfer to various suburban trolley [9][10] and bus [11] lines. In addition to the El, all of Philadelphia's remaining trolley lines [12] run through West Philadelphia at some point of their route. West Philadelphia is also served by Regional Rail, [13] the city's network of commuter lines. Every line serving the city stops at 30th St station, and each of the R1, R2, R3 and R5 lines make additional stops in the area (see the SEPTA rail map [14] for additional information). [edit] DrivingIn addition to the network of city streets, West Philadelphia has easy access to Interstate 76 (usually referred to as the Schuylkill Expressway, after the river along which it was built) on its Eastern edge and Interstate 476 (the Blue Route) may be accessed on the Western edge of the area via PA Route 3 (West Chester Pike). [edit] CyclingWest Philadelphia cyclists count on one of the more extensive networks of bicycle friendly streets in the city, many of them with designated bicycle lanes. These streets are all part of the city's Bicycle Network [15]. The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia [16] also provides useful resources to the city's cyclists. [edit] See[edit] Neighborhoods
[edit] Fairmount Park
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[edit] BuyThere are two main streets in West Philadelphia along which the majority of the area's shopping is concentrated. Walnut street in University City caters to the more upscale tastes of residents, many of them students, who live on and around the college campuses, while 52nd St has historically been frequented by the less affluent residents of outlying neighborhoods. The 52nd St shopping district has recently started falling into decline, earning itself a reputation for being unsafe, but still may offer some interesting shopping and dining options for those who care to visit. City Line Ave, which divides Philadelphia City and County from suburban communities in Montgomery County, also provides a variety of chain stores and restaurants.
[edit] EatWest Philadelphia boasts of one of the largest and most varied concentrations of ethnic restaurants outside of Center City. However, more familiar chain restaurants, from McDonald's to Boston Market, aren't hard to find for the less adventurous palate.
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