Neighborhood: Society Hill | PDF Version [299 KB]
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 Population 6,215 Workforce 2,342 Housing Units 4,081 Households 3,699 Owner Occupied 62% Renter Occupied 38% |
 Population 7% Housing Units 5% Households 2% Share of 25-34 year olds -6% |
Located just south of Old City, bordering the Delaware River, Society Hill is one of Philadelphia's oldest and most historic residential neighborhoods. The area's name dates back to 1683, when William Penn gave the land to the Free Society of Traders, a London trading company that wanted the location for its waterfront access, and thus, the area came to be known as 'the Society's Hill.'
During the late 18th and early 19th century, the commercial hub of the city shifted westward while a new wave of immigrant laborers moved into Society Hill to serve as the labor force for the nearby wharves. As wealthier families followed this westward migration towards Rittenhouse and the Main Line, Society Hill fell into slow decline. Despite the decline however, much of the original colonial architecture remained intact. But it was not until the mid 20th century and the urban renewal movement that the historic buildings were renovated and Society Hill achieved its current state.
In the 1950s, a combination of national initiatives, like the federal Historical Preservation Act and local government reform in Philadelphia, coupled with the progressive administration of Mayor Richardson Dilworth, spurred a restoration and preservation movement that would bring new energy and vitality to Society Hill.
In 1957 a group of local organizations successfully lobbied for the relocation of the Dock Street Market to make room for the 31-story Society Hill Towers, a project spearheaded by the executive director of the Planning Commission under Mayor Dilworth, Edmund Bacon, who is largely credited with creating the modern day Society Hill through a mix of preservation and quality new construction.
In 1959, the Old Philadelphia Development Corporation (OPDC), precursor to today's Central Philadelphia Development Corporation(CPDC), became the official developer of Society Hill homes.
Bacon designed a master plan for the neighborhood but was faced with the additional challenge of historic preservation. Preserving buildings was a practice at odds with the contemporary status quo of redevelopment, leveling, and 'slum clearance.' Despite some debate over which buildings would be restored and which torn down, Bacon's plan received much support from the community, and he returned the area to its former residential status, leaving only businesses that would serve the residential population. Bacon's restoration efforts proved to be very successful, and by the bicentennial, Society Hill as we know it was essentially complete.
In 1971 Society Hill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1999 it received Historic District designation. Architecture styles range from the high-rise apartments of Society Hill Towers designed by I.M. Pei, to brick Georgian and Federal-style row houses. Notable historic buildings in the neighborhood include St. Peter's Church and the Society Hill Synagogue.
