History

Walnut Hill is located in the heart of West Philadelphia, and extends between 45th and 52nd Streets from Market Street to Spruce Street. The neighborhood initially developed as a streetcar suburb in the mid-1800s after the construction of the Walnut Street and Market Street bridges, which allowed residents to commute to Center City. The construction of the Kirkbride Institute in 1859, Presbyterian Hospital in 1872, the University of Pennsylvania in 1875, and Drexel University in 1892 accelerated growth, as there was an immediate need for housing for the institutions' personnel. Most of Walnut Hill's housing stock was built between 1910 and 1940, following a population increase after the construction of the Market-Frankford Elevated line.

Until the mid-1960s, Walnut Hill was a stable, working-class neighborhood with many young families and excellent public schools. The area was economically vibrant during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s; major companies such as the Provident Mutual Life Insurance Company's national headquarters (4601 Market Street), the WFIL television studio that produced "American Bandstand" (4548 Market Street), and the Philadelphia Arena (4530 Market Street) moved to Walnut Hill and created numerous employment opportunities. Additionally, the 52nd Street commercial corridor, extending between Arch Street and Spruce Street since the early 1900s, allowed local entrepreneurs to start businesses in the neighborhood and contributed to Walnut Hill's economic strength.