Wynnefield, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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4900 block of Wynnefield Avenue

Wynnefield is a predominantly African-American, middle class neighborhood in West Philadelphia and member community of the Main Line. Its borders are 53rd Street at Jefferson to the south, Philadelphia's Fairmount Park to the east, City Avenue (commonly referred to as "City Line") to the north and the AMTRAK "Main Line" tracks to the west. Surrounding neighborhoods include Bala Cynwyd to the north, Wynnefield Heights to the east, Parkside to the south, and Overbrook to the west. Its main commercial arteries are North 54th Street, Bryn Mawr Avenue (2200 block), and City Avenue. It is the home of St. Joseph's University, a Catholic Jesuit University of some 7000 students and the television station WPHL-TV (MY PHL 17). It also has a number of connections to the motion picture industry. Wynnefield is the childhood home of actor Will Smith, film producer Lee Daniels (Monster's Ball and The Woodsman), film director Charles Stone III, and documentary filmmaker Tigre Hill. As of 2006, the neighborhood is undergoing some changes due to the expansion of St. Joseph's University, and many students and residents of non-African descent are moving into Wynnefield, continuing to make the neighborhood a diverse community. Furthermore, efforts are being made to rid the southern portion of Wynnefield of drugs, crime, litter, vacant homes that are affecting the overall community.

[edit] History

Like the nearby suburban community of Wynnewood, Wynnefield takes its name from William Penn's physician, Thomas Wynne, who built his home "Wynnestay" at 52nd Street and Woodbine Avenue in 1690. It has previously been known as Balwynne Park or Woodside Park, that portion of which is now the separate community of Wynnefield Heights. Woodside Park was the name of an amusement park constructed by the city's Fairmount Park Transportation Company that operated from 1897 to 1955.

Much of the modern development of Wynnefield is thanks to the influence of the late Ms. Katie B. Jackson, born 1929. Known as "Queen of Wynnefield", in 1975 she founded the Wynnefield Academy, a private, co-educational PK-4 elementary school. The Katie B. Jackson Development Corporation and Katie B. Jackson Senior Citizens Complex bear her name.

[edit] Education

Saint Joseph's University
Wynnefield Academy
Samuel Gompers Elementary School
William B. Mann Elementary School
Woodbine Academy
Dimner Beeber Middle School
St. Rose of Lima Catholic School
Settlement Music School, West Philadelphia Branch
The Laboratory Charter School of Communications and Languages

[edit] Churches

Wynnefield Presbyterian Church
Pinn Memorial Baptist Church
West Side Baptist Church
Wynnefield Baptist Church
St. Barbara Catholic Church
Bethel Holiness Pentecostel Church
Overbrook Avenue Gospel Hall
New Testament Church of God
Endtime Zion Church of Jesus
Community Bible Tabernacle Church
International Church of God
Church of the Advocate
Evelyn Graves Ministries Church
Baha'i Community of Phila
Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship Church

[edit] External links

Neighborhoods of the West Philadelphia section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
	Belmont - Carroll Park - Cathedral Park - Cedar Park - Cobbs Creek - Dunlap - Garden Court - Haddington - Haverford North - Mantua - Mill Creek - Overbrook - Overbrook Park - Overbrook Farms - Parkside - Powelton Village - Saunders Park - Spruce Hill - Squirrel Hill - University City - Walnut Hill - Woodland Terrace - Wynnefield - Wynnefield Heights
Philadelphia neighbohoods Center City - North Philadelphia - Northwest Philadelphia - The Northeast - South Philadelphia - Southwest Philadelphia - West Philadelphia