West Philadelphia is rich in history and culture that goes beyond the four decades that ACHIEVEability has been operating in this area. The need for our services in West Philadelphia has been influenced by the community’s history. Below are just some of the highlights of West Philadelphia’s history that impact the community, its residents and our work.

1800s

• 1830: West Philadelphia begins to shift from agricultural use to residential neighborhoods

• 1854: Consolidation of several townships leads to the doubling of West Philadelphia’s population.

• 1862: William Blockley establishes Blockley Farm, which stretches from the Schuylkill River to present-day 60th Street

• 1890: Electric trolleys enable wealthier residents to move farther west, leaving behind a middle-class population

1900s

• 1907: The Market Frankford Line is completed, driving residential and economic development in West Philadelphia

• 1950: White Flight leads to the rise of mass transit and discriminatory housing practices like redlining enabling white residents to move to the suburbs and preventing Black residents from moving to the suburbs

• 1980: The crack cocaine epidemic reaches West Philadelphia, resulting in a crime wave that scared off middle-class Black families and remaining white families

• 1999: Reconstruction and renovation of SEPTA’s Market Frankford El Line begins

2000s

• 2009: Market Frankford El Line Renovation is complete. During this time, Market Street Commercial Corridors suffers a wave of closings and vacancies due to decreased foot traffic & accessibility

• 2014: The Obama Administration designates parts of West Philadelphia as a federal HUD Promise Zone