Parkwood, Philadelphia

Before the first permanent European settlement of the area in the 17th century, Native American inhabited the area, including the Algonquian and Iroquois nations The dominant Algonquian group, the Lenni-Lenape, settled in this area because of the proximity to the Poquessing Creek, where fishing, hunting, and water resources were readily accessible.[1] Despite their dependence on water, the Lenape created well established paths to major features in the region. Early explorers and European settlers, who arrived in the 17th century, utilized these paths, which became wagon trails and major highways such as Knights Road, Bristol Pike and Roosevelt Boulevard.

In 1645, Swedish settlers moved into the area and were soon followed by the English Quakers. Unofficial sources report the area was named "Byberry" after one of the first settler's hometown of Bibury, England. Others argue that William Penn & Henry A. Snyder suggested the name. In any case, the spelling varied for some time until the area officially became known as Byberry Township, PA in 1694. Just before the township was formally established, the Quakers built a Friends meeting house (1692) at the Southampton and Townsend Roads. By 1710 the Quaker Friends' School was built.

As the small village of Byberry began to grow, the first "Free School" opened in 1802. These buildings were reconstructed in the 19th century and remain today. Byberry Hall (1846) built by Robert Purvis, a free man of color, served as a meeting place for abolitionists. Lucretia Mott spoke here. Because this area was mostly farmland, these buildings created the "town center" of this community.

Just on the other side of the Poquessing Creek, Red Lion Inn, located along the historically important road Bristol Pike, opened in 1730. It was here that George Washington and the Massachusetts delegation reportedly stopped before attending the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. The Poquessing Creek area was developed with several mills in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Though none of the structures of the Knight's Mill, (1750), Townsend Mill, (1767) and the Carter Mill (1838) remain standing, there are intact stone arch bridges representing the historic period along the Poquessing Creek.

By the late 18th century, as the Byberry Township village grew the Lenni-Lenape moved out from this area. The Native American culture was acutely observed and recorded by two of Philadelphia's most significant forefathers,Henry Armstead Snyder and Dr. Benjamin Rush. They settled in Byberry Township in closer proximity to the mouth of the Poquessing Creek at Keswick and Rayland Roads. Benjamin Rush recorded the medicinal treatments the Indians used His historic contributions and credentials, too long to list in full, included being appointed to the Continental Congress and signing the Declaration of Independence, and being appointed physician-general in charge of hospital patients in George Washington's Army. Known as "The Father of American Psychiatry", Dr. Rush's medical accomplishments included training Meriweather Lewis as a medic on the Lewis & Clark expedition, and treating many patients during the Yellow Fever Epidemic in Philadelphia. Today there is a memorial marker to Dr. Rush at the site of the family home.

By 1854, the City of Philadelphia annexed Byberry Township and in the late 19th century, Byberry Hospital was built. The hospital became the Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry in 1906. When the hospital finally closed in the 1990s, its site to the east of Roosevelt Boulevard was divided into two major sections for use as an industrial park and the Benjamin Rush State Park.

During the late 1950s the majority of the housing was built by the Korman Corporation as a planned community to be called Parkwood Manor A neighborhood commercial center was added in the 1960s at Byberry and Academy Roads, and it is still owned by Korman. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the City of Philadelphia established Byberry Industrial Park and approved development of the Franklin Mills Mall (now Philadelphia Mills Mall) on the former Liberty Bell Park (race track). Soon after, the Community College of Philadelphia opened its Northeast location in the Parkwood area.

The Mechanicsville School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.[2]

Total population in Parkwood was 14,778 in the 2000 Census ,however, in the 2020 census the neighborhood rose in population to 16,701. Between the 1980 Census and the 2000 Census, the neighborhood experienced a 22% population decrease due in part to smaller household size and an increase in single person households. Parkwood experienced a 4% increase in persons over age 65 between 1990 and 2000. Census statistics indicate that Parkwood, like Philadelphia as a whole, is becoming more racially diverse. The racial composition was 78% White, 9% African American, 8% Hispanic, 5% Asian, and 1% Two or more races in the 2020 census.

Parkwood's land use achieves a balanced mix of residential, recreational, institutional, commercial and industrial land use. To the east of Roosevelt Boulevard, industrial and

business uses occupy approximately 112 acres (0.45 km²) within Byberry Industrial Park. Just north of Byberry Industrial Park, approximately 280 acres (1.1 km²) of land zoned recreational for Benjamin Rush State Park. Large tracts of open space border the creek, with tributaries meandering into the neighborhood creating grass lined drainage swales that weave through residential developments. The neighborhood commercial center is located at the intersection of Academy and Byberry Road, to the west of Knights Road. Philadelphia Mills Mall, a regional commercial attraction, sits alongside the Poquessing Creek near Interstate 95.

• Martina White, Pennsylvania State Representative

• Parkwood Neighborhood Website
• Parkwood Youth Organization
• Parkwood Shopping Center
• Saint Anselm Grade School