Prior to the mid-1800's, the area which is known today as Logan Square was undeveloped hardwood forest. It was not until 1842 that the first signs of building developments began to appear on maps in the Logan Square neighborhood. This is around the same time that factories such as Morris Iron Works at 16th and Market Street began to develop. With factories, came a new surge of workers who needed to live within walking distance, thus the creation of row homes for these immigrants.
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Towards the late 1800's into the early 1900's, the Logan Square neighborhood went under a major transformation due to the construction of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The Parkway was constructed in order to accommodate the rise in automobiles taking the road. With the construction of the Parkway also came the construction of many high rise buildings in the Logan Square neighborhood.
Original plans for the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Demographics over time: Percentage of Population identifying as "black or African American Alone," 1790-2013
Notice that the population of people identifying as "Black and African American Alone" fluctuate over time with a range of about 20% as the language of the census designations change along with the boundaries for the census tract. This correlates with the history of immigrants and high rises in Logan Square as mentioned above.
Data and maps courtesy of Social Explorer.
History. (n.d.). Retrieved August 13, 2015, from http://www.lsnaphilly.org/logan-square/history
History. (n.d.). Retrieved August 13, 2015, from http://www.lsnaphilly.org/logan-square/history