Why Society Hill is a Historic Philadelphia Neighborhood
Much like its northern neighbor, Old City, Society Hill is arguably the birthplace of America; its namesake came from the free traders who sought to build their society in Philadelphia. Its colonial identity derives from its origins as one of the first truly functional neighborhoods in historic Philadelphia; today, the cobblestone streets and eighteenth-century architecture can easily whisk you away to another time entirely. Oh man, where do we even start with Society Hill? Home to some of the more famous bars and restaurants in the city, Society Hill plays host to some of the finest gastronomy in town. Society Hill is primarily a residential neighborhood; the tree lined streets give cover to the many walkers and bikers across the area. The neighborhood is bordered by Front Street to the east, 8th Street to the west, Walnut Street to the north, and Lombard Street to the south.
Getting To and From Society Hill
Like its northern and southern neighbors, Society Hill sits perched overlooking Columbus Boulevard and the Delaware River, making it easily accessible from I-95. Those coming by subway are best off by taking the Market Frankford El Line to either 2nd, 5th, or 8th Streets and walking south from there. The bus lines are plentiful; the 9, 12, 21, 40, 42, 47, or 57 lines will do the trick, depending on where you’re coming from. The streets here can be narrow, so street parking can be a bit of a challenge depending on the time of day, but there are plenty of off-street parking lots throughout the neighborhood, especially on Front Street.
