641:
659:
502:
671:
391:
683:
69:
45:
285:
698:
640:
465:
76:
378:
newspaper stated: "The most notable thoroughfare in
Philadelphia to become the social centre of colored wealth and pride is Christian Street from Broad to 20th Street." The same report stated that the property values of the properties in the neighborhood owned by African-Americans were in excess of
315:
The particular appeal of the neighborhood
Christian Street Historic District to African-American physicians in the early 20th century was in part due to its proximity to Mercy Hospital which was the premier medical institution for African-Americans at the time, located at the corner of 17th Street
434:
are also common on the row houses of this district. At the time of construction, kitchens and privies were in detached structures behind the row houses. As indoor plumbing became common in the early 20th century, the detached structures were sacrificed for building construction on the neighboring
485:
on demolition in the
Christian Street Historic District in order to provide time to determine if historically significant properties in the district should become permanently preserved. The preservation effort has been led by the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia supported by
402:
Much of the residential construction of the
Christian Street Historic District took place in the period ranging from the 1870s to the 1890s, to house first generation and second generation Italian-Americans. Original development took place because of the proximity of the district to the
1007:
658:
509:
Some people contend that the designation of Black
Doctors Row as an historic district minimizes the vast heritage of African-Americans in the city of Philadelphia, further stating that this designation is excessively narrow and may be an indication of
273:. Accordingly, the contractors who built the row houses built row houses that were taller and deeper than most other South Philadelphia row houses of the time. Many of the row houses built in the 1880s in the Christian Street Historic District have an
517:
The First
African Baptist Church was built in 1906 at the corner of Christian Street and 16th Street in the Christian Street Historic District. It was added to Philadelphia's Register of Historic Buildings in 2015 over the objections of the church's
351:. It was almost entirely African-American by 1940. The professional class people in the district at the time were mostly doctors, lawyers, clergymen, bankers, teachers, architects and construction contractors. They benefited from higher education at
209:, from the 1400 block of Christian Street to the intersection of Christian Street with 20th Street. Its width is one block on either side of Christian Street, extending to Montrose Street and Webster Street. It is within the area known as
363:
and also from the
University of Pennsylvania which was admitting African-American students. Demand for their services was also high due to the large and growing African-American population of Philadelphia and the fact that the city was
1225:
670:
682:
441:
The nomination to the
Philadelphia Register of Historic Places by the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia contains an inventory of buildings in the historic district which was approved on July 8, 2022
254:. During the nineteenth century, the district was often known as St. Charles Parish, because of the location of St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church at the edge of the district. It also included several
421:
of the row houses, so as to admit more light to the homes from windows at the rear of the residential structures. They were usually three stories high. The homes were typically
Italianate in style, with
846:
558:
546:
340:
to northern cities in the United States such as
Philadelphia. Many of them took up residence in the Christian Street neighborhood as did African-Americans moving from other parts of Philadelphia.
936:
435:
Montrose Street and Webster Street. Typical selling prices for a row house unit in the early years were about $ 2000. Over the years, many of the residences have been expanded or modernized.
68:
958:
44:
501:
616:, singer,1319 Christian Street (the house Bessie Smith lived in was on the east side of Broad St. in an area that was approximately 75% Italian, and was demolished in the 1990s)
246:
Development of the Christian Street Neighborhood began in earnest in approximately 1866 as it became incorporated into the city of Philadelphia. Initially the neighborhood was
404:
477:
Gentrification efforts in the early 21st century have resulted in demolition of a significant number of buildings in the Christian Street Historic District. In 2021, the
390:
1220:
984:
438:
Buildings at street corners in the historic district were usually churches or mixed use buildings with businesses on the first floor and residences on higher floors.
92:
1034:
756:
697:
371:
As the demographic changes progressed, many of the Protestant churches in the district (typically Presbyterian) became Baptist or African Methodist Episcopal.
717:
352:
625:
619:
722:
407:, which was the primary industrial zone of the city of Philadelphia at the time. The locale was particularly desirable because Christian Street and the
490:. The preservation effort resulted in the first formal historic district for a historically African-American neighborhood in the city of Philadelphia.
231:, with many of its black residents among the city's most prominent. The district was at that time termed "Main Street for Philadelphia's Black Elite."
1056:
732:
190:
1215:
536:
540:
582:
Agnes Berry Montier, physician, first African American woman to graduate from the Temple University Medical School, 1512 Christian Street
214:
727:
333:
293:
235:
35:
344:
343:
By 1920, the majority of the population of the Christian Street Historic District was African-American, with a significant number of
418:
356:
145:
300:
to northern cities in the United States. This migration to the Christian Street Historic District ended in approximately 1945, as
227:
The district was at its heyday in the early 20th century when it was a center for homes, businesses, and cultural institutions of
493:
The Christian Street Historic District was listed on the City of Philadelphia's Register of Historic Buildings on July 8, 2022.
308:
African-Americans. This change resulted in a decline in prestige of the neighborhood, giving rise to subsequent demolition and
329:
985:"Once considered 'Main Street for Philadelphia's Black Elite', on Friday Christian Street was renamed Black Doctors Row"
382:
The term "Black Doctors' Row" for this district is reported to have started in the first few years of the 21st century.
177:
324:
By the early twentieth century, the Irish-American residents of the Christian Street Historic District began moving to
937:"Will demolition moratorium help historic preservation for Christian Street's Doctors' Row? City Council takes a look"
1008:"Christian Street Historic District: Real Evidence of Colorism, Systemic Racism, Displacement and White Privilege"
478:
379:
US$ 500,000 in 1919 dollars. It also gave a detailed listing of the properties in the neighborhood at the time.
375:
172:
1200:
552:
296:
of African-Americans which began in approximately 1916 as large numbers of African-Americans moved from the
274:
221:
576:
427:
337:
278:
817:
522:, Terrence Griffith, who preferred to sell the building to benefit his congregation at another location.
646:
St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church, 902 South 20th Street, at the edge of Black Doctors' Row
395:
869:
607:
365:
301:
210:
284:
531:
368:
in various respects, thereby intensifying demand within the local African-American community.
360:
325:
228:
220:
As of 2021, the district included approximately 192 buildings, some of which themselves have
757:"Philadelphia has Created its first Historic District Designated to Recognize Black History"
487:
482:
234:
The neighborhood was officially designated as an historic district by unanimous vote of the
816:
Block, Kevin; Trevisan, Adrian. "Christian Street / Black Doctors Row Historic District."
601:
259:
247:
1120:
468:
1166:
1141:
1106:
1081:
505:
First African Baptist Church Historical Marker at 1600 Christian Street in Philadelphia
414:
309:
269:
Christian Street is somewhat wider than most streets in South Philadelphia, as are the
1209:
1057:"Inside Marian Anderson's South Philly home, where the classical singer made history"
348:
255:
1035:"Over Pastor's Objections, First African Baptist Added to City's Historic Register"
613:
570:
305:
263:
251:
198:
194:
155:
135:
1195:
21:
Neighborhood of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States
297:
206:
107:
94:
703:
Philadelphia Ebenezer Seventh-Day Adventist Church, at 1437 Christian Street
224:. The district was originally proposed for permanent preservation in 2021.
408:
270:
821:
511:
423:
49:
Street plan of the Christian Street Historic District as it was in 1876
894:
847:"Racing Against Time to Save South Philadelphia's 'Black Main Street'"
870:"Nomination of Historic District: Christian Street/Black Doctors Row"
519:
431:
664:
Tabor Presbyterian church, S.W. Corner of Christian & 18th. Sts.
417:
were the typical residential design, with an L-shape evident in the
688:
500:
389:
283:
1226:
Populated places in Pennsylvania established by African Americans
426:
extending along the roof lines of the entire row and decorative
591:
Andrew F. Stevens, banker and politician, 1840 Christian Street
559:
Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts
1196:
South of South Neighborhood Position on Black Doctors' Row
818:
Nomination to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places
75:
691:
at the Stanton School, a notable building in the district
458:
Media related to the preservation of Black Doctors' Row
585:
Frederick Massiah, contractor, 1517 Christian Street
469:
Podcast by The Collective, Saving Black Doctors Row
452:
316:and Fitzwater Street nearby the historic district.
171:
161:
151:
141:
131:
123:
26:
676:John C Asbury Historical Marker 1710 Christian St.
411:were wider than most in Philadelphia at the time.
588:John C. Asbury, politician, 1710 Christian Street
579:, minister and songwriter, 1509 Christian Street
205:. The narrow district extends approximately six
868:Trevisan, Adrian; Block, Kevin (July 8, 2022).
332:. This coincided with the early portion of the
840:
838:
836:
834:
832:
830:
750:
748:
822:Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia
812:
810:
808:
806:
804:
802:
800:
798:
796:
794:
304:neighborhoods became more desirable for many
8:
792:
790:
788:
786:
784:
782:
780:
778:
776:
774:
718:History of African Americans in Philadelphia
723:History of Irish Americans in Philadelphia
23:
1221:African-American history in Philadelphia
733:Philadelphia Register of Historic Places
18:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, neighborhood
744:
636:
160:
122:
87:
61:
53:
41:
987:. Philadelphia Inquirer. June 24, 2024
920:"Colored Citizens Own Much Property".
449:
471:, Philadelphia Juneteenth Family Inc.
201:, United States. It is also known as
170:
150:
140:
130:
7:
541:National Register of Historic Places
728:List of Philadelphia neighborhoods
596:Notable residents who lived nearby
573:, architect, 1515 Christian Street
405:Washington Avenue Factory District
236:Philadelphia Historical Commission
193:located along Christian Street in
187:Christian Street Historic District
28:Christian Street Historic District
14:
1006:Anderson, Faye (15 August 2021).
1167:"U.S. Federal Census Collection"
1142:"U.S. Federal Census Collection"
1082:"U.S. Federal Census Collection"
874:Philadelphia Historic Commission
755:Bond, Michaelle (July 8, 2022).
696:
681:
669:
657:
639:
463:
74:
67:
43:
1033:Brey, Jared (October 9, 2015).
935:Russ, Valerie (June 14, 2021).
845:Saffron, Inga (May 30, 2021).
626:Kathryn "Kitty" Fambro Woodard
336:of African-Americans from the
292:Its heyday coincided with the
275:Italianate architectural style
213:and the neighborhood known as
1:
1216:Neighborhoods in Philadelphia
895:"MAKUU Black Cultural Center"
647:
622:, publisher, 3860 16th Street
610:, physician, 1130 18th Street
486:Philadelphia City Councilman
330:Delaware County, Pennsylvania
288:Row homes on Christian Street
1201:Philadelphia Rowhouse Manual
1121:"City of Philadelphia Atlas"
901:. University of Pennsylvania
628:, publisher,3860 16th Street
36:Neighborhood of Philadelphia
965:. Philadelphia City Council
604:, singer, 762 Martin Street
551:Philadelphia bureau of the
353:historically black colleges
1242:
939:. Microsoft News. MSN News
430:at the windows and doors.
479:Philadelphia City Council
462:
457:
88:
62:
54:
42:
33:
922:The Philadelphia Tribune
398:at 1724 Christian Street
294:Great Northern Migration
1037:. Philadelphia Inquirer
924:: 1. December 20, 1919.
849:. Philadelphia Inquirer
759:. Philadelphia Inquirer
553:Baltimore Afro-American
537:Edwin M. Stanton School
262:, and the district was
242:Historical significance
222:historical significance
1014:. All That Philly Jazz
577:Charles Albert Tindley
547:Quaker City Elks Lodge
506:
399:
394:Christian Street YMCA
289:
620:Forrest White Woodard
532:Christian Street YMCA
504:
393:
374:A 1919 report by the
287:
108:39.94056°N 75.17111°W
1107:"Bessie Smith House"
899:makuu.vpul.upenn.edu
571:Julian Francis Abele
376:Philadelphia Tribune
349:working-class people
386:Architectural style
366:racially segregated
320:Demographic changes
256:Protestant churches
146:Philadelphia County
113:39.94056; -75.17111
104: /
963:phila.legistar.com
959:"Ordinance 210473"
608:Henry McKee Minton
507:
481:passed a one-year
400:
357:Lincoln University
302:North Philadelphia
290:
211:South Philadelphia
203:Black Doctors' Row
57:Black Doctors' Row
824:, September 2021.
565:Notable residents
526:Notable buildings
475:
474:
396:Historical Marker
361:Howard University
326:West Philadelphia
277:, sometimes with
229:African-Americans
215:Graduate Hospital
191:historic district
183:
182:
1233:
1183:
1182:
1180:
1178:
1163:
1157:
1156:
1154:
1152:
1138:
1132:
1131:
1129:
1127:
1117:
1111:
1110:
1103:
1097:
1096:
1094:
1092:
1078:
1072:
1071:
1069:
1067:
1053:
1047:
1046:
1044:
1042:
1030:
1024:
1023:
1021:
1019:
1003:
997:
996:
994:
992:
981:
975:
974:
972:
970:
955:
949:
948:
946:
944:
932:
926:
925:
917:
911:
910:
908:
906:
891:
885:
884:
882:
880:
865:
859:
858:
856:
854:
842:
825:
814:
769:
768:
766:
764:
752:
700:
685:
673:
661:
652:
649:
643:
488:Kenyatta Johnson
467:
466:
450:
178:215, 267 and 445
119:
118:
116:
115:
114:
109:
105:
102:
101:
100:
97:
78:
77:
71:
47:
24:
1241:
1240:
1236:
1235:
1234:
1232:
1231:
1230:
1206:
1205:
1192:
1187:
1186:
1176:
1174:
1165:
1164:
1160:
1150:
1148:
1140:
1139:
1135:
1125:
1123:
1119:
1118:
1114:
1105:
1104:
1100:
1090:
1088:
1080:
1079:
1075:
1065:
1063:
1055:
1054:
1050:
1040:
1038:
1032:
1031:
1027:
1017:
1015:
1005:
1004:
1000:
990:
988:
983:
982:
978:
968:
966:
957:
956:
952:
942:
940:
934:
933:
929:
919:
918:
914:
904:
902:
893:
892:
888:
878:
876:
867:
866:
862:
852:
850:
844:
843:
828:
815:
772:
762:
760:
754:
753:
746:
741:
714:
708:
704:
701:
692:
686:
677:
674:
665:
662:
653:
650:
644:
635:
602:Marian Anderson
598:
567:
539:. It is on the
528:
499:
464:
448:
388:
334:Great Migration
322:
244:
167:
112:
110:
106:
103:
98:
95:
93:
91:
90:
84:
83:
82:
81:
80:
79:
58:
55:Nickname:
50:
38:
29:
22:
19:
12:
11:
5:
1239:
1237:
1229:
1228:
1223:
1218:
1208:
1207:
1204:
1203:
1198:
1191:
1190:External links
1188:
1185:
1184:
1173:. Ancestry.com
1158:
1133:
1112:
1098:
1073:
1048:
1025:
998:
976:
950:
927:
912:
886:
860:
826:
770:
743:
742:
740:
737:
736:
735:
730:
725:
720:
713:
710:
706:
705:
702:
695:
693:
687:
680:
678:
675:
668:
666:
663:
656:
654:
645:
638:
634:
631:
630:
629:
623:
617:
611:
605:
597:
594:
593:
592:
589:
586:
583:
580:
574:
566:
563:
562:
561:
556:
549:
544:
534:
527:
524:
498:
495:
473:
472:
460:
459:
455:
454:
453:External media
447:
444:
387:
384:
338:American South
321:
318:
310:gentrification
248:Irish-Catholic
243:
240:
238:in July 2022.
181:
180:
175:
169:
168:
165:
163:
159:
158:
153:
149:
148:
143:
139:
138:
133:
129:
128:
125:
121:
120:
86:
85:
73:
72:
66:
65:
64:
63:
60:
59:
56:
52:
51:
48:
40:
39:
34:
31:
30:
27:
20:
17:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1238:
1227:
1224:
1222:
1219:
1217:
1214:
1213:
1211:
1202:
1199:
1197:
1194:
1193:
1189:
1172:
1168:
1162:
1159:
1147:
1143:
1137:
1134:
1122:
1116:
1113:
1108:
1102:
1099:
1087:
1083:
1077:
1074:
1062:
1058:
1052:
1049:
1036:
1029:
1026:
1013:
1012:phillyjazz.us
1009:
1002:
999:
986:
980:
977:
964:
960:
954:
951:
938:
931:
928:
923:
916:
913:
900:
896:
890:
887:
875:
871:
864:
861:
848:
841:
839:
837:
835:
833:
831:
827:
823:
819:
813:
811:
809:
807:
805:
803:
801:
799:
797:
795:
793:
791:
789:
787:
785:
783:
781:
779:
777:
775:
771:
758:
751:
749:
745:
738:
734:
731:
729:
726:
724:
721:
719:
716:
715:
711:
709:
699:
694:
690:
684:
679:
672:
667:
660:
655:
642:
637:
632:
627:
624:
621:
618:
615:
612:
609:
606:
603:
600:
599:
595:
590:
587:
584:
581:
578:
575:
572:
569:
568:
564:
560:
557:
554:
550:
548:
545:
542:
538:
535:
533:
530:
529:
525:
523:
521:
515:
513:
503:
496:
494:
491:
489:
484:
480:
470:
461:
456:
451:
445:
443:
439:
436:
433:
429:
425:
420:
416:
412:
410:
406:
397:
392:
385:
383:
380:
377:
372:
369:
367:
362:
358:
354:
350:
346:
345:professionals
341:
339:
335:
331:
327:
319:
317:
313:
311:
307:
303:
299:
295:
286:
282:
280:
276:
272:
267:
265:
261:
258:, especially
257:
253:
249:
241:
239:
237:
232:
230:
225:
223:
218:
216:
212:
208:
204:
200:
196:
192:
188:
179:
176:
174:
164:
157:
154:
147:
144:
137:
134:
127:United States
126:
117:
89:Coordinates:
70:
46:
37:
32:
25:
16:
1175:. Retrieved
1170:
1161:
1149:. Retrieved
1145:
1136:
1124:. Retrieved
1115:
1101:
1089:. Retrieved
1085:
1076:
1064:. Retrieved
1060:
1051:
1039:. Retrieved
1028:
1016:. Retrieved
1011:
1001:
989:. Retrieved
979:
967:. Retrieved
962:
953:
941:. Retrieved
930:
921:
915:
903:. Retrieved
898:
889:
877:. Retrieved
873:
863:
851:. Retrieved
761:. Retrieved
707:
614:Bessie Smith
516:
508:
492:
476:
446:Preservation
440:
437:
413:
401:
381:
373:
370:
342:
323:
314:
306:middle class
291:
281:influences.
268:
264:middle class
260:Presbyterian
245:
233:
226:
219:
202:
199:Pennsylvania
195:Philadelphia
186:
184:
156:Philadelphia
136:Pennsylvania
15:
1171:U.S. Census
1146:U.S. Census
969:19 November
943:19 November
905:14 November
651: 1885
497:Controversy
347:mixed with
207:city blocks
111: /
1210:Categories
1086:U S Census
1061:Billy Penn
1041:30 October
853:29 October
739:References
483:moratorium
415:Row houses
298:Deep South
173:Area codes
99:75°10′16″W
96:39°56′26″N
1018:4 October
555:newspaper
419:plan view
409:sidewalks
312:efforts.
279:Victorian
271:sidewalks
252:ethnicity
712:See also
428:transoms
424:cornices
355:such as
162:Zip code
1177:29 July
1151:29 July
1126:29 July
1091:29 July
1066:28 July
991:28 July
879:28 July
633:Gallery
512:elitism
432:Lintels
328:and to
124:Country
763:9 July
520:pastor
189:is an
142:County
689:Mural
166:19146
132:State
1179:2024
1153:2024
1128:2024
1093:2024
1068:2024
1043:2021
1020:2021
993:2024
971:2021
945:2021
907:2021
881:2024
855:2021
765:2022
359:and
185:The
152:City
250:in
1212::
1169:.
1144:.
1084:.
1059:.
1010:.
961:.
897:.
872:.
829:^
820:.
773:^
747:^
648:c.
514:.
266:.
217:.
197:,
1181:.
1155:.
1130:.
1109:.
1095:.
1070:.
1045:.
1022:.
995:.
973:.
947:.
909:.
883:.
857:.
767:.
543:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
