ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Wynnefield is a diverse middle-class neighborhood in West Philadelphia. Its borders are 53rd Street at Jefferson to the south, Philadelphia's Fairmount Park to the east, City Avenue (commonly referred to as "City Line") to the north and the Amtrak Main Line tracks to the west.

Surrounding neighborhoods include Bala Cynwyd to the north, Wynnefield Heights and Belmont Village to the east, Parkside to the south, and Overbrook to the west.[1] Its main commercial arteries are North 54th Street, Bryn Mawr Avenue (2200 block), and City Avenue.It is the home of the television station WPHL-TV (MY PHL 17). It also has connections to the motion picture industry. Wynnefield is the childhood home of actor and rapper Will Smith, film producer Lee Daniels ("Monster's Ball" and "The Woodsman"), film director Charles Stone III, politico and documentary filmmaker Tigre Hill.

​

Wynnefield is one of Philadelphia’s most widely recognized neighborhood names.  The neighborhood is known for its many beautiful single homes, its active community organization, and its racial diversity. A portion of St. Joseph’s University is located within the boundaries of this neighborhood, and commercial development exists in three areas: on City Avenue, along 54th Street, and near the intersection of Bryn Mawr and Wynnefield Avenues. Wynnefield is defined by City Avenue and Fairmount Park, and the Bala Golf Club and Cardinal Avenue. Local politicians with Wynnefield ties include former Philadelphia mayors Michael Nutter, and Wilson Goode, City Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr, and Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson.

Our population is about 16,000. The value of single family homes is above the norm for West Philadelphia in all sections of Wynnefield, but there is considerable variation in housing values within this diverse neighborhood. Residential development is greater in the row home vicinity of 54th & Berks than in the area near City Avenue where large, stately detached homes exist similar to those in the smaller adjoining neighborhoods of Overbrook Farms and Green Hill Farms. Wynnefield is a highly desirable place to live in Philadelphia.

Wynnefield is named for Thomas Wynne (1627-1692)

who immigrated from Caerwys, North Wales and became the personal physician to William Penn.
Thomas Wynne was one of a large group of Quakers who settled Philadelphia. His family house, Wynnestay, remains standing in Wynnefield on Woodbine Avenue. Some say it was the first stone-built house in the state of Pennsylvania. (You history buffs might also want to know that Pennsylvania comes from the Welsh word for “head” which is “pen” with a single “n.” It does not, it seems come from William Penn’s own name). Since Welshman were very influential in early Philadelphia, the influence of the Welsh language is clear all over our area. Note town names like Bala Cynwyd, Gladwyne et al.

It is said that when William Penn learned that Philadelphia’s major east-west streets had been named after the most prominent men in town:
Claypoole, Holme, Songhurst and the Welshman, Thomas Wynne, his Quaker sensibilities were offended. Penn decreed that streets should not be named for men but for “the things that spontaneously grow in the country.” By the end of 1684, Claypoole became Walnut Street, Holme became Mulberry (now Arch) Street, Songhurst became Sassafras (now Race) Street, and Thomas Wynne’s street became Chestnut Street.