French Quarter, Philadelphia

The French Quarter is an official city-designated district of Philadelphia spanning the area between 17th and 19th Streets east and west and Walnut and Sansom Streets from north to south.[1] The designation was made official in 1999.[2][3] According to City Paper, the Philadelphia French Quarter "... is one of the few places outside France that supports a thriving French culture" even though "it remains largely unrecognized by both tourists and natives".[4] The area is closely tied to the culture of Rittenhouse Square.[2]

French Quarter
Neighborhood of Philadelphia
French Quarter, June 2014.
French Quarter, June 2014.
French Quarter is located in Philadelphia
French Quarter
French Quarter
Location in Philadelphia
Coordinates: 39°57′01″N 75°10′11″W
Country United States
StatePennsylvania
CountyPhiladelphia County
CityPhiladelphia
Area code(s)215, 267 and 445

History

Writer Dan Rottenberg says he coined the term in the July 1998 issue of Philadelphia magazine.[5]

In 1999, in advance of the Republican National Convention the following year, the city added subtle orange signs saying "French Quarter" below the traditional green streets signs in the area. The designation is a tribute to the French culture that has shaped Philadelphia and is based on the establishment of three French restaurants and a creperie in the area in the 1990s.[4]

In 2023, Billy Penn reported skeptically on the designation, noting that the name of the quarter was unfamiliar to most residents and, other than a French hotel chain, few French-owned or influenced businesses remained in the area.[5]

References
  1. "April In Philadelphia's French Quarter".
  2. Gary Lee Kraut. "A primer for exploring art and history in Franco-Philadelphia". Archived from the original on 2013-03-01.
  3. Philadelphia Magazine, July 1998. "Dan Rottenberg". Archived from the original on 2011-10-06.
  4. Tom Javian (October 14–21, 1999). "Buddy, Can You Spare a Quarter?".
  5. Prihar, Asha (May 23, 2023). "Philly (technically) has a French Quarter, but you'd never find it if you didn't know". BillyPenn.
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