Mount Airy
Mount Airy is a neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. It is bounded by Chestnut Hill and Germantown to the north and south respectively. Across the Wissahickon creek to the west lies Roxborough, and Cedarbrook lies to the east. The zip code for Mount Airy is 19119.
William Allen, prominent Philadelphia merchant and Chief Justice of the Province of Pennsylvania, built his mansion and estate on Germantown Avenue in 1750, and the area eventually took the building’s name, Mount Airy, as its own. Before this, the area was known as Beggarstown (also Beggars-town or Beggar Town). Beggarstown is a corruption of Bebberstown, an area of Germantown Avenue between Gorgas Lane and Cliveden Street that had been named for Rev. Mathias van Bebber.
Much of Mount Airy was developed in the 19th and early 20th centuries, spreading out from Germantown Avenue and two railroad lines. Large three-story, grey stone Victorian houses and mansions, with stained glass windows and slate roofs are situated on many of the area’s tree lined streets, and dominate districts like West Mount Airy’s Pelham section.
Mount Airy’s main commercial district lies along cobblestoned Germantown Avenue, which also divides the neighborhood between East and West Mount Airy. Like Chestnut Hill, Mount Airy has a large array of Mom and Pop style boutiques and eateries that cater to a baby boomer generation consumer — especially those who live and work in Philadelphia, and seek alternatives to the suburban malls. The style of this shopping district along The Avenue gives it a small town feel, though there are also a few chain stores, such as the Wawa at Germantown and Allens Lane that serves as an unofficial nexus for teenagers. One of the stand-out features along Germantown Avenue is the Sedgwick Theater, a 1920s Art Deco movie theater, one of the few remaining in Philadelphia.
In addition to racial integration, Mount Airy is sometimes noted for the presence of many of its residents having advanced degrees. This could explain why Mount Airy’s residents tend to be more engaged in Philadelphia City politics, which may give Mount Airy a leg-up when it comes to resources and city services. The political tone of the neighborhood is predominantly liberal. Mount Airy is favored as a neighborhood of choice for city politicians, judges, and others who are required to reside within the city’s limits. One prominent Mount Airy politician is former Republican mayoral candidate Sam Katz.
Mount Airy residents often resist the interest from larger, trendy chain stores, and prefer their small co-op grocery stores and local, tented farmers’ markets. Upscale ethnic restaurants are common and well supported.
West Mount Airy has a reputation for being affluent, similar to Chestnut Hill, and the East more working class, although counter-examples abound. In general, the affluence of the neighborhood increases with proximity to Fairmount Park and Chestnut Hill. West Mount Airy has a small commercial district of its own centered around Greene Street and Carpenter Lane; East Mount Airy has a more diffuse distribution of corner stores, and commercial corridors along Chew and Stenton Avenues.
In 2005, the median home sale price in the 19119 zip code was $188,409. This was an increase of 18% over the median sale price in 2004.
(from wikipedia)