Overview
This lecture discusses the origins and impact of Philadelphia’s street grid, designed by William Penn and Thomas Holme, and its lasting influence on urban planning.
The Founding and Planning of Philadelphia
- Philadelphia's street grid was designed in 1682 by William Penn and surveyor Thomas Holme.
- Streets run east-west with names like Spruce, Locust, Chestnut, and Market, and north-south streets are numbered.
- A map advertising land in Philadelphia was circulated in Europe to attract settlers and land buyers.
- Penn's plan included a Quaker utopia and aimed to profit from land sales to settle debts owed to his family.
City Layout and Features
- Large land tracts, such as Springbury Manor, were reserved for Penn’s family.
- Five public squares were set, one in each city quadrant and one central square for public buildings.
- Initially, the squares served as burial grounds and development clustered near the Delaware River.
Street Naming and Modifications
- Early settlers named streets after themselves, but Penn replaced these with tree names common to the colony.
- Penn intended the grid to prevent European-style dark, crime-ridden alleys.
- Over time, settlers created informal alleys, defying the original grid for practical reasons.
Legacy and Influence
- Despite early challenges, Philadelphia grew and maintained the grid structure.
- The grid pattern influenced cities like New York, Washington DC, Salt Lake City, and Oklahoma City.
- Urban planning traditions continued in Philadelphia with Fairmount Park, Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Independence Hall, and Society Hill renewal.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Grid Plan — a city layout with streets at right angles, forming a grid pattern.
- Quaker Utopia — Penn’s vision of a harmonious, religiously tolerant Quaker community.
- Surveyor — a person who measures and maps land.
- Urban Planning — the design and organization of city spaces and infrastructure.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the layout of Philadelphia’s grid on a map.
- Read about William Penn’s contributions to urban planning.