Essington

The birthplace of everything from Swedish settlements to sandwiches, Essington is a community filled with history and innovation thanks to its prime location along the Delaware River and minutes from Downtown Philadelphia. “Sort of our tagline around here is ‘where Pennsylvania history began’ because we’re the site of the first permanent European settlement in the state,” says Wilhelm “Bill” Moller, president of the Tinicum Township Historical Society. “Because of that, we’ve got a very rich history here and so many cool stories to tell.” After the Swedish settlement was established, Essington was visited by everyone from the indigenous Lenape to Italian immigrants, creating a melting pot of ideas that paired perfectly with the industrial nature of the community.

Today, Governor Printz Park has playgrounds and a splash pad, but in 1643 it was the landing point for the earliest settlers of New Sweden. Outdoor gathering spaces and walking trails encourage visitors to explore, while also providing views of the River. The park is home to the Printzhof site, which was declared a National Historic Landmark in the 1960s, long after it served as the New Sweden governor’s home in the 1600s. The community’s annual flea market and car show is held at the park in June. The historical society also recently brought in some replica cabins that they open on Community Day, an event that includes fireworks and cornhole tournaments. Many of the nearby boat clubs have been around since the late 1800s and locals enjoy going out for a day on the water and then docking for a bite to eat.

Coach's Bar and Grille is a sports bar with live music and regular events like karaoke, holiday parties and more. RJ's Hot Dog Stand is an Essington local favorite thanks to its simple burgers and hot dogs paired with beach fries and shakes. Femi’s Pizzeria has that classic pizza parlor feel complete with hoagies and seafood. “The hoagie was actually invented around here at the Hog Island Shipyard,” Moller says. “Italian immigrants would eat sausage on hokie bread and that’s how the hoagie was born. The stromboli was actually invented here too by another Italian immigrant who named it after a popular movie that came out in 1950.” The nearby Walmart is where most residents pick up their groceries.

There are about 1,700 total homes in the neighborhood and they date as far back as 1900, with some new construction as recent as 2022. Ranch-style duplexes with open floor plans sit across the street from bungalows with wrap-around porches. Brick rowhomes line up next to cookie-cutter two stories and cape cods. Homes can be anywhere from 900 to 3,250 square feet and lots are typically between 4,000 square feet to 0.35 acres. Covered front porches and small, green lawns are connected by sidewalks that encourage joggers and dog walkers to stretch their legs. Townhouse prices range from $178,000 to $230,000 and single-family homes sell for $150,000 to $372,000. On average, homes in Essington sell after 22 days on the market, which is lower than the national average of 39 days.

Students in Essington can attend Delcroft School which received a C-minus rating from Niche and has about 600 students in grades K-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 13-to-1. Academy Park High School is another option that received a C-minus rating from Niche and has about 1,300 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 16-to-1. Interboro Senior High School received a B rating from Niche and has about 1,000 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 14-to-1. The school has plenty of sports programs for students to choose from, including football, soccer, cross country, cheer, wrestling and swimming.

“We’ve got the Philadelphia International Airport right there, and it actually started out as a shipyard,” Moller says. “When airplanes started to get more popular in the 1920s, the local government got rid of the 1,000-acre shipyard and the airport was born.” Essington commuters also enjoy easy access to Interstate 95. To get around inside the neighborhood, Septa public transportation buses are a convenient option.

Written By

Jordan Hamner

Photography Contributed By

Jesse Roehrer

Video By

Victoria Sharpe