Grays Ferry Philadelphia

Grays Ferry, also known as Gray's Ferry, is a neighborhood in South Philadelphia, bounded by 25th Street on the east, the Schuylkill River on the west, Vare Avenue on the south, and Grays Ferry Avenue on the north. The area west of 34th Street is sometimes referred to as Forgotten Bottom. It shares borders with Southwest Center City to the north, Point Breeze to the east, and Girard Estate to the south. Historically an Irish American enclave, the neighborhood is now home to a significant African American population. Its development was centered around Gray's Ferry, an important Schuylkill River crossing established in the 17th century by Benjamin Chambers and later operated by George Gray. The ferry service and nearby Gray's Inn and Gray's Garden were popular in the late 18th century. The river is now spanned by the Gray's Ferry Bridge. Grays Ferry was part of Moyamensing Township before its incorporation into Philadelphia in 1854. It has been the site of several historic locations, including the Schuylkill Arsenal and schools like James Alcorn School and Charles Y. Audenried Junior High School, which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Demographically, Black residents make up 56% of the population, White residents 39%, with 5% identifying as other. Over 30% of residents are under 18. Despite representing less than 1% of Philadelphia's population, Grays Ferry houses over 10% of the city’s Section 8 residents. The neighborhood is part of the School District of Philadelphia, with most students attending Alcorn K-8 ...