Philadelphia Badlands, Urban district in North Philadelphia, United States.
Philadelphia Badlands is a district in North Philadelphia that stretches from Kensington Avenue to Broad Street, where rows of brick houses stand alongside former factory sites and vacant lots. The streets follow a grid pattern through neighborhoods that mix residential blocks with shuttered warehouses and corner stores.
The area grew during the 19th century as an industrial zone where factories and worker housing developed side by side. After manufacturing declined in the 1970s, many buildings were left vacant or converted to other uses.
The neighborhood contains El Centro de Oro, a central point for Puerto Rican residents who represent the largest ethnic group among Black, Irish, and Dominican communities.
Multiple bus routes cross the area and connect it to downtown Philadelphia and other parts of the city. Visitors should travel during daylight hours and plan their route in advance for safety.
The population density reaches about 37,600 people per square mile (14,500 per square kilometer), more than three times the city average. Despite this crowding, inhabited blocks alternate with stretches that appear largely unoccupied.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
