Neighborhood maps: Fishtown

hand-drawn map showing potential boundaries of the Fishtown neighborhood in Philadelphia
Will Haughery, Fishtown, 2010 [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]

The maps pictured here are of the Fishtown neighborhood in Philadelphia. Like many neighborhoods, there are no true boundaries of the area, and the definition is somewhat malleable. Haughery’s map makes the case that Frankford Avenue can be considered a boundary between Fishtown to the southeast and Kensington to the northwest.

hand-drawn map to a party in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia
Janel Olah, FWM VIP Party, 2007 [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]

Olah drew the second map for guests attending a party held for Fabric Workshop and Museum apprentices. She idealizes the somewhat confusing layout of streets and highlights the triangular structure of the area where William Penn’s original grid plan for the city breaks down in unexpected ways.