Allegheny West, once called “Swampoodle," is a neighborhood in Upper North Philadelphia. The neighborhood spans from Ridge Avenue to 17th Street and from Lehigh Avenue to Westmoreland Street. The neighborhood's name, "Swampoodle," means a junction of three railroads, however historians have been unable to locate where these three railroads might be. The area was largely associated with shopping and retail opportunities throughout the 19th to mid 20th centuries. Many shops and businesses were forced to close their doors due to strip malls and other cheaper shopping centers opening up all over the city. The area has also seen a decrease in industrial business that has caused an increase in unemployment. Today the area is rebounding slowly but surely, thanks to their central location and close-knit community. The area also has a vibrant and prosperous shopping "corridor” located along 22nd street.
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PlanPhilly: Planning Philadelphia's Future