User:Dthomsen8/sandbox/Race Street

Race Street

(Formerly Sassafras Street)
Race Street in Chinatown.
Location	Philadelphia
West end	North Daggett Street in West Philadelphia
Major junctions	US 13 in University City PA 611 (Broad Street) in Center City
East end	Columbus Boulevard in Penn's Landing
North	Vine Street
South	Arch Street

Race Street, originally named Sassafras Street, is a major historic street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is well known for being a major street in Philadelphia's Chinatown, the Reading Terminal Market, and Logan Square. At Columbus Boulevard, it is also the location of the new Race Street Pier.[1]

History

Sassafras Street, as it was known in 1687 was a street where horse racing was done, as William Penn envisioned a Pennsylvania that banned "riotous sports." The ban however did not prohibit horse racing and therefore the sport became popular, and the street was used for that purpose. By 1820 however, the sport had been banned. The street has had the nickname "Race Street" since 1775 until it was officially renamed sometime around 1884.

Historically, the street had the following names:

• Bellevue Street, Songhurst Street, Huntingdon Street (unknown-1853)
• Sassafras Street (1853-unknown)
• Race Street (unknown-present)

Race Street Meetinghouse and Visitors Center from Cherry Street

Points of interest

From east to west:

• Chinatown, Philadelphia
• Race Street Friends Meetinghouse
• Logan Square
• Reading Terminal Market

See also

• History of Philadelphia

Category:Streets in Philadelphia Category:Economy of Philadelphia