http://www.phila.gov/phils/Docs/otherinfo/pname1.htm

I've spoken with at least one older Fairmounter who swears the name "Fairmount" was already in use for the neighborhood in his childhood (40s-50s), so I'm not sure about that claim that the name only dates to the 70s.

Fairmount (R.D.A.)
Bounded by Girard Avenue, Broad Street, Spring Garden Street, and Pennsylvania Avenue
1952-1968

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Illegal aliens have always been a problem in the United States. Ask any Indian. - Robert Orben

Yes, but that's not the neighborhood of Fairmount. Those boundaries include three neighborhoods - Fairmount, Francisville, and Spring Garden. The traditional boundaries of Fairmount are Poplar on the North, Corinthian or 20th on the East, Fairmount on the South, and Pennsylvania/the park on the West.

Sorry - those boundaries actually also include part of a fourth neighborhood - Brewerytown.

My grandmother (who grew up on Taylor Street) and a close friend of hers (who grew up on Meridith Street) sung me a song once called "We are the Girls of Fairmount" which dated back to their teenage years of the late 20's or early 30's. So the name dates back AT LEAST 70 years.

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You think your city has problems?
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I would be very interested in knowing more about this song (and any others that might be out there in some form or another).

Any more info??

Unfortunately, both people have passed away. I'll ask around if anyone else remembers it.

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You think your city has problems?
Get off your ass and make a difference!

I thought the hill where the reservior sat was called faire-mount?

and did yous know that in 1850, the Spring Garden District was the 8th largets city in thne United States? Northern Liberties was 11th and Southwark was 16th.
Then they vanished by 1860-----what happened? (history quiz)!!!!!

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SPM

I know the answer to the quiz, but I'll leave it to others to say.

I've seen an image of a very early 18th-century map that indicates the entire area that is today Fairmount and Spring Garden, with the legend "Faire Mount". This whole area is indeed elevated slightly above the level of Center City - you notice this if you bike or walk north along 22nd St. and even more along 24th and 25th Sts. in Fairmount proper. The crest of the hill is at Brown St.