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Philadelphia-Washington Square - Studio Available Now- Studio Available Now!! Rent includes all utilities except electric. Free DSL is also included. Hardwood floors. 24-hour door man. Laundry facilities in building. Great Views in the heart of Center City! View More Listings -->
Renting an Apartment in Washington Square
What You Should Know
Washington Square, originally designated in 1682 as Southeast Square, is an
open-space park in Center City Philadelphia's Southeast quadrant and one of the
five original planned squares laid out on the city grid by William Penn. It is
part of both the Washington Square West and Society Hill neighborhoods.
During the 18th Century the Square was commonly used to graze animals and as a
potter's field. During the Revolutionary War, the square was used as a burial
ground for citizens and troops from the Colonial army.
After the Revolution, victims of the city's yellow fever epidemics were interred
here, and the square was used for cattle markets and camp meetings. Improvement
efforts began in 1815, as the neighborhoods around the square were developed and
became fashionable. In 1825 the park was named Washington Square in tribute to
George Washington and a monument to Washington was proposed. This monument was
never built but served as the seed for the eventual tribute to soldiers of the
Revolutionary War. The Curtis Building sits to the north of the park, a remnant
of Philadelphia's publishing industry.