1940 Census Tracts

The demographic statistics for this exhibit have been compiled from Social Explorer by the staff of the University Archives of the University of Pennsylvania.

For a detailed map and demographic statistics for a specific census tract, click on a tract number in the map or as listed below:

24-A | 24-B | 24-C | 24-D | 24-E | 24-F | 24-G | 27-A | 27-B | 27-C | 27-D | 27-E | 34-A | 34-B | 34-C | 34-D | 34-E | 34-F | 34-G | 34-H | 34-I | 34-J | 34-K | 34-L | 34-M | 34-N | 34-O | 34-P | 34-Q | 44-A | 44-B | 44-C | 46-A | 46-B | 46-C | 46-D | 46-E | 46-F | 46-G | 46-H | 46-I

[Jump to stats]

West Philadelphia Census Tracts 1940 and 1950
Demographic Statistics

West Philadelphia
Aggregate Totals

 
 
 
Population 
303,852
 
    Population Density (per sq. mile)
22,078.40
 
    Land Area (in sq. miles)
13.8
 
  
 
 
Sex
 
 
Total Population
303,852
 
    Male
142,373
 46.9%
    Female
161,479
 53.1%
 
 
 
Count by Age Group
 
 
Total Population
303,852
 
    Under 5
17,434
 5.7%
    5 To 9
18,965
 6.2%
    10 To 14
22,455
 7.4%
    15 To 19
24,250
 8.0%
    20 To 24
26,350
 8.7%
    25 To 29
27,072
 8.9%
    30 To 34
25,525
 8.4%
    35 To 39
24,608
 8.1%
    40 To 44
23,973
 7.9%
    45 To 49
21,703
 7.1%
    50 To 54
19,088
 6.3%
    55 To 59
15,377
 5.1%
    60 To 64
13,101
 4.3%
    65 To 69
10,213
 3.4%
    70 To 74
6,926
 2.3%
    75 and Over
6,812
 2.2%
 
 
 
Race
 
 
Total Population
303,852
 
    White
246,341
 81.1%
    Black
57,274
 18.8%
    Other
237
 0.1%
 
 
 
Foreign Born
 
 
    Foreign Born White Population
43,369
 14.3%
  
 
 
Highest Level Attained
 
 
Population Age 25+
194,398
 64.0%
    No school years completed
6,988
 3.6%
    Some Elementary
100,946
 51.9%
        1 - 4 years
12,728
 6.5%
        5 - 6 years
19,122
 9.8%
        7 - 8 years
69,096
 35.5%
    Some High School
64,674
 33.3%
        1 to 3 years
30,283
 15.6%
        4 years
34,391
 17.7%
    Some College
18,798
 9.7%
        1 to 3 years
7,892
 4.1%
        4 or more years
10,906
 5.6%
    School Years NOT reported
2,992
 1.5%
  
 
 
Employment
 
 
Population Age 14+
249,575
 
    In Labor Force
140,177
 56.2%
        Employed
116,051
 82.8%
        Unemployed
20,506
 14.6%
            Experienced Workers
17,197
 12.3%
            New Workers
3,309
 2.4%
    Not in Labor Force
109,398
 43.8%
        Housework
65,040
 59.5%
        In School
19,832
 18.1%
        Unable to Work
12,350
 11.3%
        In Institutions
2,001
 1.8%
       Other and Not Reported
10,175
 9.3%
 
 
 
Sector
 
 
    Population Employed Civilian Age 14+
116,051
 82.8%
        Wage and Salary Workers
99,092
 85.4%
        Employers/Own-Account Workers
15,686
 13.5%
        Unpaid Family Workers
719
 0.6%
        Class of Worker Not Reported
554
 0.5%
        Public Emergency Work
3,620
 3.1%
  
 
 
Occupations
 
 
Population Employed Civilian Age 14+
116,051
 82.8%
    Professional Workers
10,349
 8.9%
    Semiprofessional Workers
1,713
 1.5%
    Proprietors\Managers\Officials
12,044
 10.4%
    Clerical\Sales\Kindred Workers
33,036
 28.5%
    Craftmen\Foremen\Kindred Workers
13,872
 12.0%
    Operatives\Kindred Workers
18,596
 16.0%
    Domestic Service Workers
7,445
 6.4%
    Service Workers Except Domestic
13,273
 11.4%
    Laborers
4,848
 4.2%
    Not Reported
875
 0.8%
  
 
 
Housing Occupancy
 
 
Total Housing Units
86,838
 
    Occupied Units
81,747
 94.1%
        Owner Occupied Units
27,250
 33.3%
        Renter Occupied Units
54,497
 66.7%
    Vacant Units
5,090
 5.9%
        Vacant Nonseasonal (for rent or sale)
4,821
 5.6%
        Other Vacant
269
 0.3%
 
 
 
Occupancy by Race;
 
 
Total Occupied Housing Units
81,747
 94.1%
    White units
68,031
 83.2%
        Owner Occupied Units
24,981
 36.7%
        Renter Occupied Units
43,050
 63.3%
    Black Occupied
13,606
 16.6%
        Owner Occupied
2,250
 16.5%
        Renter Occupied
11,356
 83.5%
    Other Occupied
110
 0.1%
        Owner Occupied
19
 17.3%
        Renter Occupied
91
 82.7%
  
 
 
Median Contract Rent
 
 
(adjusted for inflation to 1999 Dollars)
Housing Units Reporting Monthly Contract Rent
54,159
 
    Median Contract Rent
$378
 
  
 
 
Median Gross Rent
 
 
(adjusted for inflation to 1999 Dollars)
Housing Units Reporting Monthly Gross Rent
48,824
 
    Median Gross Rent
$439
 
 
 
 
Contract Rent Amount
 
 
(adjusted for inflation to 1999 Dollars)
Housing Units Reporting Monthly Contract Rent
54,159
 
    Less than $60
42
 0.1%
    $60 to $83
82
 0.2%
    $84 to $119
218
 0.4%
    $120 to $179
1,929
 3.6%
    $180 to $239
4,532
 8.4%
    $240 to $299
8,145
 15.0%
    $300 to $359
11,165
 20.6%
    $360 to $479
14,964
 27.6%
    $480 to $599
7,188
 13.3%
    $600 to $719
3,038
 5.6%
    $720 to $899
1,775
 3.3%
    $900 to $1,199
784
 1.4%
    $1,200 to $1,799
259
 0.5%
    $1,800 to $2,399
32
 0.1%
    $2,400 and Over
6
 0.0%
  
 
 
Median House Value
 
 
(adjusted for inflation to 1999 Dollars)
Housing Units Reporting Value of Home
26,538
 
    Median House Value
$49,933
 
 
 
 
Housing Units by Value
 
 
(adjusted for inflation to 1999 Dollars)
Housing Units Reporting Value of Home
26,538
 
    Under $6,000
12
 0.0%
    $6,000 to $8,399
16
 0.1%
    $8,400 to $11,999
27
 0.1%
    $12,000 to $17,999
353
 1.3%
    $18,000 to $23,999
1,072
 4.0%
    $24,000 to $29,999
2,749
 10.4%
    $30,000 to $35,999
3,214
 12.1%
    $36,000 to $47,999
7,135
 26.9%
    $48,000 to $59,999
4,071
 15.3%
    $60,000 to $71,999
2,899
 10.9%
    $72,000 to $89,999
2,443
 9.2%
    $90,000 to $119,999
1,210
 4.6%
    $120,000 to $179,999
826
 3.1%
    $180,000 to $239,999
275
 1.0%
    $240,000 and Over
236
 0.9%
  
 
 
Units in Structure
 
 
Total Housing Units
86,838
 
    1 Unit Detached
5,661
 6.5%
    1 Unit Attached
44,636
 51.4%
    2 Family Side by Side
4,436
 5.1%
    2 Housing Units Other
6,358
 7.3%
    3 Family Housing Units
4,551
 5.2%
    4 Family Housing Units
2,368
 2.7%
    1 to 4 Family With Business
5,430
 6.3%
    5 to 9 Family
4,997
 5.8%
    10 to 19 Family
1,207
 1.4%
    20 Family or More
7,132
 8.2%
    Other
61
 0.1%
  
 
 
Persons per unit
 
 
Total Occupied Housing Units
81,748
 
    1 person in unit
7,344
 9.0%
    2 persons in unit
20,382
 24.9%
    3 persons in unit
17,369
 21.2%
    4 persons in unit
14,850
 18.2%
    5 persons in unit
9,521
 11.6%
    6 persons in unit
5,670
 6.9%
    7 persons in unit
3,046
 3.7%
    8 persons in unit
1,598
 2.0%
    9 persons in unit
963
 1.2%
    10 persons in unit
517
 0.6%
    11 persons in unit or more
487
 0.6%
  
 
 
Heating
 
 
Reporting Heating Equipment
79,948
 
    Central Heating
77,037
 96.4%
    Non-Central Heating
2,828
 3.5%
    Not Reporting
83
 0.1%
  
 
 
Refrigeration
 
 
Occupied Housing Units
81,747
 
    Refrigeration Equipment
78,951
 96.6%
        Mechanical
52,104
 63.7%
        Ice
26,426
 32.3%
        Other
421
 0.5%
    None
946
 1.2%
    Not Reporting
1,850
 2.3%
  
 
 
Radio
 
 
Occupied Housing Units
81,747
 
    With Radio
76,422
 93.5%
    Without Radio
2,085
 2.6%
    Not Reported
3,240
 4.0%
  
 
 
Housing Condition and Plumbing
 
 
Housing units reporting condition
81,747
 
    In No Need Of Major Repairs
75,419
 92.3%
    Need Major Repairs
3,490
 4.3%
        With Bath and Toilet
3,006
 3.7%
        With Toilet No Bath
42
 0.1%
        With Water No Toilet
398
 0.5%
        No Water
44
 0.1%
    Not Reporting
7,928
 9.7%