Circles and Squares

Circles and Squares:The Physical Legacy of

William Penn’s Philadelphia

John HeppWilkes University

Eastern Communications Association 2015

Three centuries of William Penn’s “Green Country Town”

• The founding myth• London as the basis for Penn’s “Green

Country Town”• Philadelphia’s grid• Three centuries of evolving usage

London models for the grid

Robert Hooke’s plan for rebuilding the city, 1666 (this edition circa 1670)

Richard Newcourt’s plan for rebuilding the city, 1666

Philadelphia’s grid

Holme’s plan for Philadelphia, 1683Historical Society of Pennsylvania

The evolution of the grid

• Phase one: What did the squares mean in 17th and 18th centuries?

• Phase two: During the 19th century, most of the squares become public parks

• Phase three: In the 20th century, two of the five squares become circles

• Phase four: Squaring the circles• Penn’s grid over time: A similar map but different

uses and meanings

What did the squares mean in 17th and 18th centuries?

• Commonly used land• “for the like Uses, as the Moore fields in ‑

London”

London, 1776Birch print, circa 1800

During the 19th century, most of the squares become public parks

• Center Square (between 1799 and 1828 there was a pumping station)

• The squares were landscaped like those in London

Birch’s Views, 1800

In the 20th century, two of the five squares become circles

• The city accommodates the automobile– The Parkway (Logan)– Traffic flow around City Hall (Centre)– The Delaware River Bridge (Franklin)

1925 1926

Plan Philly

Squaring the circles

• The Four Seasons Hotel adopts Logan Square• Franklin Square becomes an amusement park• Philadelphia becomes more pedestrian

friendly in the 21st century

Trip Advisor

Historic Philadelphia

Penn’s grid over time

• A similar map but different uses and meanings

Circles and Squares:The Physical Legacy of

William Penn’s Philadelphia

John HeppWilkes University

Eastern Communications Association 2015