It borders the city line with Delaware County at Cobbs Creek, and extends to the Schuylkill River.

Poles and Irish Americans had long been the majority in the neighborhood, organized around Catholic parishes established throughout the early to mid 20th century.

In 1985, Mayor Wilson Goode declared a state of emergency as white rioters demonstrated outside two houses in Elmwood, creating an "imminent danger of civil disturbance."

[citation needed] Free Library of Philadelphia operates the Paschalville Branch, which serves Elmwood and other subdivisions, at 6942 Woodland Avenue.

[4] The system also operates the Eastwick Branch, which serves Elmwood Park and other subdivisions, at 2581 Island Avenue.