The division divided the community first along racial lines, with African Americans to the east of Frankford Avenue and Caucasians to the west.

[citation needed] The village of Frankford was established by the Quakers in about 1682 in an area formerly occupied by Dutch people (Nederlanders).

[1] The land known as the Manor of Frank was purchased by the Free Society of Traders, a group of Quaker businessmen in England.

[citation needed] The original settlers were Henry Waddy, Thomas Fairman, Robert Adam, and Edward Seary.

[citation needed] The village very likely took its name from the title of the Frankfurt Company, which took up ground there, along what is now known as Frankford Creek, in the lower part of Oxford Township.

This same mill became famous during the American Revolutionary War due to the heroics of Lydia Darrah.Before and during the Revolution, two lesser-known grist-mills operated on the creek above the town of Frankford.

The terminus of today's SEPTA Market-Frankford Line, now known as the Frankford Transportation Center, became a major transit hub, with connections to bus and trolley routes extending into Northeast Philadelphia.

[citation needed] Many business owners hope that gentrification of neighborhoods such as Fishtown and Kensington will spread north into Frankford.

Others worry that previous attempts at improving Frankford have not been as effective as hoped, with most areas of the neighborhood still suffering from street crime and open-air drug sales.

Nathan Harper and Mary his Wife granted unto the said Burgesses and Inhabitants of the said Borough of Frankford with this deed restriction: "To be occupied as a public burying Ground forever hereafter for the Dead of All Nations Sects and Colours without any charge what ever except the Customary expenses of digging and keeping up the Graves to the only use of a public burying ground free and clear of and from all Judgments heirs and other Incumbrances whatsoever..." The Burial Ground (now a playground) contains the remains of many African American Civil War Veterans.

Other facilities in Northwood include Frankford High School's War Memorial Stadium, built in honor of area residents who served in World War I, and Baldwin Field, named for local businessman and philanthropist E. A. Baldwin, who had a milk business in Northwood.

Green, III, and the late Edward R. Becker, former justice on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals for the United States.

J. WALTER KLINE testified: This corporation was originally started in the spring of 1954, and the main purpose was to try and uphold the quality of the neighborhood – to keep real estate from being depreciated, to promote and preserve the civic, social and moral welfare of the community known as Northwood in the City of Philadelphia, to maintain and elevate the quality of land usage therein, to maintain and elevate the value of real estate therein, to prevent the infiltration of degrading and inharmonious land use therein, to do all other things necessary to preserve and maintain the amenities and high standards of the community, to engage in any peaceable activities including the institution of legal proceedings necessary for the promotion of the purposes, and this is a corporation which does not contemplate pecuniary gains or profit, incident or otherwise, to its members.

The community was the home of the Frankford Yellow Jackets, a National Football League team that won the championship in 1926 but folded in 1931.

Frankford Boys and Girls Club American Legion Post 224 Drill Team, who won the AMA Nationals Championship in 2005 and 2006.

It was an organization that gave Frankford youth an opportunity to learn how to play football, baseball, softball, basketball and Cheerleading as part of NESAC.