In 1682, when the city was laid out by William Penn, it was the first street surveyed and built in during the colonial era Province of Pennsylvania.

As part of the King's Highway, which extended from Boston to Charleston, South Carolina, and as the waterfront of Philadelphia's port, it was the most important street in the city from its founding into the 19th century.

At least three stations of SEPTA's Market–Frankford Line are built above Front Street.

The district includes three buildings individually also listed on the NRHP: Widow Maloby's Tavern (700), Capt.

[4][5][6] Four sites listed on the National Register adjoin North Front Street: Elfreth's Alley, the Quaker City Dye Works, and two schools, the Thomas K. Finletter School and Olney High School.