[2] Powelton Village takes its name from the Powel Family, 17th and 18th century Welsh colonialists who held extensive estates in the area.

In the 1960s the Village was home to many members of the counterculture movement,[3] and Powelton today enjoys a strong political activism and anarchist tradition, as well as a healthy multiethnic pluralism.

Residential streets are mostly lined with Victorian twin houses, some of which are traditional family homes, while others have been subdivided into apartments.

The southern end of Powelton Village includes property owned by Drexel University.

Many students from Drexel live off-campus in Powelton's urban-structured row-house apartments because of the short walk to campus.

Nearby destinations include The Bridge, a movie theater at 40th and Walnut; and the Philadelphia Zoo at 34th and Girard.

During Lancaster Avenue's "Second Fridays," shops and galleries are open later and often have various specials, and the event often features live music.