West Philadelphia's place in the city today is characterized by its role as a residential community. Ever since significant portions of the area were developed, West Philadelphia has functioned mostly as a place to live. It was one of the city's first bedroom communities. The majority of West Philadelphia's housing was developed between 1910 and 1940 following the construction of the Market-Frankford El through the area. This was the period of West Philadelphia's rapid urbanization, when the neighborhoods of Cobbs Creek, Haddington, Carroll Park, Overbrook and the remainder of Wynnefield were built up with predominantly row housing designed for middle class families.

African-Americans have been the predominant racial group in many West Philadelphia neighborhoods since the 1960's. The 45-year period between 1925 and 1970 was the time when most of the growth in West Philadelphia's African American population occurred.

Founded in November 1992, The Partnership CDC (community development corporation) grew out of the West Philadelphia Partnership, an affiliate social service provider. Even then, West Philadelphia was a vital, richly textured community. In 1994, 222,000 people, or 13.9 percent of the City's population resided, shopped and in many cases worked here, where educational and health care institutions abound. They shared many experiences, some of them unique to West Philadelphia; riding the trolleys into Center City, picnicking and playing ball in Fairmount Park, driving between the support columns of the Market-Frankford El, tending to neighborhood garden plots, participating in community meetings or school functions, and attending May Fair (an annual community festival) at Clark Park. For residents of other parts of the region and for visitors, West Philadelphia was experienced as a drive along West River Drive, a concert at the Mann Music Center, a move into a dormitory room by a college freshman, a trip to the Philadelphia Zoo, visiting a relative at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, enjoying the annual flower show at the Civic Center, or taking an AMTRAK train from 30th Street Station.

Notwithstanding the many positives, some West Philadelphia neighborhoods were suffering the ills that affect older urban areas. Over the last several decades there has been a substantial loss of middle class population, widespread poverty, poverty deterioration and abandonment. Main streets declined and no longer presented the best face of the community. Infrastructure was deteriorating and too many incidents of crime against people and property had devastating impacts in certain neighborhoods. These trends, although not pervasive, were persistent and ultimately affected the quality and the perception of life in the larger West Philadelphia community. The trends that contributed to these negative perceptions needed be halted and reversed if West Philadelphia was to sustain itself as a viable and urban community. The Partnership CDC was thus founded as a community solution to halt and reverse the negative trends that were prohibiting West Philadelphia from being able to sustain its viability as an urban community.