The Consolidation Act of 1854 designated Philadelphia County’s land west of the Schuylkill as the 24th Ward. Future population increases would necessitate a division of this large area into West and Southwest Philadelphia. The area the City Planning Commission has designated as West Philadelphia would ultimately be divided into the 24th, 27th, and 34th wards.
Lindsay & Blakiston, “City of Philadelphia as Now Consolidated,” Historical Society of Frankford via Greater Philadelphia GeoHistory Network.