Map of Philadelphia County prior to the Act of Consolidation.

The Act of Consolidation, passed on February 2, 1854 in the U.S. city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, consolidated all remaining townships, districts, and boroughs within the County of Philadelphia, dissolving their governmental structures and bringing all municipal authority within the county under the auspices of the Philadelphia government. Additionally, any other unincorporated communities were included in the consolidation. The consolidation was drafted to help combat lawlessness that the many local governments could not handle separately and to bring in much-needed tax revenue for the city. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1705x2113, 212 KB) Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania showing the boroughs, townships and districts of the county prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854 Source: Daly, John Edward and Allen Weinberg. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1705x2113, 212 KB) Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania showing the boroughs, townships and districts of the county prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854 Source: Daly, John Edward and Allen Weinberg. ... February 2 is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1854 (MDCCCLIV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... This article is becoming very long. ... Official language(s) English, Pennsylvania Dutch Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ... A township in the United States refers to a small geographic area, ranging in size from 6 to 54 square miles (15. ... Local government areas called districts are used, or have been used, in several countries. ... A borough is an administrative division used in various countries. ... Philadelphia County is a county located in the U.S. State of Pennsylvania. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with unincorporated. ...

The passage of the act gave the city and the county the same borders, that is, it made the two entities coterminous. This situation is shared by the city and counties of Denver, Colorado, San Francisco, California, Indianapolis, Indiana, Louisville, Kentucky, and Nashville, Tennessee. Though both city and county co-exist as legal entities, most governing functions are in the hands of the city government. One notable exception is that the county has a sheriff's department, though its duties are limited and subordinate to the Philadelphia Police Department. Nickname: The Mile-High City Location of Denver in Colorado Coordinates: Country United States State Colorado City-County Denver (coextensive) Founded November 22, 1858 Incorporated November 7, 1861  - Mayor John Hickenlooper (D) Area    - City  154. ... Nickname: The City by the Bay; Fog City; The City; Baghdad by the Bay Location of the City and County of San Francisco, California Coordinates: Country United States of America State California City-County San Francisco Government  - Mayor Gavin Newsom Area  - City  47 sq mi (122 km²)  - Land  46. ... Location in the state of Indiana Coordinates: County Marion Founded 1821 Government  - Mayor Bart Peterson (D) Area  - City  372 sq mi (963. ... “Louisville” redirects here. ... Nickname: Music City Location in Davidson County and the state of Tennessee Coordinates: Country United States State Tennessee Counties Davidson County Founded: 1779 Incorporated: 1806 Government  - Mayor Bill Purcell (D) Area  - City  526. ... Philadelphia Police Officers with their Patrol Car The Philadelphia Police Department is the police agency responsible for law enforcement and investigations within the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ...

Background and reasons

In early 1854, the city of Philadelphia's boundaries extended east and west between the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers and north and south between Vine and South Streets. The rest of Philadelphia County contained thirteen townships, six boroughs and nine districts. Philadelphia's recent influx of immigrants spilled over into the rest of Philadelphia County surging the areas population.^[1] In 1840, Philadelphia's population was 93,665 and the rest of the county was 164,372, by 1850 the populations were 121,376 and 287,385 respectively.^[2] The Delaware River is a river on the Atlantic coast of the United States. ... The Schuylkill River, pronounced SKOO-kull (IPA: ), is a river in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. ... South Street during the daytime, looking west. ... Philadelphia County is a county located in the U.S. State of Pennsylvania. ... The term township is used to denote a lower level territorial subdivision. ... A borough is an administrative division used in various countries. ... Local government areas called districts are used, or have been used, in several countries. ...

One of the major reasons put forth for the consolidation of the city was the Philadelphia's lack of ability to govern.^[3] Law enforcement found it difficult to enforce the peace. A person could break the law in Philadelphia and quickly cross the border and escape punishment. Districts outside Philadelphia could not control their criminal elements and at the same time refused to let Philadelphia get involved. An example of how poorly law enforcement agencies worked together was in May, 1844 when an anti-Catholic riot erupted in Kensington. The sheriff was the only police officer available in Kensington at the time and when Philadelphia's militia was called they hesitated because they hadn't been reimbursed for past calls. By the time the militia arrived the riot was out of control. Attempts to improve the issue included an 1845 law that required several of the surrounding districts to maintain adequate law enforcement and an 1850 act which gave Philadelphia law enforcement the authority to police seven surrounding districts.^[1] The Philadelphia Nativist Riots (also known as the Philadelphia prayer riots of 1844 and the Bible Riots) were a series of riots that took place May 3 and July 4, 1844. ... Playground in the neighborhood of Kensington, Philadelphia. ... Look up Sheriff in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Lexington Minuteman representing militia minuteman John Parker Militia is the activity of one or more citizens organized to provide defense or paramilitary service, or those engaged in such activity. ...

The other major reason for consolidation was that Philadelphia's actual population center wasn't in Philadelphia, but north of Vine Street. Between 1844 and 1854 Philadelphia's population grew by 29.5 percent. Places like Spring Garden grew by 111.5 percent and Kensington by 109.5 percent. This population shift was draining the city of much need tax revenue for police and fire departments, water, sewage, and other city improvements.^[4] Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania highlighting Spring Garden District prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854 Spring Garden District is a defunct district that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. ...

Consolidation

There had been several unsuccessful proposals at consolidation before 1854. The main opposition of consolidation came from the Whig Party. The Whigs usually dominated Philadelphia elections while the outlying districts were dominated by the Democrats and the Whigs feared they would lose power within the city.^[1] With support from all the city's major newspapers, the problems not being consolidated overcame Whig opposition and the issue was brought to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States; the other being the Republican Party. ... Capitol Building The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the U.S. state of Pennsylvanias legislative branch, seated at the states capital, Harrisburg. ...

Eli Kirk Price brought the issue to the Pennsylvania Senate while Matthias W. Baldwin and William C. Patterson brought it to the House of Representatives. A bill was produced on December 20, 1853 and by January 31, 1854 the bill had passed both houses. The bill was then brought to Governor William Bigler, who was in Erie, Pennsylvania. Bigler was awaken out of bed before midnight on February 2 and signed the bill into law. The signing was rushed because several districts were considering assuming new debts for railroad loans and other projects with the expectation that the consolidated city would pay them.^[4] Eli Kirk Price (July 20, 1797 - 14 November 1884) was a Philadelphia lawyer, a commissioner of Fairmount Park from the time of its founding, and a member of the American Philosophical Society. ... The Pennsylvania State Senate is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislative branch of Pennsylvania government. ... The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is one of two co-equal houses of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. ... December 20 is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... January 31 is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1854 (MDCCCLIV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... William Bigler (January 11, 1814 – August 9, 1880) was governor of Pennsylvania from 1852 to 1855, and later a U.S. Senator. ... Nickname: The Flagship City Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: County Erie County Founded 1795 Government  - Mayor Joseph Sinnott Area  - City 72. ... February 2 is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

The Act of Consolidation, along with creating Philadelphia's modern border, gave executive power to a mayor who would be elected every two years. The mayor was given substantial control of the police department and control of municipal administration and executive departments with oversight and control of the budget from the city council.^[3] List of mayors of Philadelphia, arranged chronologically. ... Philadelphia Police Officers with their Patrol Car The Philadelphia Police Department is the police agency responsible for law enforcement and investigations within the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... City Hall from postcard, c. ...

On March 11 there was a large celebration for the consolidation. Governor Bigler, members of the legislature, and chief officers of the state visited the city for the celebration. Events included an excursion on the Delaware River, a ball at the Chinese Museum and a banquet at the Sansom Street Hall the next day.^[4] March 11 is the 70th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (71st in leap years). ...

Districts, townships and boroughs consolidated into Philadelphia

The following is a list of municipal authorities which were consolidated into the City of Philadelphia.^[5]

• Aramingo Borough
• Belmont District
• Blockley Township
• Bridesburg Borough
• Bristol Township
• Byberry Township
• Delaware Township
• Frankford Borough
• Germantown Borough
• Germantown Township
• Kensington District
• Kingsessing Township
• Lower Dublin Township
• Manayunk Borough
• Moreland Township
• Moyamensing District
• Northern Liberties District
• Northern Liberties Township
• Oxford Township
• Passyunk Township
• Penn District
• Penn Township
• Philadelphia City
• Roxborough Township
• Richmond District
• Southwark District
• Spring Garden District
• West Philadelphia Borough
• Whitehall Borough

Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania highlighting Aramingo Borough prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854 Aramingo Borough is a defunct borough that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. ... Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania highlighting Northern Liberties Township prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854 Belmont District is a defunct district that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. ... Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania highlighting Blockley Township prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854 Blockley Township is a defunct township that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. ... Bridesburg is a neighborhood in the Northeast section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania highlighting Bristol Township prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854 Bristol Township is a defunct township that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. ... Byberry is a place name in Northeast Philadelphia that can have several references. ... Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania highlighting Delaware Township prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854 Delaware Township is a defunct township that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. ... Frankford is a neighborhood in the Northeast section of Philadelphia, situated about six miles northeast of Center City. ... Germantown was originally the Borough of Germantown, a town in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania and is today a neighborhood in Philadelphia, about six miles northwest from the center of the city. ... Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania highlighting Germantown Township prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854 Germantown Township, also know as German Township, is a defunct township that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. ... Kensington - a neighborhood of the city of Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania. ... Kingsessing is a neighborhood in the Southwest section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. ... Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania highlighting Lower Dublin Township prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854 Lower Dublin Township, also known as Dublin Township, is a defunct township that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. ... Manayunk, Philadelphia, PA February 10, 2006 Manayunk is a neighborhood in the northwestern section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States. ... Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania highlighting Lower Dublin Township prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854 Moreland Township, is a defunct township that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. ... Moyamensing was originally a township on the fast land of the Neck, lying between Passyunk and Wicaco. ... Northern Liberties is a neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania highlighting Northern Liberties Township prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854 Northern Liberties Township is a defunct township that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. ... Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania highlighting Lower Oxford Township prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854 Oxford Township, also know as Dublin Township is a defunct township that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. ... Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania highlighting Passyunk Township prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854 Passyunk Township is a defunct township that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. ... Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania highlighting Penn District prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854 Penn District is a defunct district that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. ... Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania highlighting Penn Township before the Act of Consolidation, 1854 Penn Township is a defunct township that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Area    - City 369. ... Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania highlighting Roxborough Township prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854 Roxborough Township is a defunct township that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. ... Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania highlighting Richmond District prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854 Richmond District, also know as Port Richmond District, is a defunct district that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. ... Southwark was originally the Southwark District, a municipality in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania and is today primarily a neighborhood in the South Philadelphia section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. ... Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania highlighting Spring Garden District prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854 Spring Garden District is a defunct district that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. ... Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania highlighting West Philadelphia Borough prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854 West Philadelphia Borough, also known as West Philadelphia District, is a defunct borough that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. ... Map of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania highlighting West Philadelphia Borough prior to the Act of Consolidation, 1854 West Philadelphia Borough, also known as West Philadelphia District, is a defunct borough that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. ...

References

Philadelphia Portal

Liberty Bell; public domain. ...

External links

• A Brief History of Philadelphia
• Chronology of the Political Subdivisions of the County of Philadelphia, 1683-1854