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Encyclopedia > Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Skyline of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Official flag of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Official seal of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Flag Seal
Nickname: "City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City"
Motto: "Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue)"
Location in Pennsylvania
Coordinates: 39°57′12″N, 75°10′12″W
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Philadelphia
Founded October 27, 1682
Incorporated October 25, 1701
Mayor John F. Street (D)
Area  
 - City 369.4 km²  (142.6 sq mi)
 - Land 349.9 km²  (135.1 sq mi)
 - Water 19.6 km² (7.6 sq mi)
 - Urban 4,660.7 km² (1,799.5 sq mi)
 - Metro 11,989 km² (4,629 sq mi)
Elevation 12 m  (39 ft)
Population  
 - City (2005) 1,463,281
 - Density 4,201.8/km² (10,882.8/sq mi)
 - Urban 5,325,000
 - Metro 5,823,233
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Website: http://www.phila.gov

Philadelphia, colloquially referred to as Philly, and known as The City of Brotherly Love (from Greek: Φιλαδέλφεια, /fi.la.ˈdɛl.fɛj.a/, "brotherly love" from philos "loving" and adelphos "brother") is the fifth most populous city in the United States and the largest in population and area in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2500x1900, 5358 KB) Other versions Originally from en. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Philadelphia,_Pennsylvania. ... Seal of Philadelphia This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... The flag of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania consists of three vertical stripes (blue, yellow, blue), with the city coat of arms across the center of the yellow stripe. ... // A nickname is a short, clever, cute, derogatory, or otherwise substitute name for a person or things real name (for example, Bob, Rob, Robby, Robbie, Robi, Bobby, Rab, Bert, Bertie, Butch, Bobbers, Bobert, Beto, Bobadito, and Robban (in Sweden), are all short for Robert). ... A motto is a phrase or a short list of words meant formally to describe the general motivation or intention of an entity, social group, or organization. ... Image File history File links Map_of_Pennsylvania_highlighting_Philadelphia_County. ... Official language(s) None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 160 miles (255 km)  - Length 280 miles (455 km)  - % water 2. ... This is an alphabetical list of the sovereign states of the world, including both de jure and de facto independent states. ... The political units and divisions of the United States include: the fifty states, which units are typically divided into counties and townships, and incorporate cities, villages, towns, and other types of municipalities, and other autonomous or subordinate public authorities and institutions; and the federal state, which unit is the United... Official language(s) None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 160 miles (255 km)  - Length 280 miles (455 km)  - % water 2. ... List of Pennsylvania counties: Pennsylvania counties Adams County, formed in 1800 from parts of York County. ... Philadelphia County is a county located in the U.S. State of Pennsylvania. ... October 27 is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 65 days remaining. ... Events March 11 – Chelsea hospital for soldiers is founded in England May 6 - Louis XIV of France moves his court to Versailles. ... A Municipal Corporation is a legal defintion for a local governing body, including (but not necessarily limited to) cities, counties, and towns. ... October 25 is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 67 days remaining. ... Events January 18 - Frederick I becomes King of Prussia. ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger,greater) is in modern times the title of the highest ranking municipal officer, who discharges certain judicial and administrative functions, in many systems an elected politician, who serves as chief executive and/or ceremonial official of many types of municipalities. ... John Franklin Street (born December 4, 1945) is the 97th Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. ... Area is a physical quantity expressing the size of a part of a surface. ... To help compare different orders of magnitude and geographical regions, we list here areas between 100 km² and 1000 km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... A square mile is an Imperial unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (5,280 feet, 1,760 yards, 1,609. ... Basic Definition In geography, the elevation of a geographic location is its height above mean sea level (or some other fixed point). ... The metre, or meter (US), is a measure of length. ... A foot (plural: feet) is any of several old units of distance or length, measuring around a quarter to a third of a meter. ... World map of the population density in 2006 Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. ... An urban area is a term used to define an area where there is an increased density of human-created structures in comparison to the areas surrounding it. ... A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large city and its adjacent zone of influence, or of several neighboring cities or towns and adjoining areas, with one or more large cities serving as its hub or hubs. ... A time zone is a region of the Earth that has adopted the same standard time, usually referred to as the local time. ... EDT (shown in yellow) is UTC-4 The Eastern Time Zone of the Western Hemisphere falls mostly along the east coast of Northern America and the west coast of South America. ... -12 | -11 | -10 | -9:30 | -9 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3:30 | -3 | -2:30 | -2 | -1 | UTC | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7:30 | +8 | +8:30 | +8...  Areas that observe daylight saving time  Areas that once observed daylight saving time  Areas that have never observed daylight saving time A 2001 public service announcement for the upcoming turning back of the clocks Daylight saving time (DST), also known as summer time or daylight savings time, is a widely... Eastern Daylight Time or EDT is equal to: In North America, Eastern Standard Time + 1, or UTC − 4 hours. ... for North America see also: Atlantic Standard Time Zone and Eastern Daylight Time Categories: Time zones ... Night view of Taipei City. ... Official language(s) None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 160 miles (255 km)  - Length 280 miles (455 km)  - % water 2. ...


The population of the city (at the 2000 census) was 1,517,550. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 1,463,281. [1] Philadelphia is the second-largest city on the U.S. East Coast (after New York City), and a major commercial, education, and cultural center for the nation. The two cities are only around 80 miles apart from their downtowns (around 46 miles from their closest points), amongst the closest distances between two cities of over 1,000,000 population in the world. In 2000, censuses were conducted in United States: The 22nd federal United States 2000 Census Costa Rica: The 9th Costa Rican Census of population. ... The U.S. Census is mandated by the United States Constitution. ... Nickname: Big Apple Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area    - City 1,214. ...


The Philadelphia metropolitan area is the fourth largest in the U.S. by the current official definition, with some 5.8 million people. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... In the United States, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has produced a formal definition of metropolitan areas. ...


Philadelphia is one of the oldest and most historically significant cities in the United States. During part of the 18th century, the city was the second capital and most populous city of the United States, and the second largest English speaking city in the world after London. At that time, it eclipsed Boston and New York City in political and social importance, with Benjamin Franklin playing an extraordinary role in Philadelphia's rise. (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... In politics, a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has an alternative meaning based on an alternative sense of capital) is the principal city or town associated with its government. ... London (pronounced ) is the capital city of England and of the United Kingdom. ... Nickname: City on a Hill, Beantown, The Hub of the Universe (The State House, according to Oliver Wendell Holmes, is the hub of the Solar System), Athens of America Location in Massachusetts Counties Suffolk County Mayor Thomas Menino (D) Area    - City 232. ... Nickname: Big Apple Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area    - City 1,214. ... Benjamin Franklin (January 17 [O.S. January 6] 1706 – April 17, 1790) was one of the most well known Founding Fathers of the United States. ...

Contents


History

Before Europeans arrived, the Delaware (Lenape) Indian town of Shackamaxon was located where Philadelphia now stands, specifically the Germantown neighborhood. Although the area lay within the bounds described in the 1632 Charter of Maryland, the Calvert family's influence never reached this far north, and the first European settlers were mostly Swedes (see New Sweden), who called it Wiccacoa. A congregation was formed in 1646 on Tinicum Island by Swedish missionary Johannes Campanius; in 1700, the group built Gloria Dei Church, also known as Old Swedes'. The Lenape or Lenni-Lenape (later named Delaware Indians by Europeans) were, in the 1600s, loosely organized bands of Native American people practicing small-scale agriculture to augment a largely mobile hunter-gatherer society in the region around the Delaware River, the lower Hudson River, and western Long Island Sound. ... Shackamaxon was a village inhabited by Delaware (Lenape) Indians, located in what are now the borders of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Germantown was originally the Borough of Germantown, a town in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania and is today primarily a neighborhood in Philadelphia, about six miles northwest from the center of the city. ... See also: 1632 (novel) Events February 22 - Galileos Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems is published July 23 - 300 colonists for New France depart Dieppe November 8 - Wladyslaw IV Waza elected king of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth after Zygmunt III Waza death November 16 - Battle of Lützen... Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area  Ranked 42nd  - Total 12,417 sq mi (32,160 km²)  - Width 90 miles (145 km)  - Length 249 miles (400 km)  - % water 21  - Latitude 37°53N to 39°43N  - Longitude 75°4W to 79°33... The Lord Baltimore. ... New Sweden, or Nya Sverige, was a small Swedish settlement along the Delaware River on the Mid-Atlantic coast of North America. ... // Events The Westminster Confession of Faith Ongoing events Wars of the Three Kingdoms, including the English Civil War (1642-1649) Births February 4 - Hans Erasmus Aßmann, Freiherr von Abschatz, German statesman and poet (d. ... Events January 1 - Russia accepts Julian calendar. ...


Philadelphia is a planned city, founded and developed in 1682 by William Penn, a Quaker. The city's name means "brotherly love" in Greek (Φιλαδέλφια). Penn hoped that the city, as the capital of his new colony founded on principles of freedom and religious tolerance, would be a model of this philosophy. During early immigration by Quakers and others, immigrants who purchased land in the city also received farmland outside the city; this was intended to allow the population to leave the city easily. Penn also mandated the construction of alleyways and open spaces, in the hope of controlling fires and disease, which were then common problems in London and other major cities. A New town or planned community or planned city is a city, town, or community that was designed from scratch, and grew up more or less following the plan. ... Events March 11 – Chelsea hospital for soldiers is founded in England May 6 - Louis XIV of France moves his court to Versailles. ... William Penn William Penn (October 14, 1644–July 30, 1718) founded the Province of Pennsylvania, the British North American colony that became the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. ... The Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as Quakers, or Friends, is a religious community founded in England in the 17th century. ... The Province of Pennsylvania, better known to Americans as Pennsylvania Colony, was a North American colony granted to William Penn in 1681 by King Charles II of England. ... London (pronounced ) is the capital city of England and of the United Kingdom. ...

Independence Hall, 18th Century
Independence Hall, 18th Century

Philadelphia was a major center of the independence movement during the American Revolutionary War. The Declaration of Independence and US Constitution were drafted here and signed in the city's Independence Hall. Tun Tavern in the city is traditionally regarded as the location where, in 1775, the United States Marine Corps was founded. in the public domain. ... in the public domain. ... Combatants American Revolutionaries France The Netherlands Spain American Indians Great Britain German mercenaries Loyalists American Indians Canadian Indians Commanders George Washington Nathanael Greene Comte de Rochambeau Bernardo de Gálvez William Howe Henry Clinton Charles Cornwallis (more commanders) The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War... A declaration of independence is a proclamation of the independence of an aspiring state or states. ... Page I of the Constitution of the United States of America Page II of the United States Constitution Page III of the United States Constitution Page IV of the United States Constitution The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America and is... Exterior view of Independence Hall (circa 1770s). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... This article is becoming very long. ...


During the American Revolutionary War Philadelphia's population was split between Loyalists and Patriots. When the British Army took the city in 1777 many people lined the streets and sang 'God Save the King'. Upon the retaking of the city for the American cause in 1778 it was the turn of the Patriot population to line the streets in celebration, especially as the population had suffered through a bitter winter with many of the provisions going to the British Army. The subsequent harsh treatment of the Loyalists who had not fled the city was further suffering for Philadelphians. Combatants American Revolutionaries France The Netherlands Spain American Indians Great Britain German mercenaries Loyalists American Indians Canadian Indians Commanders George Washington Nathanael Greene Comte de Rochambeau Bernardo de Gálvez William Howe Henry Clinton Charles Cornwallis (more commanders) The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War... For the township in Canada, see Loyalist, Ontario In general, a loyalist is an individual who is loyal to the powers that be. ... Meanings of Patriot: Patriotism The Patriot, movie The MIM-104 Patriot missile system a code word used by Nazis to signify Nazi The United States Patriot Act In the American Revolutionary War, those who supported the American cause, were called Patriots. ... Combatants United States Great Britain Commanders George Washington William Howe Henry Clinton The Philadelphia campaign (1777–1778) was a British initiative in the American Revolutionary War. ...


For a time in the 18th century, Philadelphia was the largest city in the Americas north of Mexico City, and the fourth largest under the rule of the British crown (after London, Bristol, and Dublin). (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... World map showing the Americas The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere historically considered to consist of the continents of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions. ... Mexico City (Spanish: Ciudad de México, México D.F. or simply México, pronounced IPA: ) is the capital city of the nation of Mexico. ... London (pronounced ) is the capital city of England and of the United Kingdom. ... Bristol (IPA: ) is a city, unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, 115 miles (185 km) west of London and located at With a population of 400,000, and metropolitan area of 550,000, it is Englands sixth, and the United Kingdoms ninth, most populous city... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ...


In 1790, as the result of a compromise between a number of Southern congressmen and Alexander Hamilton, then Secretary of the Treasury, the seat of the United States Government was moved from Federal Hall in New York to Congress Hall in Philadelphia, before assuming its current site in Washington, DC. In exchange for locating a permanent capital on the banks of the Potomac, the congressmen agreed to support Hamilton's financial proposals. Philadelphia served as capital for a decade, until 1800, when the Capitol building in the new federal city of Washington, DC was opened. 1790 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757 – July 12, 1804) was an American politician, leading statesman, financier, intellectual, military officer, and founder of the Federalist Party. ... John W. Snow, the current Secretary of the Treasury. ... This law-related article does not cite its references or sources. ... J.Q.A. Wards statue of George Washington in front of Federal Hall, on the site where Washington was inaugurated as the first U.S. President Federal Hall, once located at 26 Wall Street in New York City, was the first capitol building of the United States. ... Midtown Manhattan, looking north from the Empire State Building, 2005 New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the most populous city in the state of New York and the entire United States. ... Exterior view of Independence Hall (circa 1770s). ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States (USA). ... 1800 (MDCCC) was an common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The United States Capitol Capitol Hill redirects here. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United...


The city limits have been coterminous with Philadelphia County since The Act of Consolidation, 1854. Until then, the city consisted only of the area bounded by South and Vine Streets and the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. The expansion incorporated present-day West Philadelphia, South Philadelphia, North Philadelphia, and Northeast Philadelphia, as well as Germantown and many smaller communities. This article refers to the largest city of Pennsylvania. ... The Act of Consolidation, passed on February 2, 1854, in the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States consolidated all remaining townships, districts, and boroughs within the County of Philadelphia, disolving their govermental structures and bringing all municipal authority within the County under the auspices of the City government. ... South Street during the daytime, looking west. ... 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. ... West Philadelphia is a region of the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the western side of the Schuylkill River to the city line, centrally located and stretching north and south of Market Street, but not including areas south of Baltimore Ave, which is a part of Southwestern Philadelphia. ... South Philadelphia district, highlighted on map of Philadelphia County. ... Map of Philadelphia County with North Philadelphia highlighted. ... Map of Philadelphia County with Northeast Highlighted. ... Germantown was originally the Borough of Germantown, a town in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania and is today primarily a neighborhood in Philadelphia, about six miles northwest from the center of the city. ...

1888 German map of Philadelphia. The two most noticeable streets are Broad (north-south) and Market (east-west). Two rivers, for a time, bounded the city: to the west, the Schuylkill, and to the east, the Delaware, separating Pennsylvania from New Jersey.
1888 German map of Philadelphia. The two most noticeable streets are Broad (north-south) and Market (east-west). Two rivers, for a time, bounded the city: to the west, the Schuylkill, and to the east, the Delaware, separating Pennsylvania from New Jersey.

An early railroad center, Philadelphia was the original home of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, the world's largest builder of steam locomotives (which eventually relocated to nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania). The Pennsylvania Railroad, once America's largest railroad by revenue and traffic volume and at one time the largest public corporation in the world, was headquartered in the city, as was its merger successor, the Penn Central, and in turn its freight railroad successor, Conrail. 1888 German Map of Philadelphia, from the German Wikipedia This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... 1888 German Map of Philadelphia, from the German Wikipedia This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Official language(s) None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 160 miles (255 km)  - Length 280 miles (455 km)  - % water 2. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Baldwin Locomotive Works builders plate, 1922 The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. ... Eddystone is a borough located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. ... 1893 map The Pennsylvania Railroad (AAR reporting mark PRR) was an American railroad that was founded in 1846 and merged in 1968 into Penn Central Transportation. ... The Penn Central Transportation Company, normally called Penn Central, was an American railroad company, headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and formed by the merger on February 1, 1968 of the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central Railroad; the New Haven was added to the merger at the insistence of the... Conrail 6114, a GE Dash 8-40CW, leads a train westbound out of Altoona, Pennsylvania. ...


In 1876 Philadelphia hosted the World's Fair, known as the Centennial Exposition. Memorial Hall and the expansive mall in front of it are remnants of this fair. 1876 (MDCCCLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... A Worlds Fair is any of various large expositions held since the mid-19th century. ... The Centennial International Exhibition of 1876, the first official worlds fair in the United States, was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. ...


In 1926, the city held the Sesquicentennial Exposition to celebrate the nation's 150th birthday. 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition of 1926 was a worlds fair hosted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the 50th anniversary of the 1876 Centennial Exposition. ...


In 1976, Philadelphia was one of the participating cities in the United States Bicentennial observances that took place nationwide. 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... The United States Bicentennial was celebrated on Sunday, July 4, 1976, the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. ...


In 1985 Philadelphia police bombed the Cobb's Creek section of West Philadelphia in order to combat a radical group known as MOVE. City officials allowed the fire to burn until it had consumed 62 area homes and left 11 dead. 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... MOVE is an organization formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1972 by John Africa (Vincent Leaphart) and Donald Glassey. ...

Center City Philadelphia panorama, from 1913.
Center City Philadelphia panorama, from 1913.

Download high resolution version (2306x420, 375 KB)Philadelphia - 1913 panorama Source: [1] File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (2306x420, 375 KB)Philadelphia - 1913 panorama Source: [1] File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A panorama of the tip of Point Barrow, Alaska. ... 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ...

Geography

A simulated-color satellite image of Philadelphia taken on NASA's Landsat 7 satellite. The Delaware River is visible in this shot.
A simulated-color satellite image of Philadelphia taken on NASA's Landsat 7 satellite. The Delaware River is visible in this shot.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 369.4 km² (142.6 mi²). 349.9 km² (135.1 mi²) of it is land and 19.6 km² (7.6 mi²) of it (5.29%) is water. Bodies of water include the Delaware River, Schuylkill River, Cobbs Creek, Wissahickon Creek, and Pennypack Creek. Download high resolution version (1000x1000, 318 KB)Large LANDSAT of Philadelphia File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (1000x1000, 318 KB)Large LANDSAT of Philadelphia File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... NASA logo Listen to this article · (info) This audio file was created from an article revision dated 2005-09-01, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ... Landsat 7 is the latest satellite of the Landsat program. ... The Delaware River is a river on the Atlantic coast of the United States. ... The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... A square mile is an Imperial unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (5,280 feet, 1,760 yards, 1,609. ... 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. ... Cobbs Creek is a creek that flows from Delaware County, Pennsylvania. ... Wissahickon Creek is a stream in southeastern Pennsylvania. ... Independence Hall, as it appears today. ...


The lowest point in the city lies 10 feet above sea level near Fort Mifflin in Southwest Philadelphia at the convergence of the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. The highest point is in Chestnut Hill, at 432 feet above sea level, near Evergreen Place, just north and west of Evergreen Avenue. Fort Mifflin is located in the southern portion of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, near the Philadelphia Airport. ... Southwest Philadelphia is a section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. ... Chestnut Hill is a neighborhood in the northwestern corner of Philadelphia. ...


The counties adjacent to Philadelphia are Montgomery County to the north; Bucks County to the northeast; Burlington County, New Jersey to the east; Camden County, New Jersey to the southeast; Gloucester County, New Jersey to the south; and Delaware County to the west. Montgomery County is a county located in the state of Pennsylvania. ... Bucks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. ... Location in the state of New Jersey Formed 1694 Seat Mount Holly Area  - Total  - Water 2,122 km² (819 mi²) 38 km² (15 mi²) 1. ... Camden County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. ... Gloucester County is a county located in the state of New Jersey. ... Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. ...


Climate

Philadelphia's climate is scarcely humid subtropical. The summer is hot and muggy, fall and spring are mild, and winter is cold. Precipitation is almost uniformly distributed throughout the year. Humid subtropical climates are characterized by warm to hot summers and cool winters. ...


January lows average 25 °F (-4 °C) and highs average 39 °F (4 °C). The lowest officially recorded temperature was -11 °F (-24 °C) on February 9, 1934, but temperatures below 14 °F are not common. July lows average 70 °F (21 °C) and highs average 86° F (30 °C), although heat waves see highs above 95 °F (35 °C) with the heat index running as high as 110 °F (43 °C). The highest temperature on record was 106 °F (41 °C) on August 7, 1918. Early fall and late winter are generally driest, with February being the driest month with only 2.74 in (69.8 mm) of average precipitation. February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... August 7 is the 219th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (220th in leap years), with 146 days remaining. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ...


Snowfall is variable, with some winters bringing light snow and others bringing many significant snowstorms. It is common for the heavier snowfall to occur north and west of the city, where the climate is continental. Rainfall is generally spread throughout the year, with eight to eleven wet days per month[2], at an average annual rate of 42 in (1068 mm). Compass rose with north highlighted and at top North is one of the four cardinal directions, specifically the direction that, in Western culture, is treated as the primary direction: north is used (explicitly or implicitly) to define all other directions; the (visual) top edges of maps usually correspond to the... A compass rose with west highlighted This article refers to the cardinal direction; for other uses see West (disambiguation). ... The humid continental climate is found over large areas of land masses in the temperate regions of the mid latitudes where there is a zone of conflict between polar and tropical air masses. ...


Cityscape

8th and Market Street, showing the Strawbridge and Clothier department store, 1910s.
8th and Market Street, showing the Strawbridge and Clothier department store, 1910s.

Penn's surveyor, Thomas Holme, laid out the city in a strict grid, with streets running either north-south or east-west. The north-south streets are numbered in ascending order from Front (instead of First), along the Delaware River, with the main north-south thoroughfare, Broad Street (instead of 14th) running midway between the two rivers. The east-west streets, many of them named for trees, e.g., Chestnut, Walnut, Locust, and Spruce parallel the main thoroughfare named High Street by Penn, but called Market Street since at least the early 18th century. Six blocks south of Market is South Street, the original southern boundary of the city. Vine Street, three blocks north of Market, was the original northern boundary. Philadelphia, 8th & Market Streets, 1910s, from postcard This image is in the public domain in the United States and possibly other jurisdictions. ... Philadelphia, 8th & Market Streets, 1910s, from postcard This image is in the public domain in the United States and possibly other jurisdictions. ... Strawbridge and Clothier is a department store found in the northeastern United States with stores in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. ... Thomas Holme (1624-1695) was the first Surveyor General of Pennsylvania. ... A simple grid plan road map (Windermere, Florida). ... The Delaware River is a river on the Atlantic coast of the United States. ... Broad Street is a major street in Philadelphia. ... Species - Bush Chinkapin* - Japanese Chestnut - American Chestnut - Henrys Chestnut - Chinese Chestnut - Ozark Chinkapin - Alleghany Chinkapin - Sweet Chestnut - Seguins Chestnut * treated as a synonym of by many authors Chestnuts (Castanea), including the chinkapins, are a genus of eight or nine species of trees and shrubs in the beech family... Species See text The walnuts (genus Juglans) are plants in the walnut family Juglandaceae. ... Desert locust Nymph of Locust Schistocera americana with distinct wing-rudiments Desert Locust Schistocerca gregaria Locust from the 1915 Locust Plague For other uses, see Locust (disambiguation). ... Species About 35; see text. ... South Street during the daytime, looking west. ...

5th and Market Street, today. Visible in this photo are the studios of KYW-TV (left) and the Bourse building.
5th and Market Street, today. Visible in this photo are the studios of KYW-TV (left) and the Bourse building.

Holme also planned five public parks, one at the intersection of High and Broad Streets in the very center of the city, now occupied by City Hall, and four others surrounding it now called Washington Square, Rittenhouse Square, Logan Square and Franklin Square. The eastern edge of Rittenhouse Square is on 18th St., four blocks west of City Hall, while the western edge of Washington Square is between 7th and 8th, about six and a half blocks east of City Hall. Both are the same distance south of City Hall. Both Logan Square and Franklin Square are located the same distances east and west of City Hall as Washington and Rittenhouse and two to three blocks north of Market Street, reflecting the southern squares. Fairmount Park is one of the largest municipal public parks in the world, at over 9,100 acres (37 km²). This figure includes all parkland within the city limits, as all 65 city parks are considered part of Fairmount Park and overseen by the Fairmount Park Commission, but the park proper, which runs north/south through the city, does occupy nearly half that area, at over 4,100 acres (17 km²) on both banks of the Schuylkill River and Wissahickon Creek. Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 1775 KB)Market Street Philadelphia Pa File links The following pages link to this file: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ... Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 1775 KB)Market Street Philadelphia Pa File links The following pages link to this file: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ... KYW-TV CBS3 is the CBS owned-and-operated television station in Philadelphia. ... Philadelphia City Hall is the seat of government for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... CAN YOU BELIEVE THEY ONLY HAVE ONE PICTURE THAT WORKS JO JO!?!? Washington Square, originally designated in 1682 as Southeast Square, is an open-space park in Center City Philadelphias Southeast quadrant and one of the five original planned squares laid out on the city grid by William Penn. ... A springtime scene in the center of Rittenhouse Square, 2006. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Logan Circle, Philadelphia. ... Franklin Square Franklin Square is one of the five original open-space parks planned by William Penn during the late 17th century in central Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Originally called Northeast Square, Franklin Square was named after Benjamin Franklin a Philadelphia citizen, one of the most prominent Founding Fathers of the United... Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is one of the largest municipal public parks in the world, at over 9,100 acres (37 km²). This figure includes all parkland within the city limits, as all 65 city parks are considered part of Fairmount Park and overseen by the Fairmount Park Commission... The Schuylkill River, pronounced SKOO-kull (IPA: ), is a river in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. ... Wissahickon Creek is a stream in southeastern Pennsylvania. ...


The post-World War II era would see further changes. Under the leadership of Edmund N. Bacon, the Philadelphia City Planning Commission organized a master plan for the city, creating a variety of special planning, redevelopment, development districts and areas to coordinate their efforts. Projects that were headed by the new master plan were major redevelopment of Center City, including the Penn Center Area (replacing an immense, elevated railroad connector, locally known as the "Chinese Wall," located north of Market and West of Broad), Market East and Penn's Landing; new development and expansion in University City (focused mainly on the University of Pennsylvania); as well as the opening up of development on the fringes of the city, the Far Northeast and South Philadelphia Sports Complex. One of his enduring innovations is a group of small, semi-enclosed parks in the Society Hill residential area, connected by brick footpaths. This article is becoming very long. ... TIME Magazine November 6, 1964 Edmund N. Bacon (May 2, 1910 – October 14, 2005) is a noted Urban Planner whose visions shaped todays Philadelphia, the city in which he was born. ... University City is a district of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... The University of Pennsylvania (Penn is the moniker used by the university itself [2]) is a private, nonsectarian research university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ...


Bacon's efforts would also see changes in the transportation of the city, with the inclusion of the Center City Rail Connector, Vine Street Expressway, Delaware Expressway, and improvements to the Schuylkill Expressway. Many of Bacon's ideas, though not entirely as he had envisioned, can be seen today, with the basis of his master plan still influencing development in the city. Interstate 676 is an interstate highway that serves as a major thoroughfare through Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Camden, New Jersey. ... The Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) runs along the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. ...


Buildings and architecture

Philadelphia's architectural history dates back to Colonial times and has included a wide range of styles, sometimes showcased within a range of several blocks. Most of the city's historic landmarks are in Old City and the Historical District in the Society Hill neighborhood east of Center City, including Independence National Historical Park, home of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The buildings and architecture of Philadelphia combine historic and modern styles that reflect the changing city. ... For other American colonies, see European colonization of the Americas or British colonization of the Americas. ... The term National landmark may refer to one of two programs of the United States government: National Historic Landmark National Natural Landmark Also see: Listed building (United Kingdom equivalent) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Old City is a neighborhood in Center City, Philadelphia located in the area near the Delaware River where William Penn and the Quakers first settled. ... Society Hill is a neighborhood in the Center City section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. ... Exterior view of Independence Hall (circa 1770s). ... The Liberty Bell, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is an American bell of great historic significance. ...


For almost a century, Philadelphia's most visible structure was its baroque City Hall building and William Penn tower. Begun in 1871, City Hall took 30 years to complete and is the tallest load-bearing structure in the world at 548 feet, including the statue of William Penn at its crown. For the Baroque style in a more general sense, see Baroque. ... Philadelphia City Hall is the seat of government for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... William Penn William Penn (October 14, 1644–July 30, 1718) founded the Province of Pennsylvania, the British North American colony that became the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. ...


The former headquarters of the Philadelphia Savings Fund Society (PSFS), at the corner of 12th and Market Streets, erected in 1932, is widely considered the nation's first International Modernist skyscraper. The building was designed by Swiss-American architect William Lescaze and his partner George Howe. The building is a National Historic Landmark. In 1997, the building was purchased by the Loews Corporation, and in April 2000 it reopened as the Loews Philadelphia Hotel. The signature PSFS sign, however, is considered an integral part of the historic architectural design and remains atop the building. PSFS, or the Philadelphia Savings Fund Society, was the first savings bank in the United States. ... 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will take you to a full 1932 calendar). ... Taipei 101, the worlds tallest building since its completion in 2004, is located in Taipei. ... William Edmond Lescaze (March 27, 1896-February 9, 1969) was a Swiss-born American architect. ... Loews Corporation is a holding company whose subsidiaries are engaged in the following lines of business: property and casualty insurance (CNA Financial Corporation, a 90%-owned subsidiary); the production and sale of cigarettes (Lorillard, Inc. ...


Perhaps owing to other, more pressing concerns including poverty, crime, and population loss, Philadelphia has had a fairly poor track record of historic preservation, aside from Colonial-era sites. Notable historic structures demolished in recent years that might have been saved if located in a more prosperous city include the Philadelphia Civic Center and Philadelphia Naval Hospital (both commonly regarded as masterpieces of 1930's Art Deco architecture), JFK Stadium,a historic 1920's era athletic venue, and the Philadelphia Commercial Museum, an 1890's neoclassical exhibit hall. Other important historic sites, including the Philadelphia Metropolitan Opera House, and even the famous Philadelphia Museum of Art and Philadelphia City Hall, have suffered from decades of neglect and poor upkeep. Philadelphia Civic Center was a 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Philadelphia. ... Asheville City Hall. ... John F. Kennedy Stadium (originally known as Municipal Stadium, later also referred to as JFK Stadium) was a stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that stood from 1925-1992. ... Neoclassicism (sometimes rendered as Neo-Classicism or Neo-classicism) is the name given to quite distinct movements in the visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture. ... The Philadelphia Museum of Art, located at the west end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphias Fairmount Park, was founded in 1876 in conjunction with the Centennial Exposition of the same year and is now among the largest and most important art museums in the United States. ... Philadelphia City Hall is the seat of government for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ...


Since the 1980s, modern skyscrapers have been erected west of City Hall eclipsing Penn's statue. As of 2006, the tallest structures are One and Two Liberty Place. In 2007, the Comcast Center, upon its expected completion, will become the tallest building in Philadelphia. Currently, thirteen skyrises, residential and commercial , are under construction, six have begun prep work, and seventeen are still in planning. Also nine skyrises are currently under renovation, and seven more are still in planning. Many of these projects will include multiple skyrises, adding to the number of actual buildings. Another seven cultural and commercial projects have begun, which consist of a slot facility, turning the Philadelphia Naval Yard into a suburban style business park with urban amenities, new parks, educational towers, state of the art schools, and others. Another ten are in planning.click here Philadelphia has entered a period of urban renewal. One Liberty Place The One Liberty Place Building is currently the tallest building in Philadelphia and the 16th tallest building in the United States. ... Two Liberty Place in Philadelphia, PA Two Liberty Place is the second tallest skyscraper in Philadelphia, and the 31st tallest in the United States, stretching 58 floors to 848 ft (258m). ... 2007 (MMVII) will be a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Computer Generated vision of Comcast Tower Comcast Center is a skyscraper currently under construction in the Center City section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, formerly Navy Yard, was the first naval shipyard of the United States. ...


Most of the city's residential neighborhoods are rowhouse communities, noted for streets lined with attached, single-family homes. Newer duplexes and single homes, as well as some older mansions and estates, are more common in the city's outskirts. A street of British terraced housing In architecture and city planning, a terrace, rowhouse, or townhouse (United States) is a style of housing since the late 18th century where identical individual houses are cojoined into rows. ... Duplex, meaning double or twofold, may refer to: Duplex, a telecommunications term referring to two-way simultaneous transmission and reception A duplex is the U.S. name for a particular type of housing. ...


Neighborhoods

See also: List of Philadelphia neighborhoods

Philadelphia has many neighborhoods, each of which has its own identity. Many of these neighborhoods coincide with the borough and townships that made up Philadelphia County before their absorption by the city. These include Chestnut Hill, East Falls, Fishtown, Fox Chase, Frankford, Germantown, Grays Ferry, Kensington, Manayunk, Mount Airy, North Philadelphia, Northern Liberties, Olney, Overbrook, Parkside, Port Richmond, Powelton Village, Queen Village, Roxborough, South Philadelphia, University City, West Oak Lane, and many others. Prominent neighborhoods in Center City include Chinatown, Fairmount, Old City, Rittenhouse Square, Washington Square West and Society Hill. The following are a list of major neighborhoods in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, organized by broad geographical location within the city: // West Philadelphia Carroll Park Cedar Park - Breadth: North to Larchwood Ave. ... Chestnut Hill is a neighborhood in the northwestern corner of Philadelphia. ... East Falls is a neighborhood in the Northwest section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. ... Fishtown is a neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. ... The Fox Chase section of Philadelphia got its name from The Fox Chase Inn which opened in 1705. ... 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 primarily a neighborhood in Philadelphia, about six miles northwest from the center of the city. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Playground in the neighborhood of Kensington, Philadelphia. ... Manayunk, Philadelphia, PA February 10, 2006 Manayunk is neighborhood in the northwestern section of the United States city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Mount Airy is a neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. ... Map of Philadelphia County with North Philadelphia highlighted. ... Northern Liberties is a neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Olney is a neighborhood in the North Philadelphia section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Overbrook is a neighborhood in the West Philadelphia section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Parkside is a neighborhood in the West Philadelphia section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Port Richmond is a neighborhood in the Near Northeast section of the United States city Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Houses in Powelton Village Powelton Village is a neighborhood of mostly Victorian, mostly twin homes in the West Philadelphia district of the United States city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Queen Village is a neighborhood in the South Philadelphia section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, just south of the Center City district. ... Roxborough is a neighborhood in the Northwest Philadelphia section of the United States city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... South Philadelphia district, highlighted on map of Philadelphia County. ... University City is a district of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... West Oak Lane is a neighborhood in the North Philadelphia section of Philadelphia. ... Chinese Friendship Arch, 10th and Arch Streets. ... Fairmount is a neighborhood in the North Philadelphia area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Old City is a neighborhood in Center City, Philadelphia located in the area near the Delaware River where William Penn and the Quakers first settled. ... A springtime scene in the center of Rittenhouse Square, 2006. ... Washington Square West (or Wash West) is a neighborhood in downtown, or Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Society Hill is a neighborhood in the Center City section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. ...


Suburbs

Further information: Delaware Valley

Philadelphia has a significant suburban area which depends on its economy and public transportation (provided by SEPTA), including areas of southeastern Pennsylvania (including the historic Main Line), Bucks County, southern New Jersey and northern Delaware. Various Philadelphia area television stations sometimes consider a wide range of areas as suburbs of Philadelphia, including the New Jersey shore as far north as Monmouth County and as far south as Cape May, as well as southern Delaware. Pennsylvania areas which are sometimes considered as distant suburbs or "exurbs" of Philadelphia include Berks County, the Lehigh Valley (Lehigh County and Northampton County), Lancaster County, and even the southern most region of the Poconos, including parts of Monroe County and Carbon County. Cecil County, Maryland, which I-95 runs through, is also sometimes included as a Philadelphia exurb. The Philadelphia suburbs are home to some of the most affluent counties in the United States. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Housing subdivision near Union, Kentucky, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio. ... A taxi serving as a bus Public transport comprises all transport systems in which the passengers do not travel in their own vehicles. ... For the abbreviation SEPTA, see SEPTA. A septum, in general, is a wall separating two cavities or two spaces containing a less dense material. ... The Main Line is a collection of affluent towns in suburban Philadelphia named after the Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad (currently Amtraks Keystone Corridor and SEPTAs R5 line). ... Bucks County is a county located in the state of Pennsylvania. ... South Jersey is a colloquial term, with no consensus definition, covering the southern portions of New Jersey between the lower Delaware River and the Atlantic Ocean. ... Official language(s) None Capital Dover Largest city Wilmington Area  Ranked 49th  - Total 2,491 sq mi (6,452 km²)  - Width 30 miles (48 km)  - Length 100 miles (161 km)  - % water 21. ... Monmouth County is a county located in the state of New Jersey. ... The Cape May Point Beach, NJ Cape May is the northern cape of Delaware Bay along the Atlantic coast of the United States. ... Official language(s) None Capital Dover Largest city Wilmington Area  Ranked 49th  - Total 2,491 sq mi (6,452 km²)  - Width 30 miles (48 km)  - Length 100 miles (161 km)  - % water 21. ... The expression exurb (for extra-urban) was coined in the 1950s to describe the ring of prosperous rural communities beyond the suburbs that, due to availability via the new high-speed limited-access highways, were becoming dormitory communities for an urban area. ... Berks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. ... The Bethlehem Steel Corporation in the Lehigh Valley, once one of the worlds largest manufacturers of steel, closed in 2003. ... Lehigh County, referred to as the Valley by locals, is a county located in the state of Pennsylvania. ... Location in the state of Pennsylvania Formed 1752 Seat Easton Area  - Total  - Water 977 km² (377 mi²) 9 km² (4 mi²) 0. ... Lancaster County is a county located in the south-central portion of the state of Pennsylvania in the Susquehanna Valley. ... The Poconos, or the Pocono Mountains region, is a mountainous region of about 2,400 square miles (6,200 km²) located in northeastern Pennsylvania. ... Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, named for President James Monroe. ... Carbon County is a county located in the state of Pennsylvania. ... Cecil County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. ...


Demographics

City of Philadelphia
Population by year