Philadelphia is a city in the US state of Pennsylvania. With
around 1.6 million inhabitants (as of 2020, United States Census
Bureau census), it is the sixth largest city in the United
States and the largest in the state of Pennsylvania. On the East
Coast, Philadelphia is the second largest city after New York
City. The city is located on the Delaware River in the center of
the Delaware Valley metropolitan area.
Philadelphia is
one of the most important cities in the history of the United
States. After New York City and before Washington, D.C. It was
the national capital from 1790 to 1800 and at that time the
largest city in the USA and the second largest English-speaking
city in the world after London. The first and partly also the
second Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention of
1787 met in Philadelphia, the American Declaration of
Independence (July 4, 1776) was promulgated here and the
constitution was adopted.
Philadelphia is colloquially
called Philly or City of Brotherly Love. The name of the city is
that of several ancient cities (ancient Greek Φιλαδέλφεια
Philadélpheia, from Philádelphos, the nickname of the Pergamene
king Attalos II.) and was probably also directly derived from
the independently formed noun (φιλαδελφία philadelphía, German
'brotherly love') by the city founder William Penn. based. It is
composed of the roots of φιλέω philéō, German 'to love' or φιλία
philía, German 'love' and ultimately φίλος phílos, German 'love,
dear, loving, friendly' and ἀδελφός adelphós, German 'brother',
meaning ' place of brotherly love' or 'brotherly love'.
By plane
Philadelphia International Airport (IATA: PHL) is one of
the busiest airports in the American East, handling 29.5 million
passengers a year. It is a hub for American Airlines and its regional
subsidiary American Eagle. The low-cost line Frontier Airlines also
offers many connections. There are direct connections from Central
Europe to/from Frankfurt am Main (American or Lufthansa) and Munich
(American). The busiest connections within the USA are with Orlando,
Atlanta and Chicago-O'Hare.
The arrivals and departures in
Philadelphia are clocked so quickly that in bad weather – which is not
uncommon here even in summer – the entire flight schedule can easily
collapse. Many Americans who regularly stop in Philadelphia hate this
airport because they often miss their connecting flight here. If you
come from Europe and don't want to fly any further from Philadelphia,
you can usually take it easy. And there is no alternative at all.
From the airport you can take a regional train from the Airport Line
to the city centre. The journey to Jefferson Station takes half an hour.
By train
Philadelphia has one Amtrak station (“30th Street
Station”), the third busiest train station in the United States after
Penn Station in New York and Washington Union Station. The following
long-distance lines run through it:
Acela Express: America's only
bullet train, runs every hour (Boston-New Haven-New York
City-Philadelphia-Baltimore-Washington, D.C.) - Travel time is 1 hour
from Baltimore, 1 hour 10 minutes from NYC, 1½ hours from Washington ,
from Boston 5 hours.
Northeast Regional: Same route as Acela Express,
but slightly slower and with more stops en route (e.g. 1:25 hrs from New
York City) and beyond Washington to Virginia; runs approximately every
hour. - The drive from Richmond, Virginia takes 4½-5 hours.
Keystone
Service: Approximately hourly connection with the state capital of
Pennsylvania (New York City-Philadelphia-Lancaster-Harrisburg) - The
drive from Harrisburg takes approx. 1 hour 45 minutes
Pennsylvanian:
once-daily service with central and western Pennsylvania (New
York—Philadelphia—Harrisburg—Pittsburgh) – The journey from Pittsburgh
takes 7½ hours
Vermonter: once daily service with New England
(Washington-Philadelphia-New York-Hartford-Montpelier-St. Albans): Drive
from Hartford takes 4½ hours, from Montpelier almost 10 hours.
Carolinian: 1 daily connection with North Carolina (New
York-Philadelphia-Washington-Richmond-Raleigh-Charlotte) - The journey
from Charlotte takes over 12 hours.
Palmetto/Silver Star/Silver
Meteor: 3 times daily service with the southern Atlantic coast (South
Carolina and Georgia), twice daily overnight train to/from Florida (New
York-Philadelphia-Charleston-Savannah-Orlando-Miami) - The journey from
Charleston takes time over 12 hours, from Orlando 20, from Miami over 25
hours.
Crescent: once daily connection with the "Deep South" (New
York-Philadelphia-Atlanta-Birmingham-New Orleans) - The journey from
Atlanta takes 16 hours, from New Orleans 28 hours.
Cardinal: 3 times
a week overnight service with West Virginia and the Midwest (New
York-Wasington-Charlottesville-Cincinnati-Indianapolis-Chicago): Travel
time is 5 hours from Charlottesville, 17 hours from Cincinnati, over 25
hours from Chicago.
The station is also served by the New Jersey
Transit (NJT) Atlantic City Line and serves as a central hub for the
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's (SEPTA) regional
trains.
By bus
Many bus companies, including Greyhound Lines
and Peter Pan, connect Philly to places like New York and Washington,
D.C. several times a day.
Greyhound buses stop at the Greyhound
Terminal on Filbert Street about half a kilometer east of City Hall.
There you can directly change to various city bus lines or to the
regional trains at Jefferson Station, 100 meters away, or to the subway
at 11 Street Station, 200 meters away.
Bolt Bus and Megabus stop
at the bus stop at 3105-3125 John F. Kennedy Blvd near 30th Street
Station instead.
By boat
There is an hourly ferry service to
Philadelphia (River Link Ferry) from Camden, New Jersey, which is
directly across the street on the east bank of the Delaware River.
Public transportation
Philadelphia has one of the most extensive
and heavily used public transit systems in the United States. It is
organized by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
(SEPTA). This operates two underground and elevated rail lines (the
orange-marked Broad Street Line and the blue Market–Frankford Line), the
S-Bahn-like Route 100 to the north-western suburb of Norristown (purple
in the plan), five streetcar lines (trolleys) , which are part surface
and part underground (green), two intercity streetcar lines (101 and
102) serving the southwestern suburbs, three trolleybus lines, and 121
regular bus lines.
A ride on the subway, streetcar, trolleybus or
bus costs $2.50. It can be paid for in cash (only matching!) in the
relevant means of transport, or you can buy a SEPTA Key Card, onto which
you can deposit a credit, from which the fare is then electronically
debited (card costs $4.95 and includes the same amount as starting
credit). Only with the key card can you get the connecting journey for 1
$ on transfer connections and do not have to pay the full fare again. A
One Day Convenience Pass costs $9 and is valid for up to eight rides by
one person in one day. A Weekly TransPass costs $25.50 and is good for
up to 56 rides. A Senior Key Card entitles people 65 and older to ride
all transit and regional rail services within Pennsylvania for free.
An important transfer point is 15th Street (or City Hall Station:
both subway lines, all subway lines, several bus lines). Here you can
also change from one line to the other for free. The same applies to
13th Street and 30th Street, where you can transfer between the
Market-Frankford Line (subway) and the streetcar for free.
For
more outlying suburbs there is also a regional rail network (SEPTA
Regional Rail) with 13 lines and a total of 450 km of rail network. The
regional trains have their own tariffs, depending on how many of the
four zones are crossed. The closest stop to the historic center is
Jefferson Station. There are also connections to the blue line of the
subway and various bus lines.
Not part of SEPTA is the
subway-style PATCO Speedline (red on map) that connects Philadelphia to
the neighboring city of Camden, New Jersey, across the Delaware River.
It is operated by the Port Authority Transit Corporation, a joint
venture between the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Interchange
between the PATCO Speedline and the two SEPTA subway lines is at 8th &
Market. It is also the closest PATCO station to the historic center.
On foot and by bike
Philadelphia is one of the most walkable
major cities in the United States. This applies in particular to the
central districts (Center City) with the Avenue of the Arts and the
areas around Rittenhouse Square, Washington Square and Logan Square.
Philadelphia is also one of the more bike-friendly cities in North
America. Especially if you want to explore the west of downtown areas
like Fitler Square, Powelton Village, Spruce Hill or Cedar Park, the
bike is the means of choice.
Independence National Historical Park, between Chestnut, Walnut, 2nd
and 6th Streets; Park Office and Library: 143 S 3rd St. A historic
neighborhood within walking distance of some of the city's most
important historical monuments.
Independence Hall, 520 Chestnut St
(between 5th and 6th Streets) . The building where the American
Declaration of Independence was passed in 1776. See below for details.
Liberty Bell Center, 6th St, between Market St and Chestnut St. Here you
can see the Liberty Bell, the most famous American symbol of freedom and
democracy.
Congress Hall, 6th St & Chestnut St . Philadelphia was the
capital of the United States from 1790 to 1800. Parliament was then
based in this building. Feature: wheelchair accessible.
Second Bank
of the United States, 420 Chestnut Street
Carpenters' Hall, 320
Chestnut Street .
First Bank of the United States, 128 South 3rd
Street.
Remains of the President's House, 524-30 Market Street.
Official residence of the first two US Presidents, George Washington and
John Adams.
Built between 1732 and 1756 as the "State House" of Philadelphia, the
Independence Hall is one of the best examples of the so-called "Georgian
Style" and shows how the architecture of Philadelphia at this time is
directly oriented towards England. From 1776 to 1783 (except for the
winter of 1777-78, when Philadelphia was under British occupation),
Independence Hall was the site of the Second Continental Congress. In
the so-called "Assembly Room" of the building, George Washington was
appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in 1775 and the
USA's Declaration of Independence was passed on July 4, 1776. In the
same room, the new America agreed on the look of its flag in 1777 and
drafted the country's constitution in 1787.
No visit to
Philadelphia is complete without a tour of Independence Hall. Admission
is free. However, a so-called "Time Ticket" is required, which is
available for the same day from 8:30 a.m. at the Philadelphia Visitor
Center. The Visitor Center is just a few steps away on Market Street,
between 5th and 6th Streets.
When William Penn created the government of Pennsylvania, he
encouraged citizen participation in making laws. It also gives every
citizen the right to choose their own religion. The colonists are proud
of the freedom Penn gives them. In 1751 the Speaker of the Pennsylvania
Assembly ordered a new bell for the State House. He asks that a Bible
verse be engraved on the bell: "Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the Land
unto all the inhabitants thereof." As the official bell of the State
House (now Independence Hall), the Liberty Bell chimes many times for
public announcements.
The entire story and the Liberty Bell
itself can now be viewed in the so-called Liberty Bell Center. It is
directly across from Independence Hall. Admission is free.
Christ Church, N. 2nd Street & Market Street. 1727-44 Georgian-style
Episcopal Church, considered one of the finest surviving monuments from
this early period. Famous parishioners include Benjamin Franklin and
George Washington.
Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church, 412 Pine St.
One of the oldest churches in the city, built in 1768. During the
revolutionary period, it was given the nickname "Church of the Patriots"
because many members of the congregation campaigned for independence,
e.g. B. John Adams, the second President of the USA.
City Hall, 1 Penn Square. Monumental town hall in neo-baroque style,
built 1871-1901 based on a design by Thomas Ustick Walter. With its 167
meter high tower, on the top of which is a statue of the city's founder
William Penn, it replaced the Ulm Minster as the tallest building in the
world at the time. With nearly 700 rooms, it is the largest municipal
administration building in the United States and one of the largest in
the world. Up until the 1980s, there was an unwritten rule that no
building in the city could be taller than the top of William Penn
State's hat; therefore, the construction of skyscrapers started late in
Philadelphia.
Philly Stock Exchange. Former building of the commodity
exchange. Built in 1893-95 in the Beaux-Arts style to a design by G.W. &
W.D. Hewitt, it was one of the first steel-frame buildings ever. For the
façade, red sandstone from Carlisle, brick from Pompeii and terracotta
were used. Renovated in 2016, the building houses offices and a grocery
department on the ground floor.
Wanamaker's, Juniper/Market St. 12
storey temple of goods built in 1902 in Neo-Renaissance style.
Wanamaker's was a pioneer in the development of the modern department
store, for example, it was here that price tags were used for the first
time. The elaborate Christmas decorations and lights are also famous. On
the ground floor is a massive bronze eagle sculpture by the German
sculptor August Gaul. Locals say "meet me at the eagle" when meeting at
Wanamaker's. The department store also has the largest fully playable
organ in the world.
The Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, 200 S. Broad
Street. Monumental 19-storey neo-Renaissance hotel building, built in
1904 to a design by the architects G.W. & W.D. Hewitt. Over the years,
15 US Presidents, numerous monarchs and heads of state from all over the
world, movie stars and famous writers have stayed here. Today only the
top eight floors are used as a hotel; below are offices.
Benjamin
Franklin Bridge. Steel suspension bridge over the Delaware River,
completed in 1926. The bridge has a total length of 2,941 meters. Use by
car is subject to a fee (in the west direction). You can cross the
bridge for free on foot.
Benjamin Franklin's Grave, (Christ Church Burial Ground, 5th St & Arch St . The same cemetery contains the graves of four other signers of the Declaration of Independence (including Benjamin Rush) and other figures from early US history, such as astronomer Charles Mason .
Eastern
State Penitentiary, 2124 Fairmount Avenue (at 22nd Street; Bus 7,
48: 22nd St & Fairmount Av). Significant historical penitentiary in
which e.g. Al Capone sat. The facility is now a museum. Considered one
of the most important sights in the city. And it's supposed to be
haunted here too. Open: daily 10am-5pm. Price: Admission $12, children
and seniors reduced.
National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St,
Independence Mall. Modern museum opened in 2003 with an exhibition on
the history of the American Constitution. Lots of interactive exhibits.
Open: Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm, Sat 9.30am-6pm, Sun 12pm-5pm. Price: Admission
$12 (discounts for children and seniors; special exhibitions are more
expensive).
Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch St. Home of the famous
American woman who sewed the first Stars and Stripes flag. Now a museum.
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology (Penn
Museum), 3260 South Street (on the University of Pennsylvania campus;
Regional Rail: University City). Museum with an extensive collection of
cultural and historical exhibits from Egypt, Mesopotamia, Mesoamerica
and China. Open: Tue-Sat 10am-4.30pm, Sun 1pm-5pm. Price: Admission $10
(discounts for children and for seniors).
Edgar Allan Poe National
Historic Site, 532 N 7th St. Home where the writer Edgar Allan Poe
briefly resided. Of several Poe residences in Philadelphia, it is the
only one that has survived. By the way, Poe is buried in Baltimore.
Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Columbus Blvd. First class museum
with exhibitions on maritime history. The museum features the USS
Olympia, a cruiser that served the US Navy from 1895 to 1922 and saw
service in World War I. Open: daily 10am-5pm. Price: Admission $12
(Children $7, Seniors $10).
Franklin Court, 314-322 Market St. Museum
with an exhibition about the life and inventions of Benjamin Franklin.
Feature: wheelchair accessible.
National Museum of American Jewish
History, 55 N 5th St, Independenca Mall East. Museum with diverse
exhibits on the history of Jews in the United States. Open: Mon-Thu
10am-5pm, Fri 10am-3pm, Sun 12pm-5pm. Sat closed.
Powell House, 244 S
3rd St. Historic home built in Georgian style, the opulently furnished
interior can be toured.
Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater
Kent, 15 S 7th St. Local history museum. Closed as of June 2018 with an
unclear future.
Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway
(Bus 32 "Pennsylvania Av & 24th St" or Bus 38 "Art Museum Dr & Kelly
Dr"). Tel: +1 (215) 763 8100, Email: visitorservices@philamuseum.org .
One of the largest art museums in the USA. On the steps in front of the
museum, the boxer Rocky performed his famous jubilant run in the film of
the same name. Open: Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, Fri until 8pm. Price: Admission
$16, discounts for seniors and children.
Rodin Museum, Franklin
Parkway & 22nd St. The American cinema entrepreneur Jules Mastbaum
acquired one of the largest collections of the French sculptor's work in
the 1920s.
Rosenbach Museum and Library, 2008-2001 Delancey Place.
Tel: +1 215 732 1600 . Housed in two historic residences, the private
collection of the Rosenbach brothers, who were important dealers and
collectors of rare books, manuscripts and works of art. Open: Tue-Sun
10am-5pm (Wed until 8pm). Price: Admission $10 (discounts for children
and for seniors).
Mothers Museum, 19 S 22nd St. Email: info@collegeofphysicians.org.
Interesting medical history museum. Open: daily 10am-5pm. Price:
Admission $14 (Children and Seniors $10).Edit info
28 Franklin
Institute, 20th St & Benjamin Franklin Parkway
wikipediacommonsfacebookinstagramtwitter. Large science museum with
special exhibitions and Imax cinema. Open: daily 9.30am-5pm. Price:
Admission $14.75 (Child $12, Senior $13.75).
Please Touch Museum,
Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park, 4231 Avenue of the Republic (Bus 38
"Concourse Dr & E Rd") . Natural science museum for families with
children. Considered extremely entertaining. Open: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm
(Thursday until 8pm in summer), Sun 11am-5pm. Price: Admission $15 (no
child discount).
Elfreth's Alley, 2nd St, between Race and Arch. Philadelphia's oldest surviving residential street (1702).
Fairmount Park (tram 15 or bus 32). Huge city park (830 hectares -
more than twice the size of New York's Central Park or the Englischer
Garten in Munich) on both sides of the Schuylkill River. The park area
is home to some 17th, 18th and early 19th century mansions such as Mount
Pleasant, Strawberry Mansion and Lemon Hill, as well as sculptures such
as an equestrian statue of General Ulysses S. Grant by Daniel Chester
French (the creator of the Lincoln statue in Washington), a copy of the
Florentine Medici lions or the modern steel sculpture Iroquois by Mark
di Suvero. That being said, there are numerous picnic, tennis, baseball,
and playground areas, as well as extensive trails for walking, jogging,
and biking.
Philadelphia Zoo, Fairmount Park (Tram 15 "Girard Av &
34th St") . The oldest zoo in the United States. More than 1,300 animals
on 170,000 m². Open: daily 9.30am-5pm (until 4pm in winter). Price:
Admission $18 (children 11 and under $15).
Rittenhouse Square. One of
the five original parks created by the city's founder, William Penn, in
the late 17th century. Considered one of the finest public green spaces
in the United States, it is the focal point of Philadelphia's most
upscale residential area.
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at
Tinicum, 86th Street & Lindbergh Blvd (12 km southwest of downtown; Bus
37, 108 "84th St & Lindbergh Blvd") . Close to town nature reserve
(swamp) with hiking trails and wonderful opportunities for wildlife
observation. Considered a prime attraction.
Morris Arboretum, 100 E.
Northwestern Ave (14 miles northwest of downtown; Bus L, 97 "Germantown
Av & Hillcrest Av"). Open: daily 10am-2pm, weekends until 5pm. Different
opening times in spring and autumn. Price: Admission $14 (Children $7,
Seniors $12.)
SS United States. The legendary ocean giant – to this day the carrier
of the Blue Ribbon as the fastest steamer on the transatlantic route –
has been out of service since 1996 and has been laid up in the port of
Philadelphia. Various plans to either put her back into operation as a
passenger ship or to convert her into a museum ship have all collapsed
for cost reasons, so that scrapping is imminent.
Germantown, along
Germantown Avenue (about 7 miles north of downtown; accessible by bus
#23) . Settlement founded in 1683 by religious refugees (Mennonites and
Quakers) from the Krefeld area. Germantown is considered the birthplace
of America's anti-slavery movement, as a group of Quakers wrote a
petition here as early as 1688 condemning religious slavery. A battle
took place here in 1777 during the American Revolutionary War. There are
still some buildings from the 18th century colonial period. These
include the Germantown White House (5442 Germantown Ave), the Wyck House
(6026 Germantown Ave), begun in 1690, and the Georgian-style Villa
Cliveden by lawyer Benjamin Chew (6401 Germantown Ave).
City Food Tours. Series of guided sightseeing tours with a culinary focus. Considered the city's top attraction among those in the know.
Philadelphia has teams in the four major US professional sports
leagues:
Philly Eagles. One of the oldest American football teams in
the NFL (since 1933), four-time league champion, winner of the Super
Bowl (2017), arch-rival of the New York Giants.infoedit
Philadelphia
76ers ("Sixers"). Basketball team in the NBA, three-time champion, but
only one final since the 1980s.
Philadelphia Phillies. baseball team
in the MLB. The oldest of the city's top teams has existed since 1883
and has featured in the National League ever since. Two World Series
titles.
Philadelphia Flyers. ice hockey team in the NHL. Won the
Stanley Cup twice in the 1970s.
The city's three largest sports
venues are located in the Sports Complex in south Philadelphia. They are
accessible via the Broad Street Line (orange line) of the subway. The
station was originally called Pattison (and is still called that
colloquially), but the naming rights to the station were sold and as of
2018 it is called NRG.
Lincoln Financial Field. Nearly
70,000-seat football stadium, home of the Philadelphia Eagles. Also used
for major concerts by pop and rock stars (Bruce Springsteen, Rolling
Stones, Taylor Swift, etc.).
Citizens Bank Park. Baseball stadium of
the Philadelphia Phillies with over 43,000 seats. Going to a game is an
experience. In addition to baseball games, it is also used for major
concerts (e.g. Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John).
Wells
Fargo Center. Multi-purpose hall with around 20,000 spectator seats.
Philadelphia 76ers basketball games, Philadelphia Flyers ice hockey
games, Philadelphia Soul arena football games, WWE wrestling matches,
but also concerts and party meetings take place here.
The 3-mile (4.6 km) stretch of Broad Street between Cecil B. Moore
Avenue on the north and Washington Avenue on the south - ie on either
side of City Hall - is dubbed the Avenue of the Arts. Numerous theaters
and other cultural institutions are lined up here. The density of
theaters is particularly high in the section south of the town hall.
There are also many restaurants and bars there to do something for your
physical well-being before or after a visit to the theatre.
Philly Orchestra. One of the "Big Five" among American symphony
orchestras, founded in 1900. Concerts at the Kimmel Center for the
Performing Arts.
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 South
Broad Street (BSL: Walnut–Locust; Bus 4: Broad St & Spruce St). Cultural
center with two halls: the Philadelphia Orchestra, Peter Nero and the
Philly Pops (orchestral adaptations of jazz, swing, blues and Broadway
songs) give concerts in the large Verizon Hall; in the smaller Perelman
Theater the Philadelphia Dance Company (Phildanco), the Opera
Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society perform.
Merriam Theater, 250 South Broad Street (BSL: Walnut–Locust; PATCO:
12–13th & Locust) . Theater used since 1918; Performances by touring
Broadway troupes.
Academy of Music, 240 South Broad Street (BSL:
Walnut–Locust; Bus: Broad St & Locust St) . Oldest opera house in the
United States, in continuous operation since opening in 1857. Home of
the Pennsylvania Ballet and the Opera Philadelphia.
Metropolitan
Opera House (Met Philadelphia; BSL: Girard; 15 Tram: Girard Av & Broad
St; 4 Buses, 16: Broad St & Poplar St) wikipediacommons. Traditional
opera house, opened in 1908. Today, no opera performances take place
here, but concerts.
Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut Street (corner
of S 9th St, near Washington Square) . Traditional theater in a
classical building from 1809.
Geographical location
Philadelphia is located in southeastern
Pennsylvania, between the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers, approximately
130 miles northeast of Washington D.C., 56 miles northwest of Atlantic
City and 110 miles southwest of New York City.
Geology
The
average height of Philadelphia is 12 meters above sea level. The lowest
point in the city is three meters. The highest is Chestnut Hill near
German Town at 136 meters above sea level. The city lies on the Fall
Line that separates the Atlantic Coastal Plain from Piedmont.
Philadelphia is one of the oldest cities in the USA. It was planned
by city founder William Penn in 1681 as the capital of the Quaker colony
of Pennsylvania. Penn gave the new city a biblical name: In Rev 3:7-13,
Philadelphia is the only one of the seven churches that remains
unreservedly faithful to the Lamb of God (i.e., Jesus Christ) even in
the time of persecution.
In 1683, 13 German Quaker and Mennonite
families from Krefeld came to Philadelphia on the ship "Concord" and
settled in the newly founded suburb of Germantown by Franz Daniel
Pastorius.
Philadelphia was the second capital of the United
States of America (1790–1800), after New York (1788–1790), until the
completion of the new capital Washington, D.C.
The Declaration of
Independence was adopted and promulgated in Philadelphia on July 4,
1776, as was the Constitution on July 17, 1787. Until the early 19th
century, Philadelphia was also the largest city in the United States and
at times the largest English-speaking city west of London.
From
1838 to 1844 Edgar Allan Poe spent six very productive years in
Philadelphia with his wife Virginia Clemm Poe. Initially he was editor
of Burton's Gentleman's Magazine, then editor-in-chief of Graham's
Magazine. During these years Poe wrote i.a. Ligeia, The Fall of the
House of Usher, The Double Murder in the Rue Morgue and The Gold Bug.
Johannes Nepomuk Neumann, a Bohemian-German priest and missionary,
was ordained Bishop of Philadelphia in 1852. In just eight years of his
tenure, he laid the foundations for the Church school system that still
exists in the United States today. In 1977 he was appointed by Pope Paul
VI. Canonized as the first American bishop. From 1854 the German painter
Paul Weber was active in Philadelphia and influenced the Hudson River
School.
In 1876 the Centennial Exhibition, the first official
world exhibition in the United States, took place in Philadelphia. For
example, the Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park survives from the
buildings.
The famous Liberty Bell, which previously toured the
country as a symbol of the Revolutionary Wars, has been back in town
since 1915 and has hung in a purpose-built exhibition building since
2003; along with Independence Hall where it once hung, Philadelphia is
home to two of the most important iconic sites in the United States.
Philadelphia is home to the oldest post office, the first two banks
in the United States, and America's first zoo.
Three sites of
outstanding historical importance to American history are located in
Philadelphia: Independence National Historical Park, the Edgar Allan Poe
National Historic Site and the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial. 67
locations have National Historic Landmark status. Independence Hall
itself has been a World Heritage Site in the United States since 1979.
580 Philadelphia County structures and sites are listed on the National
Register of Historic Places (NRHP) as of September 22, 2020.
population development
The population peaked around 1950 at over
two million, accompanied by a housing shortage; many apartments date
from the 19th century and did not have modern sanitary facilities. Then
the population in the urban area decreased steadily to around 1.5
million, while that of the metropolitan area grew. Between 1890 and
1950, Philadelphia was the third largest city in the United States,
after New York and Chicago, until Los Angeles took over this position in
1960. As of the 1990 census, Houston became the fourth largest city,
ahead of Philadelphia. Philadelphia now ranks sixth among the largest US
cities, behind Phoenix.
composition of the population
According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population was 41% White, 43.4%
African American, 6.3% Asian, 12.3% Hispanic of mixed race. For the
first time, there were more black than white residents in Philadelphia,
which is mainly due to the fact that many members of the white middle
class have left the city center, a development that has been observed in
almost all major US cities since the 1950s. The composition of the
city's European-born population reflects the long history of US
immigration: 13.6% are Irish, 9.2% Italian, 8.1% German, 4.3% Polish,
and 2.3% English.
Dealing with crime in Philadelphia
On the judiciary side, the
following agencies are responsible for maintaining law and order: The
Philadelphia Police Department, the Court of Common Pleas, and the
Philadelphia Attorney's Office.
The high crime and murder rate
and some nationally sensational murder cases and disputes led to public
debates. It was about the one-eyed police forces towards African
Americans as well as complaints about the unwillingness of the black
community, especially men, to participate in public safety.
On
September 12, 2007, Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson called on
10,000 African Americans in Philadelphia to patrol the city's streets to
prevent crime. Johnson undertook this campaign, called "Call to Action:
10,000 Men, It's a New Day," to reduce the disproportionately high
percentage of black murder victims. Dennis Muhammad, local
representative of the Nation of Islam, and Philadelphia Mayor John F.
Street supported the project.
Riots
Electoral Rebellion of
1742: Conflict between the Quakers and the emerging German-American
minority
Lombard Street riot (1842): Three-day street battle between
representatives of the black and Irish communities
Philadelphia
Nativist Riots (1844): Anti-Catholic riots (cf. nativism)
Philadelphia race riot (1964): race riots in North Philadelphia, serious
destruction, many injured; important impetus for the civil rights
movement.
The Philadelphia metropolitan area generated economic output of
$417.7 billion in 2016. The gross domestic product per capita is 62,817
US dollars. A 2014 study ranked Philadelphia the 28th best-performing
metropolitan area in the world and 8th in the United States. The
unemployment rate was 5.8% (as of March 2018), higher than the national
average. The city's economy is largely determined by the service sector.
The largest Philadelphia-based companies are Comcast, CIGNA, Sunoco,
Aramark, Carpenter Technology, and chemical companies Rohm and Haas and
FMC Corporation. The pharmaceutical companies Wyeth and SmithKline
Beecham also had their headquarters there. The headquarters of the
former Pennsylvania Railroad was also in Philadelphia.