Philadelphia

Philadelphia
Official seal of Philadelphia
Official logo of Philadelphia
Etymology: Ancient Greek: φίλος phílos (beloved, dear) and ἀδελφός adelphós (brother, brotherly)
———-———
Nickname(s): 
"Philly", "The City of Brotherly Love", others
Motto: 
"Philadelphia maneto" ("Let brotherly love endure" or "... continue")[1][2]
Map
Map
Map
Philadelphia is located in Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is located in the United States
Philadelphia
Philadelphia
Coordinates: 39°57′10″N 75°09′49″W / 39.95278°N 75.16361°W / 39.95278; -75.16361
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyPhiladelphia
Historic countriesKingdom of England
Kingdom of Great Britain
Historic colonyProvince of Pennsylvania
Founded1682 (1682)[3]
IncorporatedOctober 25, 1701
Founded byWilliam Penn
Government
 • TypeMayor–council, consolidated city-county
 • BodyPhiladelphia City Council
 • MayorCherelle Parker (D)
Area
 • Consolidated city-county142.70 sq mi (369.59 km2)
 • Land134.36 sq mi (347.98 km2)
 • Water8.34 sq mi (21.61 km2)
Elevation
39 ft (12 m)
Population
 • Consolidated city-county1,603,797
 • Estimate 
(2022)[6]
1,567,258
 • Rank10th in North America
6th in the United States
1st in Pennsylvania
 • Density11,936.92/sq mi (4,608.86/km2)
 • Urban5,696,125 (US: 7th)
 • Urban density3,000.8/sq mi (1,158.6/km2)
 • Metro6,245,051 (US: 7th)
DemonymPhiladelphian
GDP
 • Philadelphia (MSA)$518.5 billion (2022)
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
19092–19093, 19099, 191xx
Area codes215, 267, 445
FIPS code42-60000
GNIS feature ID1215531[10]
Websitewww.phila.gov

Philadelphia, commonly referred to as Philly, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania[11] and the second-most populous city in the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Philadelphia is known for its extensive contributions to United States history, especially the American Revolution, and served as the nation's capital until 1800.[12] It maintains contemporary influence in business and industry, culture, sports, and music.[13][14] Philadelphia is the nation's sixth-most populous city, with a population of 1,603,797 in the 2020 census and is the urban core of the larger Delaware Valley (or Philadelphia metropolitan area), the nation's seventh-largest and one of the world's largest metropolitan regions consisting of 6.245 million residents in the metropolitan statistical area and 7.366 million residents in its combined statistical area.[15]

Philadelphia was founded in 1682 by William Penn, an English Quaker and advocate of religious freedom. The city served as the capital of the Pennsylvania Colony during the British colonial era[3][16] and went on to play a historic and vital role as the central meeting place for the nation's founding fathers whose plans and actions in Philadelphia ultimately inspired the American Revolution and the nation's independence following the Revolutionary War. Philadelphia hosted the First Continental Congress in 1774, preserved the Liberty Bell, and hosted the Second Continental Congress during which the founders signed the Declaration of Independence, which historian Joseph Ellis has described as "the most potent and consequential words in American history".[17] Once the Revolutionary War commenced, the Battle of Germantown and the siege of Fort Mifflin were fought within Philadelphia's city limits. The U.S. Constitution was later ratified in Philadelphia at the Philadelphia Convention of 1787. Philadelphia remained the nation's largest city until 1790, when it was surpassed by New York City, and it served as the nation's first capital from May 10, 1775, until December 12, 1776, and on four subsequent occasions during and following the American Revolution, including from 1790 to 1800 during the construction of the new national capital of Washington, D.C.

With 18 four-year universities and colleges, Philadelphia is one of the nation's leading centers for higher education and academic research.[18][19] As of 2018, the Philadelphia metropolitan area was the state's largest and nation's ninth-largest metropolitan economy with a gross metropolitan product of US$444.1 billion. The city is home to five Fortune 500 corporate headquarters as of 2022.[20] As of 2023, metropolitan Philadelphia ranks among the top five U.S. venture capital centers, facilitated by its proximity to New York City's entrepreneurial and financial ecosystems.[21] The Philadelphia Stock Exchange, owned by Nasdaq since 2008, is the nation's oldest stock exchange and a global leader in options trading.[22] 30th Street Station, the city's primary rail station, is the third-busiest Amtrak hub in the nation, and the city's multimodal transport and logistics infrastructure, includes Philadelphia International Airport, and the rapidly-growing PhilaPort seaport.[23] A migration pattern has been established from New York City to Philadelphia by residents opting for a large city with relative proximity and a lower cost of living.[24][25]

Philadelphia is a national cultural center, hosting more outdoor sculptures and murals than any other city in the nation.[26][27] Fairmount Park, when combined with adjacent Wissahickon Valley Park in the same watershed, is 2,052 acres (830 ha), representing one of the nation's largest and the world's 45th-largest urban park.[28] The city is known for its arts, culture, cuisine, and colonial and Revolution-era history; in 2016, it attracted 42 million domestic tourists who spent $6.8 billion, representing $11 billion in economic impact to the city and its surrounding Pennsylvania counties.[29]

With five professional sports teams and one of the nation's most loyal fan bases, Philadelphia is often ranked as the nation's best city for professional sports fans.[30][31][32][33] The city has a culturally and philanthropically active LGBTQ+ community. Philadelphia also has played an immensely influential historic and ongoing role in the development and evolution of American music, especially R&B, soul, and rock.[34][35]

Philadelphia is a city of many firsts, including the nation's first library (1731),[36] hospital (1751),[36] medical school (1765),[37] national capital (1774),[38] university (by some accounts) (1779),[39] central bank (1781), stock exchange (1790),[36] zoo (1874),[40] and business school (1881).[41] Philadelphia contains 67 National Historic Landmarks, including Independence Hall.[42][43][19] From the city's 17th century founding through the present, Philadelphia has been the birthplace or home to an extensive number of prominent and influential Americans. In 2021, Time magazine named Philadelphia one of the world's greatest 100 places.[44] Two years later, in 2023, travel guide publisher Lonely Planet ranked Philadelphia the best city in the nation to visit.[45]

  1. ^ Robinson, Sam (November 5, 2013). "Behind Philadelphia Maneto: Dissecting The City Seal". Hidden City Philadelphia. Archived from the original on January 19, 2018. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  2. ^ McDevitt, John (May 5, 2015). "Plaque Dedication Marks 120th Anniversary of Creation of Philadelphia's Flag". CBS Broadcasting Inc. Archived from the original on January 19, 2018. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference weigley was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  5. ^ "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  6. ^ "QuickFacts: Philadelphia city, Pennsylvania". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  7. ^ "List of 2020 Census Urban Areas". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  8. ^ "2020 Population and Housing State Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 24, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  9. ^ "Total Gross Domestic Product for Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (MSA)". fred.stlouisfed.org.
  10. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. February 2, 2015. Archived from the original on October 27, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  11. ^ "QuickFacts: Philadelphia city, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  12. ^ "How Philly lost the nation's capital to Washington". National Constitution Center. May 14, 2020. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  13. ^ "Explore Historic Attractions in Philadelphia". Visit Philadelphia. Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  14. ^ Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (February 22, 2006). "The Sounds of Philadelphia". Press Kit. Archived from the original on February 22, 2006. Retrieved March 29, 2006.
  15. ^ "Population and housing state data". 2020 U.S. census. Archived from the original on August 24, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  16. ^ Brookes, Karin (2005). Zoë Ross (ed.). Insight Guides: Philadelphia and Surroundings (Second (Updated) ed.). APA Publications. pp. 21–22. ISBN 1-58573-026-2.
  17. ^ Ellis, Joseph (2007). American Creation: Triumphs and Tragedies at the Founding of the Republic. New York: Knopf. pp. 55–56. ISBN 978-0-307-26369-8.
  18. ^ Tucker, Laura (November 25, 2014). "Philadelphia". QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. Archived from the original on October 16, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
  19. ^ a b Sisak, Michael A. (November 6, 2015). "Philadelphia Becomes First World Heritage City in US". ABC News Internet Ventures. Archived from the original on November 8, 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  20. ^ ""Fortune 500" (by city)". Fortune. 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.[permanent dead link]
  21. ^ "Q1 2023". PitchBook-NVCA Venture Monitor. April 12, 2023. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  22. ^ Lucas Downey and Somer Anderson (May 19, 2022). "Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX)". Dotdash Meredith. Archived from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  23. ^ "PhilaPort The Port of Philadelphia". Philadelphia Regional Port Authority. Archived from the original on August 14, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  24. ^ Ryan Mulligan (September 8, 2022). "New Yorkers keep moving to Philadelphia, and local Realtors say the influx has 'raised the bar'". bizjournals.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  25. ^ Matt Katz (July 20, 2018). "Leaving New York to Find the American Dream in Philadelphia". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  26. ^ "Gateway to Public Art in Philadelphia". fpaa.org. Fairmount Park Art Association. August 10, 2011. Archived from the original on August 10, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2017. according to the Smithsonian Institution, Philadelphia has more outdoor sculpture than any other city in the country [Save Outdoor Sculpture! program].
  27. ^ "Mural Arts Philadelphia – Press kit" (PDF). muralarts.org. Mural Arts Philadelphia. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 7, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017. Mural Arts Philadelphia is the nation's largest public art program...creating nearly 4,000 artworks that have transformed public spaces.
  28. ^ "2014 City Park Facts" (PDF). tpl.org. The Trust for Public Land. pp. 9, 25, 28. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 20, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  29. ^ "Visit Philadelphia 2017 Annual Report" (PDF). visitphilly.com. Visit Philadelphia. p. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 5, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  30. ^ "The most passionate fans in sports". Bleacher Report. July 16, 2009. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  31. ^ "JJ Redick says that Philadelphia is the best sports town in America despite Philly sports radio being delusional". The Liberty Line. September 24, 2020. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
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  33. ^ Farr, Stephanie (October 21, 2022). "What Philly--and Philly sports fans--taught me about fandom". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
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  38. ^ "The Nine Capitals of the United States". United States Senate. Archived from the original on March 20, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  39. ^ "The University of Pennsylvania: America's First University". upenn.edu. Archived from the original on July 11, 2006. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  40. ^ "About the Philadelphia Zoo". Philadelphia Zoo. Archived from the original on March 30, 2015. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  41. ^ "About Wharton". The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  42. ^ "Independence Hall". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on March 19, 2020. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  43. ^ "\Philadelphia's new branding as World Heritage City". Organization of World Heritage Cities. Archived from the original on March 6, 2018. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
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  45. ^ "Philadelphia ranks as the best city in the U.S. to visit", CBS News, October 28, 2023