Philadelphia
William Penn arrived in the Delaware Valley in 1682 to establish a colony where religious freedom could flourish. He purchased land from the Lenape people under an elm tree at Shackamaxon, now part of Fishtown. This treaty aimed to create peaceful relations between English settlers and Native Americans. The city was named Philadelphia, meaning brotherly love in Greek, reflecting Penn's Quaker ideals. Thomas Holme designed a grid plan with wide streets and public squares to prevent fire and allow for gardens. Early structures were built from logs before brick became common by 1700. Benjamin Franklin helped improve city services and founded new institutions like a library and hospital. By the 1750s, Philadelphia had become America's most important trading center.
The First Continental Congress met at Carpenters' Hall in 1774 with delegates from twelve colonies. In 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence inside Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall. Thomas Jefferson wrote the document from his apartment on Market Street near the meeting hall. When British forces occupied the city in September 1777, they held it for nine months until June 1778. The Liberty Bell was hidden under floorboards at Zion German Reformed Church in Allentown during this occupation. Two major battles occurred within city limits: the Siege of Fort Mifflin and the Battle of Germantown. The Constitutional Convention ratified the U.S. Constitution on the 17th of September 1787. Philadelphia served as the nation's capital from 1790 to 1800 while Washington D.C. was being constructed.
Philadelphia became the first major industrial city in the United States through large-scale construction projects. Textile manufacturing dominated the economy throughout the 19th century alongside companies like Baldwin Locomotive Works. Immigrants from Ireland and Germany settled south of South Street after fleeing the Great Famine in the 1840s. Anti-Irish riots erupted in 1844 before the Act of Consolidation extended city limits in 1854. African American population grew from 31,699 to 219,559 between 1880 and 1930 due to the Great Migration. By 1950, the population peaked at over two million residents before declining with industry restructuring. A general strike shut down the entire city in 1910 during labor unrest. Race riots occurred in July 1919 when recent immigrants competed for jobs with Black residents. The city approached bankruptcy by the late 1980s following suburbanization and loss of middle-class union jobs.
Center City features long straight streets running east-west and north-south forming a grid pattern between rivers. Five public parks were created and renamed in 1824 including Penn Square and Franklin Square. The Philadelphia Historical Commission was established in 1955 to preserve cultural and architectural history. George Howe and William Lescaze designed the PSFS Building as America's first modern International Style skyscraper in 1932. One Liberty Place became the tallest building in 1987 after surpassing City Hall which had stood since 1901. The Comcast Technology Center reached completion in 2018 as the tallest building outside Manhattan and Chicago. Row houses introduced to the United States via Philadelphia remain common throughout neighborhoods from Old City to North Philadelphia. Zoning codes were overhauled between 2007 and 2012 under mayors John F. Street and Michael Nutter. The Philadelphia Housing Authority serves about 81,000 people with affordable housing on a budget of $371 million.
Independence National Historical Park contains the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall attracting over five million visitors annually. The Philadelphia Art Museum features steps made famous by the film Rocky released in 1976. More than 2,800 murals have been funded through the Mural Arts Program created in 1984. The Percent for Art ordinance established in 1959 has supported over 200 pieces of public art. American Bandstand premiered locally in 1952 before becoming nationally syndicated in 1957. Bob Horn hosted the original show while Dick Clark took over when it moved to ABC. Philly soul music developed during the late 1960s and influenced disco and urban contemporary rhythm and blues. Live Aid concert occurred at John F. Kennedy Stadium on the 13th of July 1985 drawing global attention. The Walnut Street Theatre opened in 1809 as the oldest continuously operating theater in English-speaking world. Over 20,000 youth have been educated through mural programs in underserved neighborhoods throughout the city.
The Philadelphia metropolitan area produced a gross metropolitan product of US$479 billion in recent estimates. Five Fortune 500 companies maintain headquarters within the city including Comcast and Aramark. The Delaware Valley ranks among Big Five venture capital hubs due to proximity to New York City financial ecosystems. Biotechnology development earned the region nickname Cellicon Valley for its role in immunotherapy research. The Philadelphia Stock Exchange became part of Nasdaq in 2007 after being America's first stock exchange since 1790. Thirty-First Street Station serves over four million inter-city rail passengers annually making it third-busiest Amtrak hub. Health care represents one of largest economic sectors with University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia as top private employers. Financial activities account for largest sector while information technology continues attracting new life sciences ventures. The city hosts major transportation infrastructure including Philadelphia International Airport and PhilaPort seaport doubling shipping capacity since 2018.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When did William Penn arrive in the Delaware Valley to establish Philadelphia?
William Penn arrived in the Delaware Valley in 1682. He purchased land from the Lenape people under an elm tree at Shackamaxon, now part of Fishtown.
Where was the Declaration of Independence adopted and when did it happen?
The Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence inside Pennsylvania State House in 1776. Thomas Jefferson wrote the document from his apartment on Market Street near the meeting hall.
What year did Philadelphia serve as the nation's capital before Washington D.C. was constructed?
Philadelphia served as the nation's capital from 1790 to 1800 while Washington D.C. was being constructed. The Constitutional Convention ratified the U.S. Constitution on the 17th of September 1787 within the city limits.
How many residents were there when Philadelphia population peaked in 1950?
By 1950, the population peaked at over two million residents before declining with industry restructuring. African American population grew from 31,699 to 219,559 between 1880 and 1930 due to the Great Migration.
Which building became the tallest structure in Philadelphia after surpassing City Hall in 1987?
One Liberty Place became the tallest building in 1987 after surpassing City Hall which had stood since 1901. The Comcast Technology Center reached completion in 2018 as the tallest building outside Manhattan and Chicago.
When did the Live Aid concert occur at John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia?
Live Aid concert occurred at John F. Kennedy Stadium on the 13th of July 1985 drawing global attention. The event took place during a period where the Philadelphia metropolitan area produced a gross metropolitan product of US$479 billion in recent estimates.