Philadelphia – The Cradle of Liberty

Philadelphia, located in the northeastern United States at the southeast corner of the state of Pennsylvania, across the Delaware River from the state of New Jersey and just north of the state of Delaware. Philadelphia is the sixth most populous city in the United States, with over 1.5 million people. Philadelphia is a center of manufacturing, oil refining, food processing, health care and biotechnology, education, financial services, and tourism. Philadelphia served as one of the capitals of the colonies during the American Revolution and as the capital of the United States from 1790 -1800. Philadelphia has a land area of 135 square miles. Philadelphia has a prominent place in U.S. history. The city hosted the First Continental Congress - before the American Revolution, and the Second Continental Congress, in which United States Declaration of Independence was signed during the war. Philadelphia hosted the Constitutional Convention after the war’s end. Philadelphia and its environs saw military action during the American Revolution as well. Philadelphia experienced a major influx of immigrants during the second half of the 1800’s. In the early 1900’s the city was ruled by a sometimes corrupt Republican political machine. The city’s population peaked in the 1950’s at over two million inhabitants, at which point it began a slow, decades-long decline. Urban renewal in the past several decades has slowed the city’s population decline.

The Philadelphia Economy: Stalwart

Philadelphia is a major economic and financial center. The city is home to seven companies listed on the Fortune 500 list of largest U.S companies. Today manufacturing, oil refining, food processing, health care and biotechnology, education, financial services, medical research, and tourism are all drivers of the Philadelphia economy.

Education in Philadelphia: Lagging National Averages

Educational attainment among the Philadelphia populace is below that of the U.S. as a whole. As of 2000, roughly 71% of its residents aged 25 and older had completed high school and roughly 18% had completed college. There are numerous colleges and universities in Philadelphia. Among well-known institutions of higher learning in Philadelphia are: Drexel University, LaSalle University, Thomas Jefferson University, and the University of Pennsylvania.

The Crime Scene in Philadelphia: Philly Police Making Strides

Philadelphia ranks well behind large city peers New York and Los Angeles in both violent crime and property crime rates. However, its homicide rate fell 22% and auto vehicle theft fell 23% in 2009.

The Philadelphia Population and Politics: Tilting Democratic

Philadelphia has a population of approximately 1.5 million people. Its population has experienced essentially flat growth over the past decade. Philadelphia has leaned Democratic in the past several U.S. presidential votes. Among roughly 1 million votes cast in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, Philadelphia voters chose Democratic candidate Barack Obama over Republican candidate John McCain by a ratio of 55%-44%.