Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Philadelphia
Table of Contents
References & Edit History Related Topics
Images & Videos
Philadelphia Philadelphia Philadelphia Liberty Bell 1844 Philadelphia riot Pennsylvania, University of Drexel University Statue of Liberty torch at the 1876 Philadelphia International Exhibition Rodin Museum
Watch a short discussion on Charles Willson Peale, founder of the Philadelphia Museum
For Students
Liberty Bell
Philadelphia summary
Read Next
The United States Supreme Court building, Washington, D.C.
14 Questions About Government in the United States Answered
Bar graph of the United States Death Toll during major events. Infogram chart.
U.S. Death Toll During Major Events
The Battle of New Orleans, by E. Percy Moran, c. 1910. Andrew Jackson, War of 1812.
26 Decade-Defining Events in U.S. History
Groups of depositors in front of the closed American Union Bank, New York City. April 26, 1932. Great Depression run on bank crowd
Causes of the Great Depression
Steve Buscemi in 'Boardwalk Empire"; from Season 1, 2010 (mobsters, gangsters, Atlantic City).
Behind the Scenes: 9 Infamous Mobsters of the Real Boardwalk Empire
Discover
Globe South America, map
What’s the Difference Between Hispanic and Latino?
Mount Everest (Mt. Everest, mountains, Himalayas).
Is Mount Everest Really the Tallest Mountain in the World?
Ahura Mazda - relief of the Zoroastrian god Ahura Mazda at the ancient ruins of Persepolis in Iran. Also known as Ormazd Zoroastrianism,
Which Religion Is the Oldest?
Black widow spider
9 of the World’s Deadliest Spiders
Eye. Eyelash. Eyeball. Vision.
7 Vestigial Features of the Human Body
Jackson (Wyoming, United States). Jackson Lake (also called Jackson Hole), southern end of the Teton Range (the Grand Tetons), Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA
7 Wonders of America
Small, white rat (genus Rattus) on a glass table. (rodent, laboratory, experiment)
Cruel and Unusual Punishments: 15 Types of Torture
Philadelphia
Philadelphia Philadelphia, with the Schuylkill River in the foreground.

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania, United States
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
Written by
Sylvester K. Stevens
Executive Director, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, 1956–72. Author of Pennsylvania: Birthplace of a Nation.
Sylvester K. Stevens,
John B.B. Trussell
Former Chief, Division of History, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg.
John B.B. Trussell•All
Fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated: • Article History

News •

Philadelphia ready to go the distance with RockyFest week dedicated to 'Rocky' movies • Dec. 3, 2024, 1:36 PM ET (AP)
Matías Tarnopolsky to become New York Philharmonic CEO, teaming with Gustavo Dudamel • Dec. 2, 2024, 6:00 PM ET (AP)
Philadelphia defense, Tucker's misses help the Eagles to a 24-19 win in their showdown with Ravens • Dec. 1, 2024, 9:43 PM ET (AP)
Trump won about 2.5M more votes this year than he did in 2020. This is where he did it • Nov. 26, 2024, 2:59 PM ET (AP)
Drought is causing saltwater to creep up the Delaware River. Here's what's being done about it • Nov. 26, 2024, 1:27 PM ET (AP)

Philadelphia, city and port, coextensive with Philadelphia county, southeastern Pennsylvania, U.S. It is situated at the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. Area 135 square miles (350 square km). Pop. (2010) 1,526,006; Philadelphia Metro Division, 4,008,994; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington Metro Area, 5,965,343; (2020) 1,603,797; Philadelphia Metro Division, 2,180,627; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington Metro Area, 6,245,051. Philadelphia has been described both as the elegant but rather jaded great lady and as the overage and sickly spinster of American cities. A more realistic look at Philadelphia, however, shows it to be a very modern and vigorous city, arising in gracious counterpoint to the deep serenity of ...(100 of 5901 words)

Access the full article
Trust your source with Britannica Premium
• 7-Day Free Trial
• No Ads
• Unlimited Access
Free Trial