Philadelphia

Philadelphia ( FIL-ə-DEL-fee-ə), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the sixth-most populous city in the United States with a population of 1.6 million at the 2020 census, while the Philadelphia metropolitan area (sometimes called the Delaware Valley) with 6.33 million residents is the nation's ninth-largest metropolitan area. Philadelphia is known for its culture, cuisine, and history, maintaining contemporary influence in business and industry, culture, sports, and music. Philadelphia was founded in 1682 by William Penn, an English Quaker and advocate of religious freedom, and served as the capital of the colonial era Province of Pennsylvania. It then played a vital role during the American Revolution and Revolutionary War. It served as the central meeting place for the nation's Founding Fathers in hosting the First Continental Congress (1774) and the Second Continental Congress, during which the Founders formed the Continental Army, elected George Washington as its commander, and adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. During the Revolutionary War's Philadelphia campaign, the city fell to the British Army, which occupied Philadelphia for nine months from September 1777 to June 1778. Following the end of the Revolutionary War, the U.S. Constitution was ratified at the Philadelphia Convention. Philadelphia remained the nation's largest city until 1790, and it served as the nation's first capital from May 10, 1775, until December 12, 1776, and on four subsequent occasions until 1800, when construction of the new national capital in Washington, D.C. was completed. With 17 four-year universities and colleges in the city, Philadelphia is one of the nation's leading centers for higher education and academic research. The city hosts more outdoor sculptures and murals than any other city in the nation. Fairmount Park, when combined with adjacent Wissahickon Valley Park in the same watershed, has an area of 2,052 acres (830 ha), representing one of the nation's largest urban parks and the world's 55th largest. With five professional sports teams and one of the nation's most loyal and passionate fan bases, Philadelphia is often ranked as the nation's best city for professional sports fans. The city has a culturally and philanthropically active LGBTQ+ community. Philadelphia also has played an influential historic and ongoing role in the development and evolution of American music, especially R&B, soul, and rock. As of 2023, the Philadelphia metropolitan area had a gross metropolitan product of US$557.6 billion and is home to 13 Fortune 500 corporate headquarters. Metropolitan Philadelphia ranks as one of the nation's Big Five venture capital hubs, facilitated by its proximity to both the financial ecosystems of New York City and the regulatory environment of Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Philadelphia is also a biotechnology hub. The Philadelphia Stock Exchange, owned by Nasdaq since 2008, is the nation's oldest stock exchange and a global leader in options trading. 30th Street Station, the city's primary rail station, is the third-busiest Amtrak hub in the nation with over 4.1 million passengers in 2023. The city's multimodal transportation and logistics infrastructure includes Philadelphia International Airport, the PhilaPort seaport, and Interstate 95, a primary component of the north–south highway system along the U.S. East Coast. Philadelphia is a city of many firsts, including the nation's first library (1731), hospital (1751), medical school (1765), national capital (1774), university (by some accounts) (1779), central bank (1781), stock exchange (1790), zoo (1874), and business school (1881). Philadelphia contains 67 National Historic Landmarks, including Independence Hall. From the city's 17th century founding through the present, Philadelphia has been the birthplace of or home to many prominent and influential Americans.

Infobox

Country

United States

State

Pennsylvania

County

Philadelphia

Historic countries

Kingdom of EnglandKingdom of Great BritainNetherlandsSwedenLenape

Historic colony

Province of Pennsylvania

Founded

1682; 343 years ago (1682)

Incorporated

October 25, 1701

Founded by

William Penn

• Type

Mayor–council, consolidated city-county

• Body

Philadelphia City Council

• Mayor

Cherelle Parker (D)

• Consolidated city-county

1,603,797

• Land

134.36 sq mi (347.98 km2)

• Water

8.34 sq mi (21.61 km2)

Elevation

39 ft (12 m)

• Estimate (2024)

1,573,916

• Rank

13th in North America6th in the United States1st in Pennsylvania

• Density

11,936.9/sq mi (4,608.86/km2)

• Urban

5,696,125 (US: 7th)

• Urban density

3,001/sq mi (1,158.6/km2)

• Metro

6,245,051 (US: 9th)

Demonym

Philadelphian

• Philadelphia (MSA)

$518.5 billion (2022)

Time zone

UTC−5 (EST)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−4 (EDT)

ZIP Codes

19092–19093, 19099, 191xx

Area codes

215, 267, 445

FIPS code

42-60000

GNIS feature ID

1215531

Website

phila.gov

Tables

Month

mw- .mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd:last-child::after,.mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:first-child::before,.mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:last-child::after,.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd ol>li:first-child::before,.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- } }vteClimate data for Philadelphia (Philadelphia Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1872–present

Month

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Year

Record high °F (°C)

74(23)

79(26)

87(31)

95(35)

97(36)

102(39)

104(40)

106(41)

102(39)

96(36)

84(29)

73(23)

106(41)

Mean maximum °F (°C)

63.3(17.4)

63.5(17.5)

73.8(23.2)

84.3(29.1)

90.2(32.3)

94.8(34.9)

97.1(36.2)

94.8(34.9)

90.6(32.6)

82.6(28.1)

72.4(22.4)

64.2(17.9)

98.1(36.7)

Mean daily maximum °F (°C)

41.3(5.2)

44.3(6.8)

52.8(11.6)

64.7(18.2)

74.4(23.6)

83.2(28.4)

87.8(31.0)

85.8(29.9)

78.9(26.1)

67.2(19.6)

55.9(13.3)

46.0(7.8)

65.2(18.4)

Daily mean °F (°C)

33.7(0.9)

35.9(2.2)

43.6(6.4)

54.5(12.5)

64.3(17.9)

73.5(23.1)

78.7(25.9)

76.8(24.9)

69.9(21.1)

58.2(14.6)

47.4(8.6)

38.6(3.7)

56.3(13.5)

Mean daily minimum °F (°C)

26.0(−3.3)

27.5(−2.5)

34.3(1.3)

44.3(6.8)

54.2(12.3)

63.9(17.7)

69.6(20.9)

67.9(19.9)

60.9(16.1)

49.2(9.6)

38.8(3.8)

31.2(−0.4)

47.3(8.5)

Mean minimum °F (°C)

10.7(−11.8)

13.7(−10.2)

20.8(−6.2)

33.0(0.6)

43.1(6.2)

53.2(11.8)

62.2(16.8)

60.3(15.7)

49.5(9.7)

37.1(2.8)

26.4(−3.1)

19.0(−7.2)

8.6(−13.0)

Record low °F (°C)

−7(−22)

−11(−24)

5(−15)

14(−10)

28(−2)

44(7)

51(11)

44(7)

35(2)

25(−4)

8(−13)

−5(−21)

−11(−24)

Average precipitation inches (mm)

3.13(80)

2.75(70)

3.96(101)

3.47(88)

3.34(85)

4.04(103)

4.38(111)

4.29(109)

4.40(112)

3.47(88)

2.91(74)

3.97(101)

44.11(1,120)

Average snowfall inches (cm)

7.1(18)

8.4(21)

3.6(9.1)

0.3(0.76)

0.0(0.0)

0.2(0.51)

3.5(8.9)

23.1(59)

Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)

11.0

9.7

10.9

11.0

10.3

10.1

8.9

9.3

9.1

8.6

11.0

120.8

Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)

4.1

3.8

2.0

0.2

0.0

0.1

1.8

12.0

Average relative humidity (%)

66.2

63.6

61.7

60.4

65.4

67.8

69.6

70.4

71.6

70.8

68.4

67.7

67.0

Average dew point °F (°C)

19.8(−6.8)

21.0(−6.1)

28.6(−1.9)

37.0(2.8)

49.5(9.7)

59.2(15.1)

64.6(18.1)

63.7(17.6)

57.2(14.0)

45.7(7.6)

35.6(2.0)

25.5(−3.6)

42.3(5.7)

Mean monthly sunshine hours

155.7

154.7

202.8

217.0

245.1

271.2

275.6

260.1

219.3

204.5

154.7

137.7

2,498.4

Percentage possible sunshine

Average ultraviolet index

Source 1: NOAA (relative humidity, dew point and sun 1961–1990)

Source 2: Weather Atlas (UV index)

mw- hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output inline dl,.mw-parser-output inline ol,.mw-parser-output inline ul,.mw-parser-output dl dl,.mw-parser-output dl ol,.mw-parser-output dl ul,.mw-parser-output ol dl,.mw-parser-output ol ol,.mw- .mw- hlist dd:last-child ,.mw- hlist dd dd:first-child ,.mw-parser-output dd dt:first-child ,.mw-parser-output dd li:first-child ,.mw-parser-output dt dd:first-child ,.mw-parser-output dt dt:first-child ,.mw-parser-output dt li:first-child ,.mw-parser-output li dd:first-child ,.mw- hlist dd dd:last-child ,.mw-parser-output dd dt:last-child ,.mw-parser-output dd li:last-child ,.mw-parser-output dt dd:last-child ,.mw-parser-output dt dt:last-child ,.mw-parser-output dt li:last-child ,.mw-parser-output li dd:last-child ,.mw- .mw- hlist dd ol>li:first-child ,.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- } }vteClimate data for Philadelphia (Philadelphia Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1872–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	74(23)	79(26)	87(31)	95(35)	97(36)	102(39)	104(40)	106(41)	102(39)	96(36)	84(29)	73(23)	106(41)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	63.3(17.4)	63.5(17.5)	73.8(23.2)	84.3(29.1)	90.2(32.3)	94.8(34.9)	97.1(36.2)	94.8(34.9)	90.6(32.6)	82.6(28.1)	72.4(22.4)	64.2(17.9)	98.1(36.7)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	41.3(5.2)	44.3(6.8)	52.8(11.6)	64.7(18.2)	74.4(23.6)	83.2(28.4)	87.8(31.0)	85.8(29.9)	78.9(26.1)	67.2(19.6)	55.9(13.3)	46.0(7.8)	65.2(18.4)
Daily mean °F (°C)	33.7(0.9)	35.9(2.2)	43.6(6.4)	54.5(12.5)	64.3(17.9)	73.5(23.1)	78.7(25.9)	76.8(24.9)	69.9(21.1)	58.2(14.6)	47.4(8.6)	38.6(3.7)	56.3(13.5)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	26.0(−3.3)	27.5(−2.5)	34.3(1.3)	44.3(6.8)	54.2(12.3)	63.9(17.7)	69.6(20.9)	67.9(19.9)	60.9(16.1)	49.2(9.6)	38.8(3.8)	31.2(−0.4)	47.3(8.5)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	10.7(−11.8)	13.7(−10.2)	20.8(−6.2)	33.0(0.6)	43.1(6.2)	53.2(11.8)	62.2(16.8)	60.3(15.7)	49.5(9.7)	37.1(2.8)	26.4(−3.1)	19.0(−7.2)	8.6(−13.0)
Record low °F (°C)	−7(−22)	−11(−24)	5(−15)	14(−10)	28(−2)	44(7)	51(11)	44(7)	35(2)	25(−4)	8(−13)	−5(−21)	−11(−24)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	3.13(80)	2.75(70)	3.96(101)	3.47(88)	3.34(85)	4.04(103)	4.38(111)	4.29(109)	4.40(112)	3.47(88)	2.91(74)	3.97(101)	44.11(1,120)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	7.1(18)	8.4(21)	3.6(9.1)	0.3(0.76)	0.0(0.0)	0.0(0.0)	0.0(0.0)	0.0(0.0)	0.0(0.0)	0.0(0.0)	0.2(0.51)	3.5(8.9)	23.1(59)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	11.0	9.7	10.9	10.9	11.0	10.3	10.1	8.9	9.3	9.1	8.6	11.0	120.8
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	4.1	3.8	2.0	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	1.8	12.0
Average relative humidity (%)	66.2	63.6	61.7	60.4	65.4	67.8	69.6	70.4	71.6	70.8	68.4	67.7	67.0
Average dew point °F (°C)	19.8(−6.8)	21.0(−6.1)	28.6(−1.9)	37.0(2.8)	49.5(9.7)	59.2(15.1)	64.6(18.1)	63.7(17.6)	57.2(14.0)	45.7(7.6)	35.6(2.0)	25.5(−3.6)	42.3(5.7)
Mean monthly sunshine hours	155.7	154.7	202.8	217.0	245.1	271.2	275.6	260.1	219.3	204.5	154.7	137.7	2,498.4
Percentage possible sunshine	52	52	55	55	55	61	61	61	59	59	52	47	56
Average ultraviolet index	2	3	4	6	8	9	9	8	6	4	2	2	5
Source 1: NOAA (relative humidity, dew point and sun 1961–1990)
Source 2: Weather Atlas (UV index)

· Geography › Climate

Month

Climate data for Philadelphia

Month

Climate data for Philadelphia

Jan

Climate data for Philadelphia

Feb

Climate data for Philadelphia

Mar

Climate data for Philadelphia

Apr

Climate data for Philadelphia

May

Climate data for Philadelphia

Jun

Climate data for Philadelphia

Jul

Climate data for Philadelphia

Aug

Climate data for Philadelphia

Sep

Climate data for Philadelphia

Oct

Climate data for Philadelphia

Nov

Climate data for Philadelphia

Dec

Climate data for Philadelphia

Year

Average sea temperature °F (°C)

Climate data for Philadelphia

Average sea temperature °F (°C)

Climate data for Philadelphia

41.8(5.5)

Climate data for Philadelphia

39.9(4.4)

Climate data for Philadelphia

41.2(5.1)

Climate data for Philadelphia

46.7(8.2)

Climate data for Philadelphia

53.9(12.2)

Climate data for Philadelphia

66.3(19.0)

Climate data for Philadelphia

74.0(23.3)

Climate data for Philadelphia

75.9(24.4)

Climate data for Philadelphia

71.4(21.9)

Climate data for Philadelphia

64.2(17.9)

Climate data for Philadelphia

55.1(12.8)

Climate data for Philadelphia

47.7(8.8)

Climate data for Philadelphia

56.5(13.6)

Mean daily daylight hours

Climate data for Philadelphia

Mean daily daylight hours

Climate data for Philadelphia

10.0

Climate data for Philadelphia

11.0

Climate data for Philadelphia

12.0

Climate data for Philadelphia

13.0

Climate data for Philadelphia

14.0

Climate data for Philadelphia

15.0

Climate data for Philadelphia

15.0

Climate data for Philadelphia

14.0

Climate data for Philadelphia

12.0

Climate data for Philadelphia

11.0

Climate data for Philadelphia

10.0

Climate data for Philadelphia

9.0

Climate data for Philadelphia

12.2

Source: Weather Atlas

Climate data for Philadelphia

Source: Weather Atlas

Climate data for Philadelphia
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average sea temperature °F (°C)	41.8(5.5)	39.9(4.4)	41.2(5.1)	46.7(8.2)	53.9(12.2)	66.3(19.0)	74.0(23.3)	75.9(24.4)	71.4(21.9)	64.2(17.9)	55.1(12.8)	47.7(8.8)	56.5(13.6)
Mean daily daylight hours	10.0	11.0	12.0	13.0	14.0	15.0	15.0	14.0	12.0	11.0	10.0	9.0	12.2
Source: Weather Atlas

· Demographics

Black or African American (non-Hispanic)

Census racial composition

Black or African American (non-Hispanic)

2020

38.3%

2010

42.2%

2000

42.6%

1990

39.3%

1980

37.5%

1970

33.3%

White (non-Hispanic)

Census racial composition

White (non-Hispanic)

2020

34.3%

2010

36.9%

2000

42.5%

1990

52.1%

1980

57.1%

1970

63.8

Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

Census racial composition

Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

2020

14.9%

2010

12.3%

2000

8.5%

1990

5.6%

1980

3.8%

1970

2.4%

Asian

Census racial composition

Asian

2020

8.3%

2010

6.3%

2000

4.5%

1990

2.7%

1980

1.1%

1970

0.3%

Pacific Islanders

Census racial composition

Pacific Islanders

2020

0.1%

2010

<0.1%

2000

<0.1%

1990

<0.1%

Native Americans

Census racial composition

Native Americans

2020

0.4%

2010

0.5%

2000

0.3%

1990

0.2%

1980

0.1%

1970

0.1%

Two or more races

Census racial composition

Two or more races

2020

6.9%

2010

2.8%

2000

2.2%

1990

n/a

1980

n/a

1970

n/a

Census racial composition	2020	2010	2000	1990	1980	1970
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	38.3%	42.2%	42.6%	39.3%	37.5%	33.3%
White (non-Hispanic)	34.3%	36.9%	42.5%	52.1%	57.1%	63.8
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	14.9%	12.3%	8.5%	5.6%	3.8%	2.4%
Asian	8.3%	6.3%	4.5%	2.7%	1.1%	0.3%
Pacific Islanders	0.1%	<0.1%	<0.1%	<0.1%	1.1%	0.3%
Native Americans	0.4%	0.5%	0.3%	0.2%	0.1%	0.1%
Two or more races	6.9%	2.8%	2.2%	n/a	n/a	n/a

Top 10 countries of origin for foreign-born Philadelphians, 2017[127] · Demographics › Immigration and cultural diversity

China

Country

China

Population

22,140

Dominican Republic

Country

Dominican Republic

Population

13,792

Jamaica

Country

Jamaica

Population

13,500

India

Country

India

Population

11,382

Vietnam

Country

Vietnam

Population

10,132

Haiti

Country

Haiti

Population

9,186

Mexico

Country

Mexico

Population

7,823

Ukraine

Country

Ukraine

Population

6,898

Albania

Country

Albania

Population

5,258

Korea/ North Korea

Country

Korea/ North Korea

Population

4,385

Country	Population
China	22,140
Dominican Republic	13,792
Jamaica	13,500
India	11,382
Vietnam	10,132
Haiti	9,186
Mexico	7,823
Ukraine	6,898
Albania	5,258
Korea/ North Korea	4,385

· Economy

Corporation