A Brief History Of Philadelphia, Pa

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has a rich history as a pre-colonial Native American village

, focus point for early revolutionary strategy and early seat of federal government and industrial development. Today, Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania and the sixth largest city (by population) in the United States.

Swedish, Dutch and English colonists first arrived in the area in the 1600s. Sweden held the dominant position in much of the area until late in the century. In 1681 Charles II of England granted William Penn the charter for Pennsylvania in payment of a debt; Philadelphia was included in the charter in 1682.

William Penn was a Quaker, and he intended Pennsylvania to be a colony that allowed its members to worship without fear of persecution for their beliefs. The name Philadelphia stems from Ancient Greek and means brotherly love. Penn wanted Philadelphia to resemble a country town in England, so he mapped the city on a grid that left wide spaces between homes and lots of greenbelts. Residents of the city abandoned Penns plans, choosing to crowd around the Delaware river and soon the large lots were subdivided to allow closer spacing of homes and businesses. Ironically, by the 1800s this crowding led to a form of residential architecture known as Philadelphia rows or row houses, where homes rise two to three stories on a small lot.

The small town grew quickly in large part because of its sea port. By the end of the colonial period, Philadelphia was the second largest English city and the largest on the North American continent. Philadelphia served as the headquarters for much of the Revolutionary War and after the war was the first capital of the United States. Benjamin Franklin was one of Philadelphias foremost residents at this time, and he helped improve many aspects of the city including the development of the first hospital in the colonies.

In the 1800s state and federal government moved out of Philadelphia but the city continued to grow as an industrial, financial and cultural center. Textiles became a primary industry, but several major corporations in a variety of industries made their home in Philadelphia in the 19th and 20th centuries.

In the early 1900s central Philadelphia began to decline. Corruption and crime grew, and city efforts to stem the activity had little effect. By 1950 the population topped at two million, but a shift was underway. More and more growth was happening in the suburban areas and central Philadelphia became blighted. Over the next 40 years, almost 25 percent of the citys population left.

City leaders recognized the trend in the 1960s and began efforts centered on Philadelphia redevelopment. Tourism began replace manufacturing and historic areas were restored. Some of these restored areas have become desirable neighborhoods and are also well-known tourist attractions. The redevelopment efforts are a success story: they have slowed the population decline and more projects continue today.

Philadelphia was the home of many significant events in American history. It has a rich blend of cultural and architectural influences, and its proximity to transportation has made it important from an economic standpoint since our nations early years. The urban renewal and redevelopment efforts will help assure the city protects its valuable heritage and remains an important locale in the future.

by: Greg reaves

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