The City of Philadelphia

Philadelphia is the birthplace of the United States. In 1776, representatives from the thirteen colonies met there to discuss the revolt against England. The delegates signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, which is still considered the country’s birthday. And eleven years later, the Constitutional Convention met in the same building, Independence Hall. Later in the 1790s, Philadelphia served as the nation’s capital.


Philadelphia was founded in 1681 by William Penn, the wealthy Englishman who gave his name to Pennsylvania. Penn had been persecuted in England for his Quaker religion, and he decreed that his new city would welcome people of many faiths. In this spirit he named the city Philadelphia, which in Greek means “city of brotherly love”. Located on the Delaware River, Philadelphia could be reached by oceangoing ships. It became a major trading center. In the 1700s, the city’s most remarkable resident was Benjamin Franklin, who gained fame as a publisher, writer, scientist, and statesman.


Modern Philadelphia is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States. It is the home of the University of Pennsylvania, and is known for fine museums, music organizations, and sports teams. Millions of visitors come each year to recall Philadelphia’s place in the country’s history.