Philadelphia & Southeastern Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
City (coterminous with Philadelphia County)
Pennsylvania's largest city and the birthplace of American independence
Philadelphia is Pennsylvania's largest city and the sixth-most populous in the United States, filling all 135 square miles of Philadelphia County between the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. Center City packs offices, hospitals, universities and restaurants into a walkable grid, while rowhouse neighborhoods such as Fishtown, South Philadelphia and West Philadelphia each carry a distinct identity. Independence National Historical Park, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and a year-round events calendar keep the city a major visitor destination.
History & Local Character
William Penn founded Philadelphia in 1682 as the capital of his Quaker colony, and the city later served as the nation's first capital, hosting the 1776 Declaration of Independence and the 1787 Constitutional Convention. Nineteenth-century textile, shipbuilding and locomotive industries built the dense rowhouse fabric still visible today, and successive waves of immigration from Europe, the American South, Asia and Latin America shaped its neighborhoods.
Housing & Real Estate
Center City offers high-rise condominiums and prewar apartment buildings within walking distance of offices and restaurants, while surrounding rowhouse neighborhoods provide two- and three-story homes across a wide price range. Prices run highest around Rittenhouse Square, Society Hill and Chestnut Hill and lower in parts of North and West Philadelphia.
Restaurants & Shopping
The food scene spans cheesesteak counters and Italian Market stalls to Reading Terminal Market and a deep bench of acclaimed restaurants in Fishtown, East Passyunk and Rittenhouse. Because of Pennsylvania's liquor rules, BYOB restaurants are a local institution.
Schools & Education
The School District of Philadelphia runs the public school system, and the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel, Temple, Thomas Jefferson and La Salle anchor University City and North Philadelphia. Several nationally ranked private and parochial schools operate across the city.
Parks & Recreation
Fairmount Park and the Wissahickon Valley form one of the largest urban park systems in the country, with thousands of acres of trails, creek valleys and woodlands. Neighborhood squares — Rittenhouse, Washington, Fitler and Franklin — act as everyday gathering places.
Transportation & Accessibility
SEPTA runs the Market-Frankford and Broad Street subway lines, trolleys, buses and regional rail, and 30th Street Station connects the city to Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. Philadelphia International Airport sits about 15 minutes from Center City, and I-95, I-76 and the Schuylkill Expressway carry regional traffic.
Local Businesses
Independent restaurants, shops and professional practices cluster along East Passyunk Avenue, Frankford Avenue in Fishtown, Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill and Baltimore Avenue in West Philadelphia.
Real Estate
Keller Williams Philadelphia
1617 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Real Estate
Elfant Wissahickon Realtors
8039 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19118
Health & Medical
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
111 S 11th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Health & Medical
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Retail
Urban Outfitters
5000 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19112
Retail
Five Below
701 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Nearby Attractions
- Independence National Historical Park
- Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Reading Terminal Market
- Fairmount Park
- Rittenhouse Square
- Italian Market
Advantages & Considerations
Advantages
- Walkable Center City with transit, jobs and dining within reach
- Large concentration of universities, hospitals and established employers
- Rich historic and cultural institutions
- Distinct neighborhoods with strong local business districts
Considerations
- Wage tax applies to residents and commuters
- School District performance varies widely by neighborhood
- Traffic and parking can be difficult in Center City and University City
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Philadelphia a city and a county at the same time?
Yes. Philadelphia is the only consolidated city-county in Pennsylvania, so city and county government are the same body and the two boundaries are identical.
Which neighborhoods are most walkable in Philadelphia?
Center City neighborhoods such as Rittenhouse Square, Washington Square West and Old City are the most walkable, followed by Fishtown, Northern Liberties and University City.