History of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

William Penn established Philadelphia in 1682 in the English Crown Province of Pennsylvania between the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. Prior to that time, the area was inhabited by the Lenape. Philadelphia became an important colonial city quickly and hosted the First and Second Continental Congresses during the American Revolution. The city was chosen as the temporary capital of the United States following the Revolution. The federal and state governments left Philadelphia at the beginning of the 19th century, but the city remained the cultural and financial hub of the nation. Philadelphia became one of the first industrial centers in the United States, and the city was home to multiple industries, textiles being the largest.

After the American Civil War, a Republican political machine controlled Philadelphia's government, and by the turn of the 20th century, Philadelphia was described as "corrupt and contented." Various reform efforts gradually altered city government, with the most significant change occurring in 1950, when a new city charter strengthened the position of mayor and weakened the Philadelphia City Council. Simultaneously, Philadelphia shifted its support from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party, creating a formidable Democratic organization. In the 1950s, predominantly white and middle-class families moved to the suburbs, causing the city's population to decline. Numerous Philadelphia homes were in poor condition and lacked adequate amenities, and the city was plagued by gang and mafia warfare. People began returning to the city as revitalization and gentrification of certain neighborhoods attracted them back. Promotions and incentives in the 1990s and early 21st century have improved the city's image and slowed the population decline by creating a condominium boom in Center City and the surrounding areas. Learn more about the geography of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.