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{{Short description|County in Pennsylvania, United States}}
{{Template:US County infobox|
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
county = Philadelphia County|
{{More citations needed|date=January 2009}}
state = Pennsylvania |
{{Infobox U.S. county
seal = |
map = Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Philadelphia County.png | | county = Philadelphia County
| type = ]
map size = 200|
| official_name = City and County of Philadelphia
founded = ]|
seat = ] | | flag = Flag of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.svg
| ex image = Independence Hall 4.jpg
area = 349.9 ] (135.1 ]) |
| ex image size = 280px
area water = 19.6 km² (7.6 mi²) |
| ex image cap = ] in ] in June 2011
area percentage = 5.29%|
| seal = File:Seal of Philadelphia County Pennsylvania.svg
census yr = 2000|
| state = Pennsylvania
pop = 1,517,550 |
| founded year = 1682
density = 4,337.3|
| founded date = March 10
web = |
| named for = City of ]
|}}
| seat wl = Philadelphia
'''Philadelphia County''' is a ] located in the ] of ]. As of ], the population is 1,517,550. Its ] is ]]. Since 1854 the borders of both the county and the city have been conterminous, and the two have shared a common government since 1952, yet by law the county is a separate legal entity from the city.
| largest city wl = Philadelphia
| area_total_sq_mi = 143
| area_land_sq_mi = 134
| area_water_sq_mi = 8.6
| area percentage = 6.0%
| census yr = 2020
| pop = 1,603,797
| density_sq_mi = 11969
| time zone = Eastern
| web = http://www.phila.gov/
| district = 2nd
| district2 = 3rd
| district3 = 5th
}}


'''Philadelphia County''' is the most populous of the ] of ] and the ]. As of the ], the county had a population of 1,603,797.<ref>{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Philadelphia_County,_Pennsylvania?g=0500000US42101|publisher=]|access-date=December 18, 2022}}</ref> It is coextensive with ], the nation's ]. The county is part of the ] region of the state.{{efn|Includes Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, Chester, Lehigh and Northampton Counties}}
Philadelphia County is one of the three original counties, along with ], and ] counties, created by ] in November ]. William Penn founded Philadelphia as a Holy Experiment in the New World: a place where religious tolerance and freedom to worship as one saw fit were ensured. These now hallmark principles of American culture were unique in the world at the time of Philadelphia's founding. Indeed, the very name Philadelphia means “brotherly love” and is taken from the ancient ] city of the same name mentioned in the Book of ] in the ]. That Philadelphia was one of the few cities listed in Revelation to have been found faithful to God at the return of Christ at The Last Judgment (Revelation 3:10) ,. It was William Penn's prayer for his Holy Experiment that it too would be found blameless at The Last Judgment.

Philadelphia County is one of the three original counties, along with ] and ] counties, founded by ] in November 1682. ], the county has been coextensive with the ], which is also its county seat. Philadelphia County is the core county in the Philadelphia-]-] ] (PA-]-]-], located along the lower ] and ] Rivers, within the ].

Philadelphia County is the Delaware Valley's economic and cultural anchor and the ] in the nation with an estimated population of 7,381,180 as of 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/Combined_statistical_area|access-date=September 23, 2020|website=The United States Census Bureau|language=EN-US |title=Combined statistical area }}</ref>{{Circular reference|date=May 2024}}


==History== ==History==
{{see also|History of Philadelphia}}
] tribes of ] were the first known occupants in the area that became Philadelphia County. The first European settlers were ] and ] who arrived in 1638. The ] seized the area in 1655, but lost control to ] in 1674. ] received his charter for Pennsylvania from ] in 1681, and in November 1682 he divided Pennsylvania into three counties. During the same year, Philadelphia was planned and was made the ] and the capital of the ].


Penn wanted Philadelphia, meaning "love brotherly", to be a place where religious tolerance and the freedom to worship were ensured.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050928035622/http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/jb/colonial/penn_3 |date=September 28, 2005 }}</ref> Philadelphia's name is shared with ] mentioned by the ]'s ]. It was William Penn's desire, as a ], that his "Holy Experiment"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pym.org/exhibit/p078.html|title=Quakers and the Political Process - Penn's Holy Experiment<!-- Bot generated title -->|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080524050103/http://www.pym.org/exhibit/p078.html|archive-date=May 24, 2008}}</ref> would be found blameless at ].
Tribes of ] were the original occupants in the area, which would become Philadelphia County. The first European settlers would be groups of ] and ] who arrived in ]. The ] then seized the area in ], but permanently lost control to ] in ]. Penn’s charter for Pennsylvania was received from ] in ], and was followed by Penn’s November ] division of Pennsylvania into three counties. In the same year Philadelphia was laid out, it was also made the ] and the capital of the ].


When established, Philadelphia County comprised mainly of the area from the ] west between the ] to the south and the border with Bucks County to the north, the western boundary was undefined. Two counties would be formed out of Philadelphia County, ] which was formed in ] (from parts of Chester, ], and Philadelphia counties), and ] established in ]. From these separations, as well as other border moves, come the present day boundaries of the county. When established, Philadelphia County consisted mainly of the area from the ] west between the ] to the south and the border with ] to the north; the western boundary was undefined. Two counties would be formed out of Philadelphia County, ] which was formed in 1752 (from parts of Chester, ], and Philadelphia counties), and ] established in 1784. From these separations, as well as other border changes, was created the present-day boundaries of the county.


City of Philadelphia, as laid out by Penn, comprised only that portion of the present day city situated between South and Vine Streets and Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. Other settlements were made outside of the boundaries of the city, and in the course of time they became separately incorporated and had separate governments. Philadelphia, as planned by Penn, comprised only that portion of the present-day city situated between South and Vine Streets and the ] and ]s. Other settlements were made beyond the boundaries of the city, and in the course of time they became incorporated separately and had separate governments.


Several of these settlements were situated immediately contiguous to the "city proper" of Philadelphia such as ] and ] in the south, the ], ], ] and ] to the north, and ] and ] to the west &mdash; which combined with the City of Philadelphia formed practically one town continuously built up, the whole group being known abroad simply as Philadelphia. Several of these settlements were situated immediately contiguous to the City of Philadelphia, such as ] and ] in the south, the ], ], ] and ] to the north, and ] and ] to the west &mdash; which combined with the City of Philadelphia formed practically one continuously urban area, the whole group being known abroad simply as Philadelphia.


Besides these, there were a number of other outlying ], villages and settlements throughout the county. Over time though, as the population expanded out from the City of Philadelphia, those closer to the City of Philadelphia became absorbed in the congeries of towns of which greater Philadelphia was composed. While those further away from the city often joined with other ], villages and settlements to form the newer counties of Berks and Montgomery. Besides these, there were a number of other outlying ], villages and settlements throughout the county. Over time, as the population expanded out from the City of Philadelphia, those closer to the City of Philadelphia became absorbed into Philadelphia.


During this period, the city government of Philadelphia and the county government of Philadelphia acted separately. By the mid-], it was clear that a more structured government bureaucracy was needed. A reform charter, on ], ], brought all the boroughs, townships and districts of the County of Philadelphia within the City of Philadelphia, thus abolishing the patchwork of cities, boroughs, and townships that made up Philadelphia County since its founding. During this period, the city government of Philadelphia and the county government of Philadelphia acted separately. By the mid-19th century, a more structured government bureaucracy was needed. A reform charter, on February 2, 1854, defined all the boroughs, townships and districts of the County of Philadelphia as being within the City of Philadelphia, thus abolishing the patchwork of cities, boroughs, and townships that had comprised Philadelphia County since its founding.


The city-county consolidation was a result of the inability of a colonial-type government by committees to adapt to the needs of a growing city for new public services, e.g., better streets, police, transportation, sanitation, and schools. The city-county consolidation was a result of the inability of a colonial-type government by committees to adapt to the needs of a growing city for new public services, for example, better streets, police, transportation, sanitation, and schools.


The newly integrated districts had marked characteristics between them, but over time, after the consolidation, these characteristics generally integrated into the City of Philadelphia know today. Today though the names of some of these districts are synonymous with neighborhoods in city, with the boundaries of which roughly matching their historic boundaries. The newly integrated districts had marked characteristics between them, but over time, after the consolidation, these characteristics were generally integrated into the City of Philadelphia. Presently, the names of some of these old districts survive as the names of neighborhoods in the city, with their boundaries roughly matching their historic boundaries.


In ], a new initiative called the Home Rule Charter fully merged city and county offices. This new charter provided the city with a common structure and outlined the "strong mayor" form of government that is still used today. In 1951, a new law known as the Home Rule Charter merged city and county offices completely. This new ] provided the city with a common structure and outlined the "strong mayor" form of government that is still used.


The county offices were merged with the city government in ], thus, for all practical purposes, eliminating the county as a governmental structure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Even though the county no longer has a government structure by law, in both the Unconsolidated Pennsylvania Statutes and The Philadelphia Code and Charter, the County of Philadelphia is still an entity within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and as such it is subject to the provisions and laws of the Commonwealth concerning counties, with the exception to restrictions stated in the Home Rule Charter of Philadelphia, Act of Consolidation, 1854, and subsequent legislation. The county also is the only First Class County, meaning it had a population of 1.5 million or above as of the last census, in the Commonwealth. The county offices were merged with the city government in 1952, effectively eliminating the county as a government. Even though the county no longer has a government structure by law, in both the Unconsolidated Pennsylvania Statutes and The Philadelphia Code and Charter, the County of Philadelphia is still an entity within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is thus subject to the provisions and laws of the Commonwealth concerning counties. Exceptions include restrictions stated in the Home Rule Charter of Philadelphia, Act of Consolidation, 1854, and subsequent legislation. The county also is the only First Class County, meaning it had a population of 1.5 million or more at the last census, in the Commonwealth.

Philadelphia has become racially and ethnically diverse over the years, and this process continues. Since 1990, (the year that immigration began increasing), thousands of immigrants from Latin America, Asia and Europe have arrived in the county. Presently, the city has some of the largest ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ]n, ], ], ], and ] populations in America. The county has the fourth largest concentration of African Americans in ], including large numbers of ]ns, ]ns, and ]ese. The Northeast section of the city, and more significantly the suburbs of Philadelphia, contain large numbers of ]s and ].

At the ], the city was 41.0% White, 43.4% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian or Alaskan Native, 6.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 2.8% two or more race, and 5.9% were some other race. 12.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.

==Geography==
According to the ], Philadelphia County has a total area of {{convert|143|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|134|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|8.6|sqmi}} (6.0%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_42.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 10, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> It is the second-smallest county in Pennsylvania by area. Bodies of water include the ], ], ], ], and ].

The lowest point in the county is 10 feet above sea level near ] in ], at the convergence of the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. The highest point is in ], at 432 feet above sea level, near Evergreen Place, just north and west of Evergreen Avenue. Philadelphia County is Pennsylvania's second smallest county by land area, after ].

===Adjacent counties===
*] (northeast)
*] (east)
*] (southeast)
*] (south)
*] (southwest)
*] (northwest)

===Major roads and highways===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*{{jct|state=PA|I|76|dab1=Philadelphia}}
*{{jct|state=PA|I|95}}
*{{jct|state=PA|I|676}}
*{{jct|state=PA|US|1}}
*{{jct|state=PA|US|13}}
*{{jct|state=PA|US|30}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|3}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|63}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|73}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|232}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|291}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|309}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|532}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|611}}
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==

{{US Census population
|1790= 54391
|1800= 81009
|1810= 111210
|1820= 137097
|1830= 188797
|1840= 258037
|1850= 408762
|1860= 565529
|1870= 674022
|1880= 847170
|1890= 1046964
|1900= 1293697
|1910= 1549008
|1920= 1823779
|1930= 1950961
|1940= 1931334
|1950= 2071605
|1960= 2002512
|1970= 1948609
|1980= 1688609
|1990= 1585577
|2000= 1517550
|2010= 1526006
|2020= 1603797
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 10, 2015}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=March 10, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/pa190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 24, 1995|access-date=March 10, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=March 10, 2015}}</ref> 2010–2019<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/philadelphiacountypennsylvania/PST045216|publisher=]|access-date=June 18, 2018}}</ref> ]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/philadelphiacountypennsylvania,US/PST045219 |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; United States |access-date=August 13, 2021 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414213302/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/philadelphiacountypennsylvania,US/PST045219 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
}}

At the ], there were 1,517,550 people, 590,071 households and 352,272 families residing in the county. The ] was {{convert|11,233.6|/mi2|/km2}}. There were 661,958 housing units, with an average density of {{convert|4,900.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. and the racial composition of the county was 45.0% ], 43.2% ], 5.5% ], 0.3% ], 0.1% ], 5.8% from ], and 2.2% from two or more races. ] or ] of any race were 8.5% of the population. The five largest ancestries include ] (13.6%), ] (9.2%), ] (8.1%), ] (4.3%), and ] (2.9%).

Of the 590,071 households, 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.1% were ] living together, 22.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.3% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.22.

25.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 25, 29.3% from 25 to 45, 20.3% from 45 to 65, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males. The ] was $30,746 and the median family income was $37,036. Males had a median income of $34,199 compared with $28,477 for females. The ] for the county was $16,509. About 18.4% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the ], including 31.3% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US42101&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=] |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US42101&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=] |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US42101&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=] |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|] alone (NH)
|644,395
|562,585
|style='background: #ffffe6; |550,828
|42.46%
|36.87%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |34.35%
|-
|] alone (NH)
|646,123
|644,287
|style='background: #ffffe6; |613,835
|42.58%
|42.22%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |38.27%
|-
|] or ] alone (NH)
|2,908
|3,498
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,596
|0.19%
|0.23%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.16%
|-
|] alone (NH)
|67,119
|95,521
|style='background: #ffffe6; |132,408
|4.42%
|6.26%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8.26%
|-
|] alone (NH)
|495
|457
|style='background: #ffffe6; |579
|0.03%
|0.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.04%
|-
|] alone (NH)
|2,856
|4,105
|style='background: #ffffe6; |11,419
|0.19%
|0.27%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.71%
|-
|] (NH)
|24,726
|27,942
|style='background: #ffffe6; |53,855
|1.63%
|1.83%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.36%
|-
|] (any race)
|128,928
|187,611
|style='background: #ffffe6; |238,277
|8.50%
|12.29%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |14.86%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''1,517,550'''
|'''1,526,006'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''1,603,797'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}


==Government== ==Government==
Currently Philadelphia County has no government structure, although this has not always been the case. Prior to the Act of Consolidation in 1854 a Board of Commissioners in accordance with the law of Pennsylvania at the time, governed the county. Philadelphia County has no government structure. Prior to the ] in 1854, a Board of Commissioners governed the county in accordance with the law of Pennsylvania at the time. The origins of the Board of Commissioners are found in the office of Tax Assessor of Philadelphia County, established by an Act of the ] on November 27, 1700. Tax Assessor was an office of six persons, elected annually to estimate the county's fiscal needs, to make an assessment and levy a tax to meet them, and to appoint its collectors and the County Treasurer.


On March 28, 1710, the Assembly approved an act that created an appointed Board of County Commissioners, which was changed to a notable elected board in 1725. The Commissioners were empowered to demand accountings of the Assessors and Collectors and to appoint new collectors if necessary. Subsequent acts passed by the Assembly in 1715, 1718 and 1722 increased the power and the scope of the Board, granting the Commissioners authority to share with the assessors in the assessment process and in the allocation of tax receipts among the various county projects, to participate in the appointment of the County Treasurer, and to issue warrants and levy fines against delinquent taxpayers and collectors. Other Acts passed during the eighteenth century gave the Commissioners regulatory powers and maintenance functions in regard to county lands, roads, bridges, wharves and landings, courts and the county prison.
The origins of the Board of Commissioners are found in the office of Tax Assessor in Philadelphia County, established by an Act of the ] on ] ].
Tax Assessor was a office of six persons, elected annually to estimate the County's fiscal needs, to make an assessment and levy a tax to meet them, and to appoint its collectors and the County Treasurer.


On ] ] the Assembly approved an act that created an appointed Board of County Commissioners, this would change to a popularly elected board in ]. The Commissioners were empowered to demand accountings of the Assessors and Collectors and to appoint new collectors if necessary. Subsequent acts passed by the Assembly in ], ], and ] expanded the power and the scope of the Board, granting the Commissioners authority to share with the assessors in the assessment process and in the allocation of tax receipts among the various county projects, to take part in the appointment of the County Treasurer, and to issue warrants and levy fines against delinquent taxpayers and collectors. Other Acts passed during the ] would give the Commissioners regulatory powers and maintenance functions in regard to county lands, roads, bridges, wharves and landings, courts, and the county prison. In 1780, the Assembly passed an Act that abolished the Board of County Assessors and left its functions with the Commissioners alone, who continued to appoint the assessors and collectors of each of the county's boroughs, townships and districts. Further legislation in 1799 and 1805 formally established the Commissioners' functions of furnishing lists of voters to election officers and aiding the ] in the selection of ], as both were based upon lists of taxpayers. During the first half of the nineteenth century, the Commissioners' duties were further increased to include the leasing of polling places, the provision of ballot boxes, and related duties.


===Consolidation in 1854===
In ], the Assembly would pass an Act that abolished the Board of County Assessors and left their functions in the hands of the Commissioners alone, who continued to appoint the assessors and collectors of each of the county's boroughs, townships, and districts. Further legislation in ] and ] formally established the Commissioners' functions of furnishing lists of voters to election officers and aiding the ] in the selection of ], as both were based upon lists of taxpayers. During the first half of the ], the Commissioners' duties were further increased to include the leasing of polling places, the provision of ballot boxes, and related duties.
{{main|Act of Consolidation, 1854}}
The consolidation of the City and County of Philadelphia in 1854 abolished the Board of County Commissioners, with most of its functions transferred to the popularly elected City Commissioners who, although retaining their original title and duties, were thenceforth considered County officers. Because the City Commissioners were considered County officers, they were still regulated by state laws concerning County Commissioners. The City Commissioners should not be confused with the ], as these are two separate entities.


Even though the governments of both the City and County were effectively consolidated by the Act of Consolidation, not all offices and agencies, such as the Board of Inspectors of the County Prison (Philadelphia Prison System), ], Recorder of Deeds, and Sheriff, that were controlled by the county prior to the consolidation were transferred to the city, though their oversight and regulation were now managed by the City Commissioners. Other offices and agencies, like that of Offices of City Tax Collector and County Tax Collector were reduced to that of clerk in the new office of Receiver of Taxes. Both Commissioners' (City and County) powers in regard to streets and City property were transferred to the city's Departments of Highways and City Property. From 1854 until 1867, the Commissioners also served as members of the Board of Revision of Taxes. In 1867, the City Assessors were made appointees of that Board.
The consolidation of the City and County of Philadelphia in 1854 abolished the Board of County Commissioners, with most of their functions transferred to the popularly elected City Commissioners who, although retaining their original title and duties, were thenceforth considered County officers. Because the City Commissioners were considered County officers, they were still regulated by State laws concerning County Commissioners. The City Commissioners should not be confused with the ], as these are two separate entity.


The powers left to the Commissioners were chiefly accounting ones concerning county institutions, regulatory duties regarding weights and measures (given them by an Act of 1895) and administrative functions in association with elections, which culminated in complete control of their conduct with the formation of the County Board of Elections under their direction in 1937.
Even though the governments of the both the City and County were effectively consolidated by the, Act of Consolidation, not all offices and agencies, such as the Board of Inspectors of the County Prison (Philadelphia Prison System), ], Recorder of Deeds, and Sheriff, that were under the control of the county prior to the consolidation were transferred to the city, though their oversight and regulation were now handled by the City Commissioners. Other offices and agencies, like that of Offices of City Tax Collector and County Tax Collector were reduced to that of clerk in the new office of Receiver of Taxes. Both Commissioners' (City and County) powers in regard to streets and City property were transferred to the City's Departments of Highways and City Property. From 1854 until ], the Commissioners also served as members of the Board of Revision of Taxes. In 1867 the City Assessors were made appointees of that Board.


===Philadelphia Home Rule Charter===
The powers left the Commissioners were chiefly accounting ones over County institutions, regulatory duties regarding weights and measures (given them by an Act of ]) and administrative functions in connection with elections, which culminated in complete control of their conduct with the formation of the County Board of Elections under their direction in ].
Although not mentioned in the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, the City Commissioners' Office became part of the City government by way of the 1951 City-County Amendment to the State Constitution. Additionally, the 1963 amendment to the First Class Cities Home Rule Act gave City Council the power to pass legislation with regard to operations of the City Commissioners' Office. The 1965 City-County Consolidation Ordinance of City Council further enabled these enactments.


===Politics===
Although not mentioned in the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, the City Commissioners' Office became part of the City government by way of the 1951 City-County Amendment to the State Constitution. In addition, the 1963 amendment to the First Class Cities Home Rule Act gave City Council the power to pass legislation with regard to operations of the City Commissioners' Office. The 1965 City-County Consolidation Ordinance of City Council further enabled these enactments.
{{See also|Philadelphia#Politics}}
{{PresHead|place=Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania|source=<ref name=elections>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|144,311|568,571|10,728|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|132,870|604,175|6,921|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|108,748|584,025|16,845|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|96,467|588,806|5,503|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|117,221|595,980|4,824|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|130,099|542,205|1,765|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|100,959|449,182|11,039|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|85,345|412,988|34,944|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|133,328|434,904|69,826|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|219,053|449,566|6,358|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|267,178|501,369|3,555|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|244,108|421,253|52,739|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|239,000|494,579|12,618|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1972|Democratic|344,096|431,736|8,138|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|254,153|525,768|70,196|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|239,733|670,645|3,094|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|291,000|622,544|1,733|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|383,414|507,289|1,618|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|396,874|557,352|4,321|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|425,962|432,699|26,636|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|346,380|496,367|2,883|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|354,878|532,149|4,459|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|329,881|539,757|23,310|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|331,092|260,276|15,651|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|420,320|276,573|3,703|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|347,457|54,213|45,352|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|307,826|90,151|21,235|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|194,163|90,800|5,638|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1912|Republican|91,944|66,308|93,438|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|185,263|75,310|7,568|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|227,709|48,784|5,161|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|173,657|58,179|3,053|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|176,462|63,323|5,102|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|116,685|84,470|1,947|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|111,358|92,786|1,300|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1884|Republican|101,288|71,288|2,057|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1880|Republican|97,220|76,330|294|Pennsylvania}}
|}


Philadelphia County is overwhelmingly ], having given the Democratic presidential candidate their largest percentage of any county in Pennsylvania in every election since ]. The county has voted for the Democrat in every ] since 1936. However, between 1860 and 1932, the county always voted Republican. In ], it was the only county in the state to vote for ] over ]. Since 2016, the margins of victory for the Democrats have been narrowing though it still remains the most Democratic leaning county in Pennsylvania. 2024 marked the first time since 1996 where the Democratic nominee fell under 80% of the vote whereas Trump nearly got 20% of the vote for the first time since 1992 for Republicans there.
== Districts, Townships and Boroughs of the County of Philadelphia Before 1854 ==

] ]]
Even ] ] ], a Philadelphia resident, did not receive more than one-third of the Philadelphia vote in the ], which he won easily. In his first ], he did win the county, which was the last time any Republican won the county in a statewide election; however, Specter switched to the Democratic Party in 2009 and was defeated in the 2010 Democratic Primary.

====State House of Representatives<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/county_list.cfm?CNTYLIST=Philadelphia|title=Find Your Legislator|last=Center|first=Legislative Data Processing|website=The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.|language=en|access-date=April 20, 2017}}</ref>====
{| class="sortable wikitable"
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! District
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|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
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|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
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|}

====State Senate<ref name=":0" />====
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! District
! Senator
! Party
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| ] || ] || ]
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
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|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
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|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
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|}

===United States House of Representatives===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
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! Party
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
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|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
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|}

===United States Senate===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Senator !! Party
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| ] || ]
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| ] || ]
|}

==Communities==
{{main|List of Philadelphia neighborhoods}}
]
The following districts, townships, and boroughs existed in Philadelphia County before the Act of Consolidation of 1854:

===City===
*] (])

===Neighborhoods===
{{Main|Neighborhoods of Philadelphia}}

===Former townships, boroughs, and districts===
*] *]
*] *]
*] *]
*] *]
*]
*]
*] *]
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*]
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*] *]
*]
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*] *]
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*] *]

== Climate ==
{|
|-
|{{climate chart
| Philadelphia County
| -3| 2| 107
| -2| 7| 119
| 1| 13| 86
| 9| 24| 120
| 13| 28| 80
| 19| 34| 192
| 21| 33| 130
| 21| 33| 143
| 17| 30| 92
| 10| 21| 126
| 5| 13| 91
| -1| 6| 157
|float=left
|clear=left
|source = <ref name = "nasa">{{Cite web|url= http://neo.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/dataset_index.php|title= NASA Earth Observations Data Set Index|access-date= January 30, 2016|publisher= NASA|archive-date= November 28, 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171128214629/https://neo.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/dataset_index.php|url-status= dead}}</ref>
}}
|}
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Philadelphia County has a ].
The average January temperature in Center City is 34.3&nbsp;°F.

==Education==
{{seealso|Philadelphia#Education}}

==Notable people==
{{Main|List of people from Philadelphia}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Philadelphia}}
*]

==References==
{{Notelist}}{{Reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
* * at ]
*
*
*
*


{{Geographic Location
|Centre = Philadelphia County
|North = ]
|Northeast = ]
|East = ]
|Southeast = ]
|South = ]
|Southwest = ]
|West = ]
|Northwest = ]
}}
{{PhilaCnty1854}}
{{Pennsylvania}} {{Pennsylvania}}
{{Delaware Valley}}
]
{{authority control}}
]

{{coord|40.01|-75.13|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-PA_source:UScensus1990}}

]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 01:52, 19 December 2024

County in Pennsylvania, United States

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Find sources: "Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
Consolidated city-county in Pennsylvania
Philadelphia County
Consolidated city-county
City and County of Philadelphia
Old City Hall in Philadelphia in June 2011Old City Hall in Philadelphia in June 2011
Flag of Philadelphia CountyFlagOfficial seal of Philadelphia CountySeal
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Philadelphia CountyLocation within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Map of the United States highlighting PennsylvaniaPennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°01′N 75°08′W / 40.01°N 75.13°W / 40.01; -75.13
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
FoundedMarch 10, 1682
Named forCity of Philadelphia
SeatPhiladelphia
Largest cityPhiladelphia
Area
 • Total143 sq mi (370 km)
 • Land134 sq mi (350 km)
 • Water8.6 sq mi (22 km)  6.0%
Population
 • Total1,603,797
 • Density11,969/sq mi (4,621/km)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts2nd, 3rd, 5th
Websitewww.phila.gov

Philadelphia County is the most populous of the 67 counties of Pennsylvania and the 24th-most populous county in the nation. As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 1,603,797. It is coextensive with Philadelphia, the nation's sixth-largest city. The county is part of the Southeast Pennsylvania region of the state.

Philadelphia County is one of the three original counties, along with Chester and Bucks counties, founded by William Penn in November 1682. Since 1854, the county has been coextensive with the City of Philadelphia, which is also its county seat. Philadelphia County is the core county in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington Combined Statistical Area (PA-NJ-DE-MD, located along the lower Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, within the Northeast megalopolis.

Philadelphia County is the Delaware Valley's economic and cultural anchor and the ninth-largest combined statistical area in the nation with an estimated population of 7,381,180 as of 2022.

History

See also: History of Philadelphia

Native American tribes of Lenape were the first known occupants in the area that became Philadelphia County. The first European settlers were Swedes and Finns who arrived in 1638. The Netherlands seized the area in 1655, but lost control to England in 1674. William Penn received his charter for Pennsylvania from Charles II of England in 1681, and in November 1682 he divided Pennsylvania into three counties. During the same year, Philadelphia was planned and was made the county seat and the capital of the Province of Pennsylvania.

Penn wanted Philadelphia, meaning "love brotherly", to be a place where religious tolerance and the freedom to worship were ensured. Philadelphia's name is shared with an ancient city in Asia Minor mentioned by the Bible's Book of Revelation. It was William Penn's desire, as a Quaker, that his "Holy Experiment" would be found blameless at the Last Judgment.

When established, Philadelphia County consisted mainly of the area from the Delaware River west between the Schuylkill River to the south and the border with Bucks County to the north; the western boundary was undefined. Two counties would be formed out of Philadelphia County, Berks County which was formed in 1752 (from parts of Chester, Lancaster, and Philadelphia counties), and Montgomery County established in 1784. From these separations, as well as other border changes, was created the present-day boundaries of the county.

Philadelphia, as planned by Penn, comprised only that portion of the present-day city situated between South and Vine Streets and the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. Other settlements were made beyond the boundaries of the city, and in the course of time they became incorporated separately and had separate governments.

Several of these settlements were situated immediately contiguous to the City of Philadelphia, such as Southwark and Moyamensing in the south, the Northern Liberties District, Kensington, Spring Garden and Penn District to the north, and West Philadelphia and Blockley to the west — which combined with the City of Philadelphia formed practically one continuously urban area, the whole group being known abroad simply as Philadelphia.

Besides these, there were a number of other outlying townships, villages and settlements throughout the county. Over time, as the population expanded out from the City of Philadelphia, those closer to the City of Philadelphia became absorbed into Philadelphia.

During this period, the city government of Philadelphia and the county government of Philadelphia acted separately. By the mid-19th century, a more structured government bureaucracy was needed. A reform charter, on February 2, 1854, defined all the boroughs, townships and districts of the County of Philadelphia as being within the City of Philadelphia, thus abolishing the patchwork of cities, boroughs, and townships that had comprised Philadelphia County since its founding.

The city-county consolidation was a result of the inability of a colonial-type government by committees to adapt to the needs of a growing city for new public services, for example, better streets, police, transportation, sanitation, and schools.

The newly integrated districts had marked characteristics between them, but over time, after the consolidation, these characteristics were generally integrated into the City of Philadelphia. Presently, the names of some of these old districts survive as the names of neighborhoods in the city, with their boundaries roughly matching their historic boundaries.

In 1951, a new law known as the Home Rule Charter merged city and county offices completely. This new charter provided the city with a common structure and outlined the "strong mayor" form of government that is still used.

The county offices were merged with the city government in 1952, effectively eliminating the county as a government. Even though the county no longer has a government structure by law, in both the Unconsolidated Pennsylvania Statutes and The Philadelphia Code and Charter, the County of Philadelphia is still an entity within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is thus subject to the provisions and laws of the Commonwealth concerning counties. Exceptions include restrictions stated in the Home Rule Charter of Philadelphia, Act of Consolidation, 1854, and subsequent legislation. The county also is the only First Class County, meaning it had a population of 1.5 million or more at the last census, in the Commonwealth.

Philadelphia has become racially and ethnically diverse over the years, and this process continues. Since 1990, (the year that immigration began increasing), thousands of immigrants from Latin America, Asia and Europe have arrived in the county. Presently, the city has some of the largest Irish, Italian, German, Polish, Puerto Rican, Korean, Vietnamese, Russian, Ukrainian, Jamaican, Chinese, Arab, Thai, and Cambodian populations in America. The county has the fourth largest concentration of African Americans in North America, including large numbers of Liberians, Nigerians, and Sudanese. The Northeast section of the city, and more significantly the suburbs of Philadelphia, contain large numbers of Indian Americans and Mexicans.

At the 2010 census, the city was 41.0% White, 43.4% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian or Alaskan Native, 6.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 2.8% two or more race, and 5.9% were some other race. 12.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Philadelphia County has a total area of 143 square miles (370 km), of which 134 square miles (350 km) is land and 8.6 square miles (22 km) (6.0%) is water. It is the second-smallest county in Pennsylvania by area. Bodies of water include the Delaware River, Schuylkill River, Cobbs Creek, Wissahickon Creek, and Pennypack Creek.

The lowest point in the county is 10 feet above sea level near Fort Mifflin in Southwest Philadelphia, at the convergence of the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. The highest point is in Chestnut Hill, at 432 feet above sea level, near Evergreen Place, just north and west of Evergreen Avenue. Philadelphia County is Pennsylvania's second smallest county by land area, after Montour County.

Adjacent counties

Major roads and highways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
179054,391—
180081,00948.9%
1810111,21037.3%
1820137,09723.3%
1830188,79737.7%
1840258,03736.7%
1850408,76258.4%
1860565,52938.4%
1870674,02219.2%
1880847,17025.7%
18901,046,96423.6%
19001,293,69723.6%
19101,549,00819.7%
19201,823,77917.7%
19301,950,9617.0%
19401,931,334−1.0%
19502,071,6057.3%
19602,002,512−3.3%
19701,948,609−2.7%
19801,688,609−13.3%
19901,585,577−6.1%
20001,517,550−4.3%
20101,526,0060.6%
20201,603,7975.1%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2019 2020 census

At the 2000 census, there were 1,517,550 people, 590,071 households and 352,272 families residing in the county. The population density was 11,233.6 per square mile (4,337.3/km). There were 661,958 housing units, with an average density of 4,900.1 per square mile (1,891.9/km). and the racial composition of the county was 45.0% White, 43.2% African American, 5.5% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.8% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.5% of the population. The five largest ancestries include Irish (13.6%), Italian (9.2%), German (8.1%), Polish (4.3%), and English (2.9%).

Of the 590,071 households, 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.1% were married couples living together, 22.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.3% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.22.

25.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 25, 29.3% from 25 to 45, 20.3% from 45 to 65, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males. The median household income was $30,746 and the median family income was $37,036. Males had a median income of $34,199 compared with $28,477 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,509. About 18.4% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.3% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census

Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000 Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 644,395 562,585 550,828 42.46% 36.87% 34.35%
Black or African American alone (NH) 646,123 644,287 613,835 42.58% 42.22% 38.27%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 2,908 3,498 2,596 0.19% 0.23% 0.16%
Asian alone (NH) 67,119 95,521 132,408 4.42% 6.26% 8.26%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 495 457 579 0.03% 0.03% 0.04%
Other race alone (NH) 2,856 4,105 11,419 0.19% 0.27% 0.71%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 24,726 27,942 53,855 1.63% 1.83% 3.36%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 128,928 187,611 238,277 8.50% 12.29% 14.86%
Total 1,517,550 1,526,006 1,603,797 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Government

Philadelphia County has no government structure. Prior to the Act of Consolidation in 1854, a Board of Commissioners governed the county in accordance with the law of Pennsylvania at the time. The origins of the Board of Commissioners are found in the office of Tax Assessor of Philadelphia County, established by an Act of the Pennsylvania General Assembly on November 27, 1700. Tax Assessor was an office of six persons, elected annually to estimate the county's fiscal needs, to make an assessment and levy a tax to meet them, and to appoint its collectors and the County Treasurer.

On March 28, 1710, the Assembly approved an act that created an appointed Board of County Commissioners, which was changed to a notable elected board in 1725. The Commissioners were empowered to demand accountings of the Assessors and Collectors and to appoint new collectors if necessary. Subsequent acts passed by the Assembly in 1715, 1718 and 1722 increased the power and the scope of the Board, granting the Commissioners authority to share with the assessors in the assessment process and in the allocation of tax receipts among the various county projects, to participate in the appointment of the County Treasurer, and to issue warrants and levy fines against delinquent taxpayers and collectors. Other Acts passed during the eighteenth century gave the Commissioners regulatory powers and maintenance functions in regard to county lands, roads, bridges, wharves and landings, courts and the county prison.

In 1780, the Assembly passed an Act that abolished the Board of County Assessors and left its functions with the Commissioners alone, who continued to appoint the assessors and collectors of each of the county's boroughs, townships and districts. Further legislation in 1799 and 1805 formally established the Commissioners' functions of furnishing lists of voters to election officers and aiding the Sheriff in the selection of jurors, as both were based upon lists of taxpayers. During the first half of the nineteenth century, the Commissioners' duties were further increased to include the leasing of polling places, the provision of ballot boxes, and related duties.

Consolidation in 1854

Main article: Act of Consolidation, 1854

The consolidation of the City and County of Philadelphia in 1854 abolished the Board of County Commissioners, with most of its functions transferred to the popularly elected City Commissioners who, although retaining their original title and duties, were thenceforth considered County officers. Because the City Commissioners were considered County officers, they were still regulated by state laws concerning County Commissioners. The City Commissioners should not be confused with the City Council, as these are two separate entities.

Even though the governments of both the City and County were effectively consolidated by the Act of Consolidation, not all offices and agencies, such as the Board of Inspectors of the County Prison (Philadelphia Prison System), Coroner, Recorder of Deeds, and Sheriff, that were controlled by the county prior to the consolidation were transferred to the city, though their oversight and regulation were now managed by the City Commissioners. Other offices and agencies, like that of Offices of City Tax Collector and County Tax Collector were reduced to that of clerk in the new office of Receiver of Taxes. Both Commissioners' (City and County) powers in regard to streets and City property were transferred to the city's Departments of Highways and City Property. From 1854 until 1867, the Commissioners also served as members of the Board of Revision of Taxes. In 1867, the City Assessors were made appointees of that Board.

The powers left to the Commissioners were chiefly accounting ones concerning county institutions, regulatory duties regarding weights and measures (given them by an Act of 1895) and administrative functions in association with elections, which culminated in complete control of their conduct with the formation of the County Board of Elections under their direction in 1937.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter

Although not mentioned in the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, the City Commissioners' Office became part of the City government by way of the 1951 City-County Amendment to the State Constitution. Additionally, the 1963 amendment to the First Class Cities Home Rule Act gave City Council the power to pass legislation with regard to operations of the City Commissioners' Office. The 1965 City-County Consolidation Ordinance of City Council further enabled these enactments.

Politics

See also: Philadelphia § Politics
United States presidential election results for Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 144,311 19.94% 568,571 78.57% 10,728 1.48%
2020 132,870 17.86% 604,175 81.21% 6,921 0.93%
2016 108,748 15.32% 584,025 82.30% 16,845 2.37%
2012 96,467 13.97% 588,806 85.24% 5,503 0.80%
2008 117,221 16.33% 595,980 83.00% 4,824 0.67%
2004 130,099 19.30% 542,205 80.44% 1,765 0.26%
2000 100,959 17.99% 449,182 80.04% 11,039 1.97%
1996 85,345 16.00% 412,988 77.44% 34,944 6.55%
1992 133,328 20.90% 434,904 68.16% 69,826 10.94%
1988 219,053 32.45% 449,566 66.60% 6,358 0.94%
1984 267,178 34.60% 501,369 64.94% 3,555 0.46%
1980 244,108 33.99% 421,253 58.66% 52,739 7.34%
1976 239,000 32.03% 494,579 66.28% 12,618 1.69%
1972 344,096 43.89% 431,736 55.07% 8,138 1.04%
1968 254,153 29.90% 525,768 61.85% 70,196 8.26%
1964 239,733 26.24% 670,645 73.42% 3,094 0.34%
1960 291,000 31.79% 622,544 68.02% 1,733 0.19%
1956 383,414 42.97% 507,289 56.85% 1,618 0.18%
1952 396,874 41.40% 557,352 58.15% 4,321 0.45%
1948 425,962 48.12% 432,699 48.88% 26,636 3.01%
1944 346,380 40.96% 496,367 58.70% 2,883 0.34%
1940 354,878 39.81% 532,149 59.69% 4,459 0.50%
1936 329,881 36.94% 539,757 60.45% 23,310 2.61%
1932 331,092 54.54% 260,276 42.88% 15,651 2.58%
1928 420,320 59.99% 276,573 39.48% 3,703 0.53%
1924 347,457 77.73% 54,213 12.13% 45,352 10.15%
1920 307,826 73.43% 90,151 21.50% 21,235 5.07%
1916 194,163 66.81% 90,800 31.25% 5,638 1.94%
1912 91,944 36.53% 66,308 26.35% 93,438 37.12%
1908 185,263 69.09% 75,310 28.09% 7,568 2.82%
1904 227,709 80.85% 48,784 17.32% 5,161 1.83%
1900 173,657 73.93% 58,179 24.77% 3,053 1.30%
1896 176,462 72.06% 63,323 25.86% 5,102 2.08%
1892 116,685 57.45% 84,470 41.59% 1,947 0.96%
1888 111,358 54.20% 92,786 45.16% 1,300 0.63%
1884 101,288 58.00% 71,288 40.82% 2,057 1.18%
1880 97,220 55.92% 76,330 43.91% 294 0.17%

Philadelphia County is overwhelmingly Democratic, having given the Democratic presidential candidate their largest percentage of any county in Pennsylvania in every election since 1968. The county has voted for the Democrat in every presidential election since 1936. However, between 1860 and 1932, the county always voted Republican. In 1972, it was the only county in the state to vote for George McGovern over Richard Nixon. Since 2016, the margins of victory for the Democrats have been narrowing though it still remains the most Democratic leaning county in Pennsylvania. 2024 marked the first time since 1996 where the Democratic nominee fell under 80% of the vote whereas Trump nearly got 20% of the vote for the first time since 1992 for Republicans there.

Even Republican Senator Arlen Specter, a Philadelphia resident, did not receive more than one-third of the Philadelphia vote in the 2004 U.S. Senate election, which he won easily. In his first senate election, in 1980, he did win the county, which was the last time any Republican won the county in a statewide election; however, Specter switched to the Democratic Party in 2009 and was defeated in the 2010 Democratic Primary.

State House of Representatives

District Representative Party
10 Amen Brown Democratic
170 Martina A. White Republican
172 Kevin J. Boyle Democratic
173 Pat Gallagher Democratic
174 Ed Neilson Democratic
175 Mary Isaacson Democratic
177 Joseph C. Hohenstein Democratic
179 Jason Dawkins Democratic
180 Jose Giral Democratic
181 Malcolm Kenyatta Democratic
182 Ben Waxman Democratic
184 Elizabeth Fiedler Democratic
185 Maria P. Donatucci Democratic
186 Jordan A. Harris Democratic
188 Rick Krajewski Democratic
190 G. Roni Green Democratic
191 Joanna E. McClinton Democratic
192 Morgan Cephas Democratic
194 Tarik Khan Democratic
195 Donna Bullock Democratic
197 Danilo Burgos Democratic
198 Darisha K. Parker Democratic
200 Christopher M. Rabb Democratic
201 Stephen Kinsey Democratic
202 Jared Solomon Democratic
203 Anthony A. Bellmon Democratic

State Senate

District Senator Party
1 Nikil Saval Democratic
2 Christine M. Tartaglione Democratic
3 Sharif Street Democratic
4 Art Haywood Democratic
5 Jimmy Dillon Democratic
7 Vincent Hughes Democratic
8 Anthony H. Williams Democratic

United States House of Representatives

District Representative Party
2 Brendan Boyle Democratic
3 Dwight Evans Democratic
5 Mary Gay Scanlon Democratic

United States Senate

Senator Party
Bob Casey Democratic
John Fetterman Democratic

Communities

Main article: List of Philadelphia neighborhoods
An 1854 map of Philadelphia County

The following districts, townships, and boroughs existed in Philadelphia County before the Act of Consolidation of 1854:

City

Neighborhoods

Main article: Neighborhoods of Philadelphia

Former townships, boroughs, and districts

Climate

Philadelphia County
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D
    107     2 −3     119     7 −2     86     13 1     120     24 9     80     28 13     192     34 19     130     33 21     143     33 21     92     30 17     126     21 10     91     13 5     157     6 −1
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source:
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
    4.2     36 27     4.7     45 28     3.4     55 34     4.7     75 48     3.1     82 55     7.6     93 66     5.1     91 70     5.6     91 70     3.6     86 63     5     70 50     3.6     55 41     6.2     43 30
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Philadelphia County has a humid subtropical climate. The average January temperature in Center City is 34.3 °F.

Education

See also: Philadelphia § Education

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Philadelphia

See also

References

  1. Includes Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, Chester, Lehigh and Northampton Counties
  1. "Census - Geography Profile: Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  2. "Combined statistical area". The United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  3. William Penn Was Born Archived September 28, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Quakers and the Political Process - Penn's Holy Experiment". Archived from the original on May 24, 2008.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  8. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  10. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  11. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; United States". Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  12. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  13. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  14. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  16. ^ Center, Legislative Data Processing. "Find Your Legislator". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  17. "NASA Earth Observations Data Set Index". NASA. Archived from the original on November 28, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2016.

External links

Places adjacent to Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County Montgomery County Bucks County
Montgomery County Philadelphia County Burlington County, New Jersey
Delaware County Gloucester County, New Jersey Camden County, New Jersey
Communities of Philadelphia
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40°01′N 75°08′W / 40.01°N 75.13°W / 40.01; -75.13

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