Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia County
City and County of Philadelphia
Old City Hall in Philadelphia in June 2011
Old City Hall in Philadelphia in June 2011
Official seal of Philadelphia County
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Philadelphia County
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Map of the United States highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania'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 km2)
 • Land134 sq mi (350 km2)
 • Water8.6 sq mi (22 km2)  6.0%
Population
 • Total1,603,797
 • Density11,969/sq mi (4,621/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts2nd, 3rd, 5th
Websitewww.phila.gov

Philadelphia County is the most populous county in Pennsylvania and the 24th-most populous county in the nation. As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 1,603,797. Its county seat is Philadelphia, the nation's sixth-largest city.

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, also known as the Delaware Valley), located along the lower Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, within the Northeast megalopolis.

Philadelphia County is the economic and cultural anchor of the Delaware Valley, the ninth-largest combined statistical area in the nation with an estimated population of 1,603,797 as of 2020.

History

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 km2), of which 134 square miles (350 km2) is land and 8.6 square miles (22 km2) (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.

Counties adjacent

Major roads and highways

2020 census

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/km2). There were 661,958 housing units, with an average density of 4,900.1 per square mile (1,891.9/km2). 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.

Philadelphia County Racial Composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 550,828 34.34%
Black or African American (NH) 613,835 38.27%
Native American (NH) 2,596 0.16%
Asian (NH) 132,408 8.25%
Pacific Islander (NH) 579 0.04%
Other/Mixed (NH) 65,274 4.1%
Hispanic or Latino 238,277 15%

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

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

United States presidential election results for Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
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. In 1972, it was the only county in the state to vote for George McGovern over Richard Nixon. Even Republican Senator Arlen Specter, a Philadelphia resident, did not receive 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
152 Nancy Guenst Democratic
170 Martina A. White Republican
172 Kevin J. Boyle Democratic
173 Michael Driscoll Democratic
174 Ed Neilson Democratic
175 Mary Isaacson Democratic
177 Joseph C. Hohenstein Democratic
179 Jason Dawkins Democratic
180 Angel Cruz Democratic
181 Malcolm Kenyatta Democratic
182 Brian Sims Democratic
184 William F. Keller Democratic
185 Maria P. Donatucci Democratic
186 Jordan A. Harris Democratic
188 James R. Roebuck Jr. Democratic
190 Vacant
191 Joanna E. McClinton Democratic
192 Morgan Cephas Democratic
194 Pam DeLissio Democratic
195 Donna Bullock Democratic
197 Danilo Burgos Democratic
198 Rosita Youngblood Democratic
200 Christopher M. Rabb Democratic
201 Stephen Kinsey Democratic
202 Jared Solomon Democratic
203 Isabella V. Fitzgerald Democratic

State Senate

District Senator Party
1 Nikil Saval Democratic
2 Christine M. Tartaglione Democratic
3 Sharif Street Democratic
4 Art Haywood Democratic
5 John P. Sabatina Jr. 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

An 1854 map of Philadelphia County

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

City

Boroughs and Townships

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.

Notable people

See also

40°01′N 75°08′W / 40.01°N 75.13°W / 40.01; -75.13


This page was last updated at 2023-09-21 02:18 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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