PHILADELPHIA IS THE LARGEST CITY IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA AND THE 5TH LARGEST IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH A POPULATION
OF ABOUT 1,600,000. IT IS LOCATED ON THE DELAWARE RIVER, WHERE THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER FLOWS INTO IT, IN SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THE CITY LIES IN PART ON THE UPLAND PIEDMONT PLATEAU AND PARTLY ON THE LOW ATLANTIC COASTAL PLAIN. ABOUT 150 KM (95 MILES) NORTHEAST OF PHILADELPHIA IS NEW YORK CITY, AND 140 KM (88 MILES) DOWN THE DELAWARE RIVER LIES THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.
THE CITY HAS WITNESSED SOME OF THE KEY EVENTS OF AMERICAN HISTORY, AND ITS HISTORIC BUILDINGS ATTRACT THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS ANNUALLY. IT WAS AT THE HUB OF THE 19TH CENTURY INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AND IS NOW A MAJOR INDUSTRIAL CENTRE.
PHILADELPHIA’S GROWTH WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY ITS NEARNESS TO COAL, PETROLEUM, WATER POWER, AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURSES, AND BY ITS LOCATION ON THE NORTH AND SOUTH TRADE ROUTES OF THE DELAWARE RIVER AND ATLANTIC OCEAN. TODAY, IT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF AN INDUSTRIAL AREA THAT STRETCHES FROM BOSTON TO VIRGINIA AND WHICH€COUNTS FOR MUCH OF THE UNITED STATE’S TRADE OUTPUT. THE CITY’S INDUSTRIES INCLUDE CLOTHING, FOOD AND FOOD PRODUCTS, AND PRINTING AND PUBLISHING. SOME OF THE OLDER INDUSTRIES, SUCH AS TEXTILES, HAVE DECLINED, AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY NEWER INDUSTRIES, SUCH AS THE MANUFACTURE OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS. PHILADELPHIA IS ALSO A CENTRE OF THE RECORD INDUSTRY, AND A MAJOR BANKING CENTRE – UNTIL THE 1850S IT WAS THE FINANCIAL CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES, AND ITS STOCK EXCHANGE, FOUNDED IN 1970, IS THE OLDEST IN THE COUNTRY.
THE CITY IS ONE OF THE LARGEST FRESHWATER PORTS IN THE WORLD AND HANDLES MORE SHIPPING THAN ANY OTHER IN THE UNITED STATES EXCEPT NEW YORK CITY. ABOUT HALF OF THIS TRAFFIC IS ACCOUNTED FOR BY MOVEMENT BETWEEN PHILADELPHIA AND OTHER UNITED STATES PORTS. IMPORTS OF PETROLEUM, SUGAR, SULPHUR, NITRATES, IRON, AND MANGANESE ORE COME INTO PHILADELPHIA THROUGH A DEEP CHANNEL TO THE ATLANTIC. PETROLEUM PRODUCTS, COAL, GRAIN, FLOUR, TEXTILES, LUMBER, RAILWAY EQUIPMENT, AND OTHER MANUFACTURED GOODS ARE SHIPPED OUT. PHILADELPHIA HAS TWO AIRPORTS, ONE FOR INTERNATIONAL AND THE OTHER FOR DOMESTIC FLIGHTS, AND GOOD RAILWAY CONNECTIONS. A LARGE TRANSPORT SYSTEM OPERATES INSIDE THE CITY. THERE ARE BUSES, AN UNDERGROUND RAILWAY, AND TRAMS. SEVERAL BRIDGES CROSS THE DELAWARE RIVER, INCLUDING THE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BRIDGE AND THE WALT WHITMAN BRIDGE.