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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia , "brotherly love" (from philos "loving" and adelphos "brother") is the fifth most populous city in the United States and the largest in population and area in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The city is coterminous with Philadelphia County. The population of the city (at the 2000 census) is 1,517,550. It is the second largest city on the U.S. East Coast (after New York), and a major commercial and cultural center for the East Coast. The Philadelphia metropolitan area is the fourth largest in the U.S. by the current official definition, with 5.8 million people.
Philadelphia is one of the oldest and most historically significant cities in the United States. During part of the 18th century, the city was the second capital and most populous city of the United States. At that time, it eclipsed Boston and New York City in political and social importance, with Benjamin Franklin playing an extraordinary role in Philadelphia's rise.
The local economy
Philadelphia's economy is heavily based upon manufacturing, refining, food, and financial services. The city also has its own stock exchange.
The city is home to many major Fortune 500 companies, including cable television and internet provider Comcast, insurance companies CIGNA and Lincoln Financial Group, energy company Sunoco, food services company Aramark, Crown Holdings Incorporated, Rohm and Haas Company, the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, Boeing helicopters division, and automotive parts retailer Pep Boys.
The Federal government plays a large role in Philadelphia as well. The city served as the capital city of the United States, before the construction of Washington, D.C. Today, the East Coast operations of the United States Mint are based near the historic district, and the Federal Reserve Bank's Philadelphia division is based there as well.
Due in part to the historical presence of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and the large ridership at 30th Street Station, Amtrak also maintains a significant presence in the city. These jobs include customer service representatives and ticket processing and other behind-the-scenes personnel, in addition to the normal functions of the railroad.
Because of the presence of the federal government, the city has a large contingent of law firms. The city is also a national center of law due to the prestigious University of Pennsylvania Law School and the Temple University Beasley School of Law.
Source - Wikipedia: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
See also
External links
- Official website
- Philadelphia business Chamber of Commerce
- City District
- Philadelphia public library
