Philadelphia County

Philadelphia County stretches along the Delaware River and includes dense urban districts, residential areas, industrial zones and wide park systems. The terrain is mostly flat with gentle hills in the northwest and broad riverbanks along two waterways that form the eastern and western boundaries.

William Penn founded the area in 1682 as part of his colony and laid the groundwork for organized settlement. The merger with the city in 1854 created a unified administrative structure that remains in place today.

Residents gather in public squares and markets where traditions from Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America meet in daily life. Local festivals and events bring these communities together and shape the social rhythm of the neighborhoods.

The region is well connected through highways, regional trains, subways and an international airport. Visitors find numerous public transport options and pedestrian zones in the center, while a car can be helpful in the outer districts.

The area was the first in Pennsylvania that Penn laid out according to a grid plan, which later became a model for many American cities. The consolidation of city and county created a system that has remained one of a kind in the state's administrative history.

Location: Pennsylvania

Inception: March 10, 1682

Capital city: Philadelphia

Shares border with: Montgomery County, Delaware County, Gloucester County, Bucks County, Camden County, Burlington County

Website: http://phila.gov

GPS coordinates: 40.01000,-75.13000

Latest update: December 12, 2025 23:01