History

Once Penn and the English began colonizing Philadelphia they used a checkerboard pattern as a guide for building and expansion. While Philadelphia is known for many firsts, like building the first public school and publishing the first American newspaper, it was also the first to use the checkerboard pattern. Eventually, most major cities would adopt the same grid pattern. 

By 1700 a few thousand people lived in Philadelphia. Most of the inhabitants were Quakers from England, but more Germans, Scots and other nationalities poured in as Philly's prestige as a trade town grew. It's strength as a trading and manufacturing center made it a key port prior to the Revolution. 

It took less than 100 years for Philadelphia to become a key city among the colonies, not just Pennsylvania. By 1774 The City of Brotherly Love was the military, political and economic center of the colonies. Carpenters' Hall held the First Continental Congress, where the colonies decided to boycott British goods rather than revolt.

In 1775 the Second Continental Congress met at Independence Hall (pictured here). Congress signed the Declaration of Independence at Independence Hall, as well. The city served as official capital of the colonies from the signing of the Declaration until 1800. Philadelphia also housed the development of the Constitution in 1787 at the State House. 

The city played a role in the Civil War, as well. It was one of the first large cities to become involved in the war on the Union side. Once it got involved, infantry and cavalry stayed in the city. At one point the military hospitals had over 10,000 beds and cared for over 150,00 people. It also produced and provided war supplies throughout the struggle. 

While there were no American wars for the city to worry about in the early 1900s, it did have to worry about the grid pattern the city was founded on. Improved transportation encouraged and increased economic prowess caused overpopulation, which led to overgrowth. To accommodate more people, the city began to grow outside its limits and outside the grid. The growth continued without planning and eventually caused congestion in the city. 

The city's economy, which helped bring people to the city in the 1900s, improved as the city grew older. Initially the city's economy thrived with an agricultural industry fueled by the vast forests rich farmland. Later, the city's location, which provided access to the Eastern Shore and other rivers for transportation, helped the economy grow. It also helped attract many immigrants to work in Philadelphia's growing number of manufacturing jobs. 

Manufacturing became Philadelphia's economic forte starting with the Civil War, when it began providing uniforms and ammunition for soldiers. Manufacturing continued to overtake the agricultural business the city was founded on and after World War I Philadelphia reorganized the city structure because of it. While manufacturing became a large part of the city's economy, so did service jobs which complemented the manufacturing industry. These service jobs displaced the manufacturing jobs in the city, as manufacturers moved just outside the city. Agriculture also declined. 

By the 1950s and '70s Philadelphia's economic growth slowed compared to other cities. It picked up again in the '80s and heading into the year 2000 Philadelphia's economy is marked by diversity, with a mix of commercial, technological, commercial and tourist activity.