Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

1,603,797
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 54,391. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 1,603,797.

Its recorded population peaked at 2,071,605 in 1950, and has since declined by roughly 23 percent.

On the ground today, 12 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Paxton Boys March on Philadelphia 1764, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Germantown Oct 4 1777, and 627 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20201,603,797
20101,526,006
20001,517,550
19901,585,577
19801,688,210
19701,948,609
19602,002,512
19502,071,605
19401,931,334
19301,950,961
19201,823,779
19101,549,008
19001,293,697
18901,046,964
1880847,170
1870674,022
1860565,529
1850408,762
1840258,037
1830188,797
1820137,097
1810111,210
180081,009
179054,391
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Philadelphia

Military engagements that took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Paxton Boys March on Philadelphia 1764
1764
Battle of Germantown
1777
Battle of Germantown Oct 4 1777
1777
Battle of Germantown (approach actions)
1777
Battle of Fort Mifflin (Pennsylvania)
1777
Battle of Fort Mifflin (1777)
1777
Battle of Germantown — Chew House
1777
Skirmish at Frankford (Philadelphia area)
1777
Fort Mercer (Battle of Red Bank)
1777
Battle of Fort Mifflin
1777
Battle of Barren Hill
1778
MOVE Bombing Philadelphia 1985
1985

Historic places in Philadelphia

National Register of Historic Places listings in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Stenton
Philadelphia
South, George W., Memorial Protestant Episcopal Church of the Advocate
Philadelphia
Carpenters' Hall
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Philadelphia
Woodlands, The
Philadelphia
Benjamin Franklin Hotel
Philadelphia
Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Company Building
Philadelphia
Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church National Historic Site
Philadelphia
Peirce, William S., School
Philadelphia
East Center City Commercial Historic District
Philadelphia
Fitzsimons, Thomas, Junior High School
Philadelphia
Academy of Music
Philadelphia
Athenaeum of Philadelphia
Philadelphia
Philadelphia Racquet Club
Philadelphia
Memorial Hall
Philadelphia
The Elverson Building
Philadelphia
First Unitarian Church (Additional Data)
Philadelphia
Girard Avenue Historic District
Philadelphia
Furness Library
Philadelphia
Chamounix
Philadelphia
Monastery, The
Philadelphia
Carl Mackley Houses
Philadelphia
Arch Street Friends Meeting House
Philadelphia
Ruan, John, House
Philadelphia
Browse all Pennsylvaniahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Pennsylvania

Explore census history and historic records for more Pennsylvania counties.

ClarionClearfieldClintonColumbiaCrawfordCumberlandDauphinDelawareElkErieFayetteForestFranklinFultonGreeneHuntingdonIndianaJeffersonJuniataLackawanna
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Everything a full report reveals about Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

This page charts the census history of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Philadelphia

When does Philadelphia first appear in the US census?
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 54,391.
What is the population of Philadelphia?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Philadelphia had a recorded population of 1,603,797.
When did Philadelphia's population peak?
Philadelphia's recorded population peaked at 2,071,605 in 1950.
Were any battles fought in Philadelphia?
12 documented military engagements took place in Philadelphia, including Paxton Boys March on Philadelphia 1764, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Germantown Oct 4 1777.
How many historic places are in Philadelphia?
627 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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