Philadelphia is steeped in history and culture. Philadelphia has been in the forefront of the nation's intellectual, economic, and humanitarian development for more than three hundred years. It was 5he second largest city in the British Empire and was the new capital of the US when Washington DC took over as the capital after the Revolutionary War. Philadelphia is a city of neighborhoods, trees, parks, and open spaces.Philadelphia offers a perfect balance of living in a big city and a small town adventure. The Greater Philadelphia area has been on numerous best city lists as a good place to balance work and family life.

Philadelphia is located at the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers on the eastern border of Pennsylvania. The Appalachian Mountains to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east influence the climate, eliminating extremes of hot and cold weather.

Area: 135.09 square miles (2000)

Elevation: Ranges from 5 feet to 431 feet above sea level

Latitude: 40.00 N

Longitude: 75.14 W

Average Temperatures: January, 32.0° F; August, 75.3° F; annual average, 53.6° F

Average Annual Precipitation: 45.7 inches of rain; 20.5 inches of snow

Population: 1,463,281 as on 2005

Attractions

• Independence National Historical Park
• including Franklin Court
• Betsy Ross House
• United States Mint and Penn's Landing
• Fairmount Park

Festivals

• New Year's Day parade
• Philadelphia's Pepsi String Band Show of Shows
• St. Patrick's Day Parade
• Valborgsmassoafton
• Book and Cook Festival
• Philadelphia Festival
• Philadelphia's Thanksgiving Day Parade