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Real Estate & Homes in Philadelphia - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania homes and communities
Philadelphia
 
Philadelphia Background
Since its founding by William Penn in 1682, Philadelphia has held a prominent spot in America's history and culture. In this thriving urban hub known as “the Cradle of Liberty” and “the City of Brotherly Love,” Americans defended their freedom, achieved new innovations and charted the course for the American Dream.
The nation’s fifth largest city and the second largest city on the East Coast, Philly is rated among the country’s top livable metropolitan areas — thanks to its small-town feel, abundance of cultural attractions, and convenient location between the world’s financial center of New York and the U.S. government center of Washington, D.C.
In the mid-1700s, with the guidance of prominent citizen Benjamin Franklin, Philadelphia prospered as an axis for the arts — home to a famous cadre of scholars, scientists, mathematicians, painters and authors.
With the dawn of the American Revolutionary War, the city served as the heart of the independence movement. It hosted the first Constitutional Convention and was the first American capital until 1800. Beyond that distinction, Philadelphia boasts a number of other American firsts, including the first American flag, hospital, medical school, stock exchange, public bank, mint, theater, art museum, public school, public library, zoo, circus, department store and computer.
Today, Philly is an historic treasure that stays in step with fast-paced times. Its eclectic skyline — a patchwork of elegant 18th- and 19th-century buildings staggered with towering skyscrapers — reflects the harmony of old and new.
The city is served by Philadelphia International Airport and Northeast Philadelphia Airport. It also lies directly on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, and its 30th Street station serves as a major railroad center. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) runs buses, trains, subways, trolleys and trackless trolleys around the city and into the suburbs.
Thanks to William Penn’s astute planning, Philadelphia has an easy-to-follow grid system of streets. A Poor Richard’s Walking Tour, led by professional scholars and history teachers, is an excellent way to soak in Philly’s rich history — not to mention a stylish ride by horse-drawn coach.
 
Philadelphia Fast Facts
Location: Philadelphia is located in southeastern Pennsylvania. It is 100 miles south of New York City; 133 miles north of Washington, D.C.; and 55 miles west of the Atlantic Ocean.
*Total area: 135 square miles
*Population: 1,517,550
*Housing units: 661,958
*Median household income: $30,746
Average annual rainfall: 41 inches
Average temperature: 33°F in winter; 75°F in summer
*Information provided by 2000 Census
  
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Community
Experiencing Philadelphia’s vibrant variety is as easy as going from one neighborhood to the next. Each richly diverse community offers up its own unique experience. From its main street villages to college towns, river charms to cobblestone streets, Philadelphia lives up to William Penn’s vision of “brotherly love,” a place where anyone of any color can live together in peace and harmony.
Center City, the seat of city government, is where most suburban residents work. It’s also home to many of the city’s historic areas and most of its large businesses.
Center City’s Rittenhouse Square, one of founder William Penn’s four original squares, features trendy shops, spas, salons, restaurants and galleries.
Another popular neighborhood in Center City is Chinatown, a residential and commercial hub for the local Asian community, accented by the famous Chinese Friendship Gate.
Also in Center City, the charmingly restored, 18th century neighborhood of Society Hill — with its mix of colonial and federal-style brick row houses, lovely courtyards and well-worn cobblestone streets — is perhaps the most visited residential section of Philadelphia.
America’s first commercial district, Olde City, blends historic charm with urban chic. It offers an array of art galleries, furniture stores, boutiques and performance areas — as well as its famous “First Friday Philadelphia” event, a monthly neighborhood open house.
East Falls, once a small fishing village, is now a thriving urban hub. Known as the neighborhood where the legendary actress Grace Kelly grew up, it is currently the home of Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell.
In the northwestern part of the city, Chestnut Hill, the highest point within Philadelphia’s city limits, is an official Historic District. It features more than 100 architecturally significant buildings and an eclectic array of galleries, shops and restaurants.
In neighboring Germantown, the site of the first documented protest against slavery, historic houses, churches and parks mix seamlessly with locally owned businesses.
The Mt. Airy area of northwest Philadelphia is home to people of many racial and ethnic backgrounds, economic levels and age groups. It has gained distinction for its rich diversity and welcoming community.
Along the east bank of the Schuylkill River in Northwest Philly is Manayunk. This popular riverside neighborhood features a variety of chic shops, boutiques, galleries, restaurants and a lively tavern scene. In the summer, it’s also the setting for the Manayunk Arts Festival, the largest outdoor arts and crafts show in the Delaware Valley.
Northeast Philadelphia is primarily a residential area, with a mix of shopping centers, small businesses and major industrial corporations.
South Philly is home to the of the largest Italian-American communities in the United States — and the setting for many memorable shots in the movie "Rocky."
In West Philadelphia, you’ll find a diverse, heterogeneous community and many of the city's major colleges and universities, including Drexel University, the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, and the University of Pennsylvania.
 
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Attractions If Ben Franklin, the city’s first museum patron, were to return to Philadelphia today, he would smile broadly at what he started. Philly’s museums run the gamut from small to sprawling, historic to contemporary.
You’ll find Franklin’s legacy at every turn. Tour Franklin Court, a theater and seven museums devoted to his life and inventions. Visit the Fireman’s Museum, commemorating his founding of the first volunteer fire company.
Blast off in Space Command, skygaze in Fells Planetarium, ride the rails in the Train Factory, and walk through the world’s largest artificial heart at the 175-year old Franklin Institute Science Museum.
At Library Hall, first opened in 1789, you’ll find the Declaration of Independence in Jefferson’s own handwriting. You’ll also see rare manuscripts of groundbreaking scientific and historic importance.
Find out everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the City of Brotherly Love at the Atwater Kent Museum of Philadelphia, with 80,000 items detailing the city’s history.
Explore naval culture at the Independence Seaport Museum, a 10,000-square foot maritime attraction featuring historic ships and more than 20 interactive exhibits.
Uncover ancient treasures at the Museum of Archeology & Anthropology in the heart of the University of Pennsylvania campus. Dating back to 1899, the museum houses nearly 1 million artifacts from around the world.
See more than 100 interactive exhibits and displays at the National Constitution Center, the first museum dedicated to our country’s most important document.
Tour Independence National Historical Park, one of the most treasured areas in the United States with 20 buildings of historical significance. The park is home to such landmarks as Independence Hall, the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution; the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, honoring the memories of unknown Revolutionary War soldiers; and the Liberty Bell, an eternal symbol of freedom.
Enjoy historical reenactments and colonial celebrities brought to life by Historic Philadelphia Inc. After dark, you can see the Lights of Liberty, a spectacular sound and light show detailing the story of the American Revolution.
Tour historic homes like the Betsy Ross House, where the first American flag was made, or the Declaration House, where Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence.
Marvel at the beauty of City Hall, the seat of city government and the largest and grandest city hall in the United States. Located at the exact geographical center of Philadelphia, City Hall is topped by the famous 37-foot statue of William Penn, the largest single piece of sculpture on any building in the world. A domed area at the base of Penn’s feet offers panoramic views of the city and the surrounding Delaware Valley.
Confront the largest meat-eating dinosaur, hunt for buried fossils, see a butterfly emerge and explore wildlife on every continent at the Academy of Natural Sciences. Founded in 1812, the academy is the first museum of natural history in the country.
Tour the United States Mint for an up-close look at the American money-tree. The U.S. Mint turns out 1.5 million coins every hour.
For a hands-on experience, stop by the Please Touch Museum, where adults and children can explore together. Or take the kids to the Philadelphia Insectarium, where they can see everything from a working beehive and live termite colony to a glass-enclosed kitchen — crawling with thousands of cockroaches!
Count your blessings at the Dental Museum, a testament to how far we’ve advanced from the barbaric drills and forceps of the 19th century. Get an up-close look at medical oddities at the Mutter Museum, located at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. The collection includes everything from old medical kits and lobotomy instruments to tissue fragments from famous and infamous Americans.
If you’re a fan of shoes, you won’t want to miss the Shoe Museum, featuring a collection of more than 500 types of shoes from around the world — from Eskimo snowshoes to European jester boots.
Take a stroll down, Elfreth’s Alley, America's oldest residential street. Built in 1702, it is home to nearly 30 houses dating from the early 18th to 19th centuries. The structures today are occupied by families who have pledged to preserve the look of colonial times.
 
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Take a walk on the wild side at South Street. With more than 300 stores and restaurants, it’s Philadelphia's liveliest and funkiest strip.
For more wild times, check out the Philadelphia Zoo. America's oldest zoo first opened its gates in 1874. Today, it houses more than 1,600 animals from around the world.
Take the kids to the annual Philadelphia International Children’s Festival, held each May at the University of Pennsylvania. Experience the delights of colorful street performers, from musicians to jugglers and storytellers.
Experience the beauty of the landmark Benjamin Franklin Bridge, spanning the Delaware River to connect Philadelphia with Camden, N.J. The largest single-span suspension bridge in the world, at 1.8 miles, is brilliantly illuminated at night and offers inspiring views of the waterfront and life on the river.
 
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The Arts Philadelphia is an urban treasure trove for the visual and performing arts, offering an exciting array of distinctive art galleries and dance, musical, and theatrical performances.
The city’s best-known art attraction is the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the nation’s third largest art museum. Here you’ll find more than 200 galleries and treasures spanning continents and cultures, including an impressive collection of Renaissance, Impressionist and Asian art dating to the third millennium BC.
  
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Explore the treasures of the Rodin Museum, home of the greatest Auguste Rodin collection outside of Paris. The museum houses 124 sculptures, including "The Thinker" and "The Kiss."
See the dazzling Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, a National Historic Landmark. In the 19th century, the academy was the American equivalent of the best European art school. Today, it displays works from the most prominent names in American art.
Discover three centuries of paintings, sculpture and works on paper at the Museum of American Art. Or check out portraits of American leaders, explorers and scientists at the Second Bank of the United States, a building that’s been hailed as one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the United States.
The Barnes Foundation, just outside of Philly, houses the world’s largest collections of French Impressionist paintings beyond Paris. You’ll find 175 Reniors; 66 Cezannes; 65 Matisses; and works by Degas, Van Gogh and Picasso.
If you’re a fan of classic Americana, you won’t want to miss the Norman Rockwell Museum, a unique collection of Rockwell’s Saturday Evening Post covers.
Along with its many galleries, Philadelphia also has more public art than any other city in America. In the late 1950s, Philly passed a "percent for art" ordinance, mandating that a part of construction costs for city projects be set aside for fine arts. As a result, the city is a treasure trove of outdoor wall murals and colorful art displays, forming a kind of “museum without walls.”
 
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If you’re a connoisseur of the performing arts, Philadelphia is your oyster. Look no further than the Avenue of the Arts on South Broad Street, the city’s hub for arts and entertainment. There you’ll find such landmarks as the Academy of Music, opened in 1857. Catch the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra or the Philly Pops in concert. Or see the Pennsylvania Ballet, known for its versatility in performing classic to contemporary works.
Theater lovers can choose from some 20 professional theater companies producing a variety of events year round — in venues ranging from the Walnut Street Theater, the oldest theater in America, to Theater of Living Arts, an avant garde showcase.
Along with classical music, Philly serves up a sizzling variety of folk, blues, jazz, and rock — from the annual Philadelphia Folk Festival to the Greater Philadelphia Blues Fest.
All the arts come out to play at the annual 15-day Philadelphia Fringe Festival, a unique venue for performing artists to present new works in dance, theater, music, comedy, puppetry, poetry, and the visual arts.
 
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Recreation and Leisure
If you love green spaces, Philly is a perpetual paradise. Blooming with parks and gardens, the city embodies the state’s name of Pennsylvania — translation, "Penn’s Woods."
Enjoy the romance and natural splendor of the city’s many arboreta and display gardens. At the Morris Arboretum in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia, you’ll find 166 lush acres with winding paths, a Victorian-era garden, many of the city’s oldest and most exotic trees, and an unusual collection of Asian plants.
Walk, bike or ride a horse through Fairmount Park, the largest landscaped city park in the world. The 8,700-acre ground features massive trees, hiking trails, cliffs, and waterfalls, as well as playgrounds and sporting fields. The park is also home to a variety of special events, from running, bicycle and antique car races, to regattas and the world-renowned annual Greek Picnic.
Skateboard, sunbathe or dog-walk at Rittenhouse Square. Its natural sanctuary of lovely trees and green grass is surrounded by one of the city’s most upscale eating, shopping and residential districts.
Jog along Kelly Drive, the well-known stretch running along the east side of the Schuylkill River.
Catch a round of golf at one of the city’s many 18-hole public courses, from Walnut Lane to Cobb's Creek.
 
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Spin your wheels with the Bicycle Club of Philadelphia, with regional tours and ongoing bike events. In June, check out the Wachovia U.S. Pro Cycling Championship bike race in Manayunk. The 156-mile race, preceded by two weeks of celebration, attracts the world’s top cyclists.
Skate away your worries at Blue Cross RiverRink, Penn’s Landing’s open-air ice-skating rink.
If you’re a fan of the rigorous sport of rowing, you’ll love the Schuykill River. Its calm waters have made the river one of the most popular regatta sites in the world. Don’t miss the annual Dad Vail Regatta in May — the world’s largest intercollegiate regatta.
 
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If you’re a fan of pro sports, Philadelphia has it all: the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, Major League Baseball’s Philadelphia Phillies, the National Basketball Association’s Philadelphia 76ers, the National Hockey Leagues’ Philadelphia Flyers, the American Hockey League’s Philadelphia Phantoms, the Arena Football League’s Philadelphia Soul, the National Lacrosse League’s Philadelphia Wings, and Major Indoor Soccer Leagues’ Philadelphia Kixx. Major League Lacrosse teams Philadelphia Charge and Philadelphia Barrage play at Villanova University.
 
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Dining
From Italian to French, Asian to “Philadelphian” — those uniquely Philly creations like cheesesteaks, hoagies and scrapple — whatever you’re hungry for, Philly delivers. You’ll find a seemingly endless variety of cuisines in almost every price range. Conde Nast Traveler magazine calls Philadelphia “America’s Best Restaurant City.”
If Italian fare is your passion, you can choose from an endless variety of top-notch Italian restaurants, featuring Northern Italian, Southern Italian and Sicilian cuisines.
If you enjoy Asian food, you won’t want to miss the weekly Wok n’ Walk Culinary and Cultural Tour of Chinatown. Every Sunday morning, famed restaurateur Joseph Poon leads a tour in which he weaves a dim sum breakfast and cooking demonstrations at the restaurant that bears his name.
If you’re in the mood for cooking, visit South Philly’s Italian Market, the country’s largest daily outdoor market. Or stop by the historic Reading Terminal Market, featuring more than 80 concessions. Established in 1893, it’s the nation’s oldest continuously operating farmers’ market.
How many cities have their own special day to celebrate the food they’re most famous for? Philly does. Every summer, the Wawa convenience store chain invites hungry hoagie lovers to City Hall to celebrate the “official sandwich of Philadelphia.”
  
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Housing
While Philadelphia offers all the advantages of a large city, it also has a small-town feel, thanks to varied and diverse neighborhoods with a broad variety of affordable housing. From condos to townhouses, lofts to luxury homes, Philly offers something for every home buyer. Its homes are highly affordable by national standards, with the median-priced single-family home selling for about $166,000.
Hot-selling neighborhoods include Germantown, with newer and older rowhomes or historic 18th-, 19th- and 20th-century detached and semi-detached homes; Mt. Airy, offering a mix of small row homes, historic manor homes and designer contemporaries; East Falls, with small row houses to custom homes on a grand scale; and Chestnut Hill, considered by many the most charming residential neighborhood in Philadelphia.
 
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Employment
Greater Philadelphia’s thriving business community is home to some of the largest and most sophisticated companies in the world as well as many innovative entrepreneurs. Its diversified business base includes life sciences and health care, financial services, information technology and communications, professional services, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, and transportation. Aramark, GlaxoSmithKline, Sunoco, Comcast and Pep Boys are among the city’s leading companies.
Philadelphia has more than three times the national average of engineers, architects, scientists and computer professionals. It is home to the oldest stock exchange in the United States and also ranks second among U.S. cities in oil refining.
Philly’s educational and medical community is instrumental in generating jobs and other economic activity, and it is the largest private-sector segment of the city’s economy. The Delaware Valley area is home to 72 hospitals, 13 nursing schools, two dental schools, six medical schools — graduating 22 percent of all doctors in the country — and many research institutions. Hospital employees alone make up more than 10 percent of the total workforce. The region is also headquarters for many medical device manufacturers.
The federal government also plays a large role in Philadelphia. 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. The city also houses the general headquarters of the International Workers of the World.
 
Education
The School District of Philadelphia — the seventh largest in the nation by enrollment — serves a racially and ethnically diverse population of more than 200,000 students. Philadelphia is also a top destination for higher learning, with 300,000 students and 80 regional colleges and universities. The city’s significant population of young and emerging professionals draws from its strong college and university base.
Philadelphia’s top colleges and universities include:
Bryn Mawr College: A liberal arts college founded in 1885, Bryn Mawr has more than 1,200 undergraduates, including women from 49 states and 45 foreign countries.
Drexel University: A leader in integrating technology with academic programs, Drexel was founded in 1891. Its 11 colleges and schools offer 161 degree programs to about 16,000 students.
Haverford College: Haverford is a coeducational undergraduate liberal arts college founded in 1833 by the Quakers. Its 1,100 students come from around the world.
LaSalle University: Founded in 1863 by a Catholic order, LaSalle has been ranked among the country’s top schools by U.S. News & World Report, Barron’s, Money magazine and The New York Times. The university’s 5,500 students pursue undergraduate studies in 60 academic areas and 13 graduate programs, including the university’s first doctoral program in clinical psychology.
Moore College of Art & Design: Moore is the first and only women’s art and design college in the nation, and just one of two in the world. Founded in 1848, the school has nine fine arts and design programs leading to a bachelor of fine arts degree.
Philadelphia University: Philadelphia University’s 3,500 undergraduate and graduate students pursue degrees in architecture and design, business administration, science and health, and textiles and materials technology.
Saint Joseph’s University: Founded by Jesuits in 1851, Saint Joseph's University is home to 3,500 full-time undergraduates and 3,000 graduate, executive and nontraditional students. It is one of just 142 schools nationwide with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter.
Swarthmore College: Located in the Philadelphia suburbs, Swarthmore is a highly prestigious liberal arts college known for its academic rigor. It was founded by Quakers in 1864.
Temple University: One of Pennsylvania’s three public research universities, Temple has more than 34,000 students in 17 schools and colleges. Founded in 1884, it is the 36th largest university in the United States, and the third largest provider of professional education in the country.
Thomas Jefferson University: An academic health center, the university enrolls 2,600 future health care professions. It also tests and treats 325,000 patients every year.
University of Pennsylvania: This Ivy League institution counts Ben Franklin among its founders. Today, Penn is home to a diverse undergraduate student body of nearly 10,000. Another 10,000 students are enrolled in the university’s 12 graduate and professional schools, seven of which rank among the top 10 schools in their fields.
University of the Arts: The nation's first and only university dedicated to the visual, performing and communication arts, the university’s 2,000 students are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs on its campus in the heart of Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts.
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia: Founded in 1821 as Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, the nation’s first college of pharmacy, USP prepares students for pharmaceutical, science and health care industry careers.
Villanova University: Located just outside of Philadelphia, Villanova was founded in 1842 by Augustinian monks. It offers bachelors, masters and doctoral programs through its four colleges, as well as law degrees.
Widener University: Widener, in the suburbs of Philly, includes eight schools and colleges with more than 100 programs leading to associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.
Where is Philadelphia?
Written by Sue Carrington exclusively for HomesParadise.com.
(1) Photo by Rusty Kennedy, Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation.
(2) Photo by Bob Krist, Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation.
(3) Photo by T. Leonardi, Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation.
(4) Photo by George Widman, Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation.
(5) Photo by Liz Wuillermin, Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation.
(Uncredited photos are file photos.)
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