Philadelphia: History, Former Names & Timeline
William Penn's "City of Brotherly Love", where the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were written.
PhiladelphiaExplore Philadelphia in the interactive map
Former names of Philadelphia
| From | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1682 | Philadelphia |
Timeline of Philadelphia
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1682 | William Penn founds the city |
| 1776 | The Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence |
| 1787 | The Constitutional Convention drafts the US Constitution |
| 1790 | Becomes the temporary US capital |
Who ruled Philadelphia
Derived from the border maps; each row runs until the next recorded border change.
| Period | State |
|---|---|
| 500 BC–101 BC | Eastern North American hunter-gatherers |
| 100 BC–499 | Unclaimed / no data |
| 500–1491 | Eastern North American hunter-gatherers |
| 1492–1499 | Lənape Haki-nk (Lenni-Lenape) |
| 1500–1649 | Delaware |
| 1650–1782 | Virginia |
| 1783–1814 | United States of America |
| 1815–1879 | United States |
| 1880–1913 | United States of America |
| 1914–today | United States |
Landmarks in and around Philadelphia
Independence HallStanding · 1753
Famous people of Philadelphia
| Lived | Person | |
|---|---|---|
| 1706 – 1790 | Benjamin Franklin | Scientist and statesman |
| 1732 – 1799 | George Washington | First president of the United States |
| 1743 – 1826 | Thomas Jefferson | Third president of the United States |
Nearby cities
- New York · about 130 km
- Washington, D.C. · about 199 km
- Boston · about 436 km
Questions about Philadelphia
Which states have ruled Philadelphia?
On the historical border maps from 500 BC to today, Philadelphia lies within 6 different states: Eastern North American hunter-gatherers, Lənape Haki-nk (Lenni-Lenape), Delaware, Virginia, United States of America, United States.
What are the key dates in the history of Philadelphia?
1682: William Penn founds the city. 1776: The Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence. 1787: The Constitutional Convention drafts the US Constitution. 1790: Becomes the temporary US capital.
Which famous people are connected with Philadelphia?
Benjamin Franklin (scientist and statesman, 1706 – 1790); George Washington (first president of the united states, 1732 – 1799); Thomas Jefferson (third president of the united states, 1743 – 1826).