Philadelphia / USA

Philadelphia is one of the oldest cities and the fifth most-populous city in the USA. It is the capital of the state Pennsylvania, where about 1.54 million people live (in 2008). While Philadelphia metropolitan area's population is more than 5.7 million people. The city is situated in the East of the USA, where the Schuylkill River flows into the Delaware River.

Philadelphia is known for its rich history and culture. In the historic part of the city the atmosphere of a small quiet town is still reigning. Exactly the same look Philadelphia and other colonial towns had in the times of the USA foundation.

The city was founded in 1682 by an English Quaker, William Penn, who was the adherent of the idea of brotherly love among people of the same religion. That's why the city is often called The City of Brotherly Love. In 1776 the Second Continental Congress of thirteen original states signed the United States Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. In 1781, during the Independence war (1775-1783), Philadelphia became the capital of the original thirteen American colonies, and in 1790-1800 it was the first capital of the USA and the largest American city.

One of the most famous citizens was a scientist, journalist, editor, diplomat, and one of the war leaders, Benjamin Franklin.

The Independence Hall is the main tourist attraction not only in Philadelphia but also in the USA. There in 1776 the United States Declaration of Independence was adopted, and the United States Constitution was signed in 1787. Near the Independence Hall the Liberty Bell, the symbol of the US independence, is situated. The bell announced the adoption of the US Declaration of Independence on the 4th of July in 1776. Also there is the Congress Hall, where the Bill of Rights was signed. Among other places of interest the most remarkable are: the Second Bank of the United States/galleries of Portraits, Joseph's Old Church, Christ Church, and House-museum of Betsy Ross, Edgar Poe ?s museum, the Italian market, Elforta avenue, and the first in the country department store Wanamaker's - a popular place of meetings in the centre of Philadelphia. All these sights are surrounded by greenery, forming some parks in the city centre. Fairmount Park is one of the largest city parks in the world. The oldest zoo in the country is located on its territory (it was founded in 1874).

More than any other city Philadelphia is significant in respect of history of the American architecture. The Main Street is included in ten best streets of the USA, thanks to houses of XIX century where shops, art galleries and numerous cafes are situated.

Philadelphia is the centre of art. It's the city of theatres and performance centres in Avenue of the Arts. Besides the Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Company of Philadelphia, jazz studios and drama and music centres are in Broad Street.

Philadelphia is one of the largest industrial and financial centres of the USA. Throughout its history it was considered as one of the most polyethnic cities of America: the Italian and Irish, East Europe and Asian communities lived with the numerous African Americans. Many of them are descendants of those who fled here in the days of the civil war between the North and the South. In the XX century Philadelphia became the first city of the USA where the African American was elected on the post of the mayor.

In Philadelphia the following branches of economy are developed: manufacturing industry, oil refining, foodstuff, biotechnology, financial services. Tourism takes a special place in the city economy. In 2008 Philadelphia became the 11 most visited city of the USA, having accepted more than 700 thousand tourists.

There is one of the largest colleges of the USA in Philadelphia. The city is on the second place by amount of students at the east coast (about 120 000 students study in Philadelphia). More than 80 colleges, universities and special schools are available in the city. Also three scientific research institutes are located in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia is a sister-city to the following cities: Florence (Italy), Tel Aviv (Israel), Torun (Poland), Tianjin (China), Incheon (South Korea), Douala (Cameroon), Kobe (Japan), Nizhny Novgorod (Russia), Aix-en-Provence (France), Abruzzo (Italy).

The webpage of the city is http://www.phila.gov/.