History of Philadelphia in Timeline

Philadelphia, or Philly, is the most populous city in Pennsylvania and the sixth-most populous in the United States, boasting a population of over 1.6 million as of 2020. It serves as the urban center of the Philadelphia metropolitan area, which is the ninth-largest in the nation in both metropolitan and combined statistical area measurements, with populations reaching 6.245 million and 7.366 million respectively.

1901: Athletics Baseball Team Played in Philadelphia

In 1901, the Oakland Athletics baseball team, originally known as the Philadelphia Athletics, started playing in Philadelphia.

1902: Renaming of Brush Electric Light Company

In 1902, the Brush Electric Light Company of Philadelphia was renamed Philadelphia Electric Company (PECO).

1905: Opening of Market-Frankford Line Subway Section

In 1905, the subway section of the Market–Frankford Line opened to the west of City Hall.

1908: Completion of Market-Frankford Line Subway

In 1908, the subway section of the Market–Frankford Line opened to the east of City Hall.

1909: Water Works Decommissioned

In 1909, the Fairmount Water Works was decommissioned as Philadelphia transitioned to modern sand filtration methods.

1910: General Strike in 1910

In 1910, a general strike shut down the entire city of Philadelphia.

1911: Electric Trolleys in Philadelphia

In 1911, Philadelphia had nearly 4,000 electric trolleys running on 86 lines.

August 1912: First Experimental Radio License

In August 1912, the first experimental radio license was issued in Philadelphia to St. Joseph's College.

1917: City Council Changes in 1917

In 1917, the City Council shrank from two houses to just one, following outrage over the election-year murder of a Philadelphia police officer.

August 7, 1918: Highest Recorded Temperature

On August 7, 1918, Philadelphia recorded its highest temperature ever at 106 °F (41 °C).

July 1919: Philadelphia Race Riot during Red Summer, July 1919

In July 1919, Philadelphia was one of more than 36 industrial cities nationally to experience a race riot during Red Summer in the post-World War I unrest.

1922: Lowest Rainfall in 1922

In 1922, Philadelphia recorded its lowest annual rainfall at 29.31 inches (744 mm).

1922: First Commercial AM Radio Stations

In 1922, the first commercial AM radio stations began broadcasting in Philadelphia: WIP (owned by Gimbels department store), WFIL (owned by Strawbridge & Clothier department store), WOO (owned by Wanamaker's department store), WCAU and WDAS.

1925: First Publication of Philadelphia Daily News

In 1925, the Philadelphia Daily News was first published.

1928: Opening of Broad Street Line

In 1928, the Broad Street Line opened in stages. The Broad Street Line runs north–south beneath Broad Street.

1930: African-American population growth in 1930

By 1930, the African-American population of Philadelphia increased to 219,559, largely stemming from the Great Migration from the South.

1932: Philadelphia Votes for Hoover

In 1932, Philadelphia voted for Republican Herbert Hoover, despite the Democratic surge after the Great Depression.

1932: PSFS Building Construction in 1932

In 1932, the PSFS Building, the first modern International Style skyscraper in the United States, was constructed in Philadelphia. It was designed by George Howe and William Lescaze.

February 9, 1934: Lowest Officially Recorded Temperature

On February 9, 1934, Philadelphia recorded its lowest temperature ever at −11 °F (−24 °C).

1936: Roosevelt Carries Philadelphia

In 1936, Franklin D. Roosevelt carried Philadelphia with over 60% of the vote.

1937: Establishment of the Philadelphia Housing Authority in 1937

In 1937, the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) was established. It is now the nation's fourth-largest housing authority.

1938: Independence Day Formalization in 1938

In 1938, the annual celebration of the Declaration of Independence was formalized as Independence Day, which is now one of the eleven designated U.S. federal holidays.

1938: Opening of Broad Street Line

The Broad Street Line opened in stages from 1928 to 1938.

1939: W3XE becomes NBC affiliate

In 1939, W3XE, an experimental station owned by Philco, became the nation's first NBC affiliate. The station later became KYW-TV.

1940: Non-Hispanic White Population in 1940

In 1940, non-Hispanic whites constituted 86.8% of the city's population.

1946: Warriors Basketball Team Played in Philadelphia

In 1946, the Golden State Warriors basketball team started playing in Philadelphia.

1947: Assignment of Area Code 215

In 1947, Southeastern Pennsylvania was assigned the 215 area code when the North American Numbering Plan of the Bell System went into effect.

April 1949: City Charter Commission Created

In April 1949, the Pennsylvania General Assembly created the City Charter Commission, setting the stage for Philadelphia's Home Rule Charter.

June 1949: City Ordinance Creates City Charter Commission

In June 1949, a city ordinance also created the City Charter Commission.

1950: Population Decline Begins in 1950

Beginning in 1950, Philadelphia experienced a population decline that lasted until 2000, during which it lost approximately 25 percent of its residents.

1950: Record High Population Recorded

In 1950, Philadelphia recorded a record high population of 2,071,605 residents.

1950: Population Peak in 1950

In 1950, Philadelphia's population peaked at more than two million residents, after which it began to decline due to industrial restructuring and suburbanization.

February 1951: Proposed Draft of Home Rule Charter Received

In February 1951, the existing city council received a proposed draft of the Home Rule Charter.

April 1951: Electors Approve Home Rule Charter

In April 1951, the electors approved the Home Rule Charter in an election.

November 1951: First Elections Under New Home Rule Charter Held

In November 1951, the first elections under the new Home Rule Charter were held.

January 1952: Newly Elected Officials Take Office

In January 1952, the newly elected officials took office under the new Home Rule Charter.

1952: Democratic Mayors Since 1952

For over seven decades, since 1952, every Philadelphia mayor has been a Democrat.

1952: Premiere of Bandstand

In 1952, WFIL, later renamed WPVI, premiered the television show Bandstand, which later became the nationally broadcast American Bandstand hosted by Dick Clark.

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1952: City Assumes County Functions

In 1952, all county functions were assumed by the city in Philadelphia.

1952: Bandstand Premieres

In 1952, the teen dance party program called Bandstand premiered on local television, hosted by Bob Horn.

1954: La Salle Wins NCAA Championship

In 1954, La Salle won the championship of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

1954: Athletics Baseball Team Moved

In 1954, the Oakland Athletics baseball team moved from Philadelphia.

1955: Creation of the Philadelphia Historical Commission in 1955

In 1955, the Philadelphia Historical Commission was created to preserve the city's cultural and architectural history. The commission maintains the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places.

1957: American Bandstand Syndicated Nationally

In 1957, Bandstand was renamed American Bandstand, when it began national syndication on ABC, hosted by Dick Clark.

1959: Percent for Art Ordinance Created

In 1959, lobbying by the Artists Equity Association helped create the Percent for Art ordinance, which was the first of its kind for a U.S. city.

1962: Warriors Basketball Team Moved

In 1962, the Golden State Warriors basketball team moved from Philadelphia.

1964: American Bandstand Moves to Los Angeles

In 1964, American Bandstand moved to Los Angeles after being produced in Philadelphia.

1964: Specter as Assistant Counsel on Warren Commission

In 1964, Arlen Specter was assistant counsel on the Warren Commission.

1966: Specter as City's District Attorney

From 1966, Arlen Specter served as the city's district attorney.

1966: Geno's Steaks Founded

In 1966, Geno's Steaks was founded, facing its rival Pat's King of Steaks across the intersection of 9th Street and Passyunk Avenue in the Italian Market of South Philadelphia.

1972: Fairmount and Wissahickon Valley Parks Listed on National Register of Historic Places in 1972

Since 1972, Fairmount Park and adjacent Wissahickon Valley Park have been listed as one entity on the National Register of Historic Places.

1972: Trace Snowfall in 1972-73 Winter

The 1972-73 winter season recorded only trace amounts of snowfall in Philadelphia.

1973: Philadelphia Wins NASL Title

In 1973, Philadelphia won a title in soccer in the now-defunct North American Soccer League.

1974: Specter as City's District Attorney

Until 1974, Arlen Specter served as the city's district attorney.

1975: City Tavern Rebuilt

In 1975, the City Tavern was rebuilt on the same site as part of Independence National Historical Park after being demolished in 1854 due to a fire. The original City Tavern had first opened in 1773.

June 1976: Dedication of Sister Cities Park

In June 1976, Sister Cities Park was dedicated to commemorate Philadelphia's first two sister city relationships, with Tel Aviv and Florence.

1976: Film Rocky

In 1976, the long flight of steps to the Art Museum’s main entrance became famous after the film Rocky.

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1980: Philadelphia Zoning Code in 1980

In 1980, the city's zoning code was established, which was later overhauled between 2007 and 2012.

1981: Specter Serves as Republican

From 1981, Arlen Specter served as a Republican Senator.

1983: 76ers Win NBA Finals

In 1983, the 76ers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.

1984: Erection of Chinatown Gate

In 1984, the Chinatown Gate, crafted by artisans from Tianjin, was erected on 10th Street.

1984: Mural Arts Program Created

In 1984, the Department of Recreation's Mural Arts Program was created to beautify neighborhoods and provide an outlet for graffiti artists.

July 13, 1985: Live Aid Concert at John F. Kennedy Stadium

On July 13, 1985, John F. Kennedy Stadium was the American venue for the Live Aid concert.

1985: Villanova Wins NCAA Championship

In 1985, Villanova won the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

1985: MOVE Bombing in 1985

In 1985, the MOVE Bombing occurred in the Cobbs Creek neighborhood, carried out by city helicopters, resulting in 11 deaths and the destruction of 61 homes.

1987: One Liberty Place Completion in 1987

In 1987, One Liberty Place was completed, surpassing City Hall as the tallest building in the city.

1987: City Ownership of Philadelphia Gas Works

In 1987, Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) came under city ownership.

1987: Decision Permitting One Liberty Place

In 1987, a decision permitted One Liberty Place to become the first building in city history to surpass the height of William Penn, a statue installed in 1894 atop City Hall.

1990: Foreign-born population doubled

According to The Pew Charitable Trusts, the city's foreign-born population doubled between 1990 and 2017.

1990: Homicide Record

In 1990, Philadelphia had a high number of homicides.

1990: Murders in Philadelphia

In 1990, Philadelphia recorded between 500 and 503 murders, resulting in a rate of 31.5 per 100,000 residents.

1991: Ronald D. Castille Leaves Office

In 1991, Ronald D. Castille left office as District Attorney.

January 19, 1994: Last Occurrence of Temperature at or Below 0 °F

January 19, 1994, was the last time Philadelphia experienced a temperature at or below 0 °F (−18 °C), which is a rare occurrence.

1994: Creation of Area Code 610

In 1994, the geographic area covered by area code 215 was split nearly in half when area code 610 was created.

January 1996: Heaviest Single-Storm Snowfall in January 1996

In January 1996, Philadelphia experienced its heaviest single-storm snowfall, with 30.7 inches (78 cm) recorded.

1997: Addition of Area Code 267

In 1997, overlay area code 267 was added to the 215 service area.

1999: Sam Katz Runs for Mayor

In 1999, Sam Katz ran as the Republican nominee in the mayoral race, losing to Democrat John Street.

1999: Addition of Area Code 484

In 1999, area code 484 was added to the 610 area.

2000: Foreign-born population increase

According to The Pew Charitable Trusts, between 2000 and 2016 the foreign-born population increased by 69% in philadelphia.

2000: Population Decline Ends in 2000

By 2000, the city experienced the end of its population decline and began attracting service businesses and tourism.

2000: Fewer Days of High Particle Pollution Since 2000

Since 2000, Philadelphia saw fewer days of high particle pollution, decreasing from about 19 days per year to about 3, along with an approximate 30% reduction in annual levels of particle pollution.

2001: Plan to Introduce Overlay Codes

In 2001, a plan to introduce a third overlay code to both service areas, area code 445 to 215 and area code 835 to 610, was delayed and later rescinded.

2001: Jewish Population

In 2001, the Philadelphia metropolitan area's Jewish population was estimated at 206,000, making it the sixth-largest in the U.S. at the time.

2001: Significant Reduction in High Ozone Days Since 2001

Since 2001, the city experienced a significant reduction in high ozone days, decreasing from nearly 50 days per year to fewer than 10.

2002: Murder Count Drops

In 2002, the number of murders in Philadelphia decreased to 288.

2003: Sam Katz Runs for Mayor

In 2003, Sam Katz ran as the Republican nominee in the mayoral race again, losing to Democrat John Street.

2004: Philadelphia Ranked as Tortured Sports City

In 2004, during the city's championship drought, ESPN placed Philadelphia second on its list of "The Fifteen Most Tortured Sports Cities".

July 2, 2005: Live 8 Concert on Benjamin Franklin Parkway

On July 2, 2005, the Live 8 concert attracted about 700,000 people to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia.

2005: Graduation Rate and Test Scores

In 2005, Philadelphia had a district graduation rate of 52%, with district-run schools scoring an average of 37.4% on math and 35.5% on reading.

2005: Reintroduction of Trolley Service

In 2005, SEPTA reintroduced trolley service to the Girard Avenue Line, Route 15.

2006: Murder Count Rise

By 2006, the murder count in Philadelphia had increased to 406.

2006: Highest Homicide Rate Among Most Populous Cities

In 2006, Philadelphia's homicide rate of 27.7 per 100,000 people was the highest among the country's 10 most populous cities.

2006: Population Low

In 2006, Philadelphia's population dropped to a low of 1,488,710 residents before beginning to rise again.

2006: Peak in Shooting Incidents and Major Crimes

In 2006, shooting incidents peaked at 1,857, and 85,498 major crimes were reported in Philadelphia.

2007: Zoning Overhaul Begins in 2007

In 2007, a joint effort began between former mayors John F. Street and Michael Nutter to overhaul much of the city's 1980 zoning code, a process that concluded in 2012.

2007: Comcast Center Becomes City's Tallest Building in 2007

In 2007, the Comcast Center surpassed One Liberty Place to become the city's tallest building.

2007: Philadelphia Stock Exchange Acquired by Nasdaq

In 2007, the Philadelphia Stock Exchange was acquired by Nasdaq.

2007: Murder Count Drops Slightly

In 2007, the number of murders in Philadelphia slightly decreased to 392.

2007: Population Growth Begins in 2007

Philadelphia began experiencing population growth in 2007, which has continued with incremental annual increases. This growth includes residents migrating from New York City seeking a lower cost of living.

2008: Obama Wins 83% of Vote

In 2008, Democrat Barack Obama drew 83% of the city's vote in Philadelphia.

2008: Nasdaq Ownership of Philadelphia Stock Exchange in 2008

In 2008, Nasdaq acquired the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, which is the nation's oldest stock exchange and a global leader in options trading.

2008: Ronald D. Castille Becomes Chief Justice

In 2008, Ronald D. Castille became the Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

2008: Phillies Win World Series

In 2008, the Phillies won the World Series, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays.

2009: Record Snowfall in 2009-10 Winter

During the winter of 2009-10, Philadelphia experienced a seasonal snowfall accumulation of 78.7 inches (200 cm).

2009: Specter Serves as Democrat

From 2009, Arlen Specter served as a Democrat Senator.

2009: Daily News Published as Edition of Inquirer

Since 2009, the Philadelphia Daily News has been published as an edition of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

July 24, 2010: Record High Minimum Temperature

On July 24, 2010, Philadelphia recorded a record high minimum temperature of 83 °F (28 °C).

2010: Philadelphia Congressional Districts

As a result of the declining population in the city and state, Philadelphia had three congressional districts based on the 2010 census apportionment.

2010: Languages Spoken at Home

As of 2010, 79.12% of Philadelphia residents age 5 and older spoke English at home as a primary language.

2010: Specter Loses Primary

In 2010, Arlen Specter lost the Democratic party's primary election.

2010: Enrollment in District-Run Schools

In 2010, K-12 enrollment in Philadelphia district-run schools was 156,211 students, while enrollment in charter schools was 33,995 students.

2010: Philadelphia Media Holdings Bankruptcy

In 2010, Philadelphia Media Holdings, then-owner of the Inquirer and Daily News, declared bankruptcy.

January 2011: Specter Leaves Office

In January 2011, Arlen Specter left office as Pennsylvania's Senator.

July 23, 2011: Record High Minimum Temperature

On July 23, 2011, Philadelphia recorded a record high minimum temperature of 83 °F (28 °C).

2011: Philadelphia Fans Named Worst

In 2011, GQ magazine named Eagles and Phillies fans the nation's worst professional sports fans, describing them as the "Meanest Fans in America".

2011: Highest Rainfall in 2011

In 2011, Philadelphia recorded its highest annual rainfall at 64.33 inches (1,634 mm).

2011: Peak Test Scores

In 2011, Philadelphia's schools reached their peak scores with 59.0% on math and 52.3% on reading.

2012: Obama Wins 85% of Vote

In 2012, Barack Obama won 85% of the vote in Philadelphia.

2012: Fourth-Highest Homicide Rate

In 2012, Philadelphia had the fourth-highest homicide rate among the country's most populous cities.

2012: Redesign and Reopening of Sister Cities Park

In 2012, Sister Cities Park was redesigned and reopened, featuring an interactive fountain, café, visitor center, children's play area, outdoor garden, boat pond, and a pavilion.

2012: Newspaper Sale to Interstate General Media

In 2012, The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News were sold to Interstate General Media after two years of financial struggle.

2012: AUDL Founded

In 2012, the American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL) was founded and the Philadelphia Spinners were one of the original eight teams.

2012: Zoning Overhaul Completed in 2012

The zoning changes, intended to rectify incorrect zoning maps, were completed in 2012 as part of a joint effort between former mayors John F. Street and Michael Nutter.

July 28, 2013: Record Rainfall on July 28, 2013

On July 28, 2013, Philadelphia International Airport recorded the most rain in one day, with 8.02 inches (204 mm) of rainfall.

2013: Marijuana Arrests Drop

From 2013 to 2018, marijuana arrests in Philadelphia dropped by more than 85%.

2013: Decrease in Murders

In 2013, Philadelphia saw 246 murders, a decrease of nearly 40% since 2006.

2013: Newspaper Circulation and Website Ranking

In 2013, The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News had a combined daily circulation of 306,831 and a Sunday circulation of 477,313, the 18th-largest in the country. Their website, Philly.com, was ranked 13th in popularity among online U.S. newspapers.

2013: Public School Closures

In 2013, the city of Philadelphia closed 24 of its public schools due to a consistent drop in enrollment.

2013: Data Analyzed in State of the Air report

The data from 2013 to 2015 was analyzed in the American Lung Association's 2017 State of the Air report.

2014: Philadelphia Park Space in 2014

As of 2014, Philadelphia's total park space, including municipal, state, and federal parks, amounts to 11,211 acres (17.5 sq mi).

2014: Philadelphia School District Statistics

As of 2014, the Philadelphia School District was the eighth-largest in the nation with 142,266 students in 218 traditional public schools and 86 charter schools.

2014: Decline in Shootings and Major Crimes

By 2014, shooting incidents in Philadelphia had declined nearly 44 percent to 1,047. Major crimes had also fallen 11 percent to 68,815, and violent crimes decreased 14 percent to 15,771.

2014: Per Pupil Spending

During the 2014 school year, the city of Philadelphia spent an average of $12,570 per pupil.

2014: Decriminalization of Marijuana Possession

In 2014, Philadelphia decriminalized the possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana or eight grams of hashish, treating it as a civil infraction punishable by a $25 ticket.

2014: Homicides and Homicide Rate

In 2014, Philadelphia had 248 homicides and a homicide rate of 16 per 100,000 residents, making it the sixth-highest city in the country.

2014: Graduation Rate and Test Scores

In 2014, Philadelphia's district graduation rate increased to 65%, and the scores on the state's standardized test dropped significantly to 45.2% on math and 42.0% on reading.

2014: Ronald D. Castille Leaves Chief Justice Position

In 2014, Ronald D. Castille left his position as the Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

2014: Violent Crimes Recorded

In 2014, each of the seven police districts recorded more than a thousand violent crimes.

2014: SAT Performance

In 2014, only four of Philadelphia's public high schools, including charter schools, performed above the national average on the SAT (1497 out of 2400): Masterman, Central, Girard Academic Music Program, and MaST Community Charter School.

2014: City Council Refuses Hearings on PGW Sale

In 2014, the Philadelphia City Council refused to conduct hearings on a $1.86 billion sale of Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW), leading to the prospective buyer terminating its offer.

2014: Christian Population

In a 2014 study by the Pew Research Center, 68% of the population of the city identified themselves as Christian.

2015: Center City Population in 2015

As of 2015, Center City had an estimated 183,240 residents, making it the second-most populated downtown area in the United States, after Midtown Manhattan in New York City.

2015: NIH Grants

In 2015, Hospitals, universities, and higher education research institutions in Philadelphia's four congressional districts received more than $252 million in National Institutes of Health grants.

2015: Enrollment in Charter Schools

In 2015, K-12 enrollment in Philadelphia district-run schools was 130,104 students, while enrollment in charter schools was 62,358 students.

2015: Homicide Rate Increase

In 2015, Philadelphia's homicide rate rose to 280.

2015: Chinese Americans in the City

In 2015, over 35,000 Chinese Americans lived in Philadelphia.

2015: Pew Charitable Trusts Report on Crime

In a 2015 report by Pew Charitable Trusts, the police districts with the highest rates of violent crime were identified.

2015: Data Analyzed in State of the Air report

The data from 2013 to 2015 was analyzed in the American Lung Association's 2017 State of the Air report.

December 2016: MLU Suspended Operations

In December 2016, the Major League Ultimate (MLU) was suspended indefinitely by its investors.

2016: Foreign-born population increase

According to The Pew Charitable Trusts, between 2000 and 2016 the foreign-born population increased by 69% in philadelphia.

2016: Hillary Clinton Wins 82% of Vote

In 2016, Democrat Hillary Clinton won 82% of the vote in Philadelphia.

2016: Jim Kenney Begins Term as Mayor

In 2016, Jim Kenney began his term as mayor of Philadelphia.

2016: Tourism in Philadelphia in 2016

In 2016, Philadelphia attracted 42 million domestic tourists, resulting in $6.8 billion in spending and contributing $11 billion in economic impact to the city and surrounding Pennsylvania counties.

2016: Villanova Wins NCAA Championship

In 2016, Villanova won the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

2016: Tourism Statistics

In 2016, the Independence National Historical Park received over 5 million visitors, and the city welcomed 42 million domestic tourists who spent $6.8 billion.

2016: Slight Decrease in Homicides

In 2016, the homicide rate in Philadelphia fell slightly to 277.

December 2017: Highest-Rated Radio Stations

As of December 2017, the ten highest-rated stations in Philadelphia were adult contemporary WBEB-FM (101.1), sports talk WIP-FM (94.1), classic rock WMGK-FM (102.9), urban adult contemporary WDAS-FM (105.3), classic hits WOGL-FM (98.1), album-oriented rock WMMR-FM (93.3), country music WXTU-FM (92.5), all-news KYW-AM (1060), talk radio WHYY-FM (90.9), and urban adult contemporary WRNB-FM (100.3).

2017: Foreign-born population doubled

According to The Pew Charitable Trusts, the city's foreign-born population doubled between 1990 and 2017.

2017: Population Increase Between 2006 and 2017

Between 2006 and 2017, Philadelphia added 92,153 residents; the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the racial composition.

2017: 30th Street Station Passenger Traffic

In 2017, Philadelphia's 30th Street Station had 4.4 million passengers, making it the third-busiest station in the country after New York City's Pennsylvania Station and Washington's Union Station.

2017: Homicide Rate Increase Again

In 2017, Philadelphia's homicide rate rose again to 317.

2017: State of the Air report

In 2017, the American Lung Association's State of the Air report gave Philadelphia County an ozone grade of F and a 24-hour particle pollution rating of D.

2017: GMP Calculated

In 2017, the Bureau of Economic Analysis calculated Philadelphia's gross metropolitan product (GMP) at $445 billion.

2017: Eagles Win Super Bowl LII

In 2017, the Eagles won their first Super Bowl by defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII.

2017: Port of Philadelphia Growth

In 2017, the Port of Philadelphia experienced the highest percentage growth by tonnage loaded among major U.S. seaports.

February 3, 2018: Implementation of Area Code 445

Area code 445 was implemented as an overlay for area codes 215 and 267 starting on February 3, 2018.

2018: Larry Krasner is District Attorney

As of 2018, Larry Krasner is the city's District Attorney.

2018: 30th Street Station Ranking

As of 2018, Philadelphia's 30th Street Station is Amtrak's third-busiest station in the country, after New York City and Washington.

2018: FCC Listing of Radio Stations

As of 2018, the FCC lists 28 FM and 11 AM stations for Philadelphia.

2018: Philadelphia Phoenix Continue to Play in AUDL

As of 2018, the Philadelphia Phoenix continue to play in the American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL).

2018: Marijuana Arrests Drop

From 2013 to 2018, marijuana arrests in Philadelphia dropped by more than 85%.

2018: Villanova Wins NCAA Championship

In 2018, Villanova won the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

2018: Comcast Technology Center Completion in 2018

In 2018, the Comcast Technology Center was completed, reaching a height of 1,121 ft (342 m), making it the tallest building in the United States outside of Manhattan and Chicago.

2018: Shipping capacity doubled

The Port of Philadelphia doubled its shipping capacity to accommodate super-sized post-Panamax shipping vessels since 2018.

May 2019: Biden Chose Philadelphia for Campaign Headquarters

In May 2019, former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden chose Philadelphia to be his 2020 U.S. presidential campaign headquarters.

May 2019: Walnut Street Theatre Announces Expansion

In May 2019, the Walnut Street Theatre announced a major expansion to begin in 2020.

July 21, 2019: Last Occurrence of Temperature at or Above 100 °F

July 21, 2019, marked the last time Philadelphia experienced a temperature at or above 100 °F (38 °C), a relatively uncommon occurrence.

2019: Population Increase

As of 2019, Philadelphia population increased by 1.2% since the 2020 census estimate.

2020: 2020 U.S. Census

As of the 2020 U.S. Census, Philadelphia had a population of 1,603,797 people.

2020: Biden's Presidential Campaign Headquarters

In 2020, Joe Biden's U.S. presidential campaign headquarters was located in Philadelphia.

2020: Homicides Increase Dramatically

In 2020, homicides in Philadelphia increased dramatically, reaching 499.

2020: Philadelphia Population in 2020

In 2020, the population of Philadelphia was recorded at 1,603,797 according to the census, making it the sixth-most populous city in the United States.

2021: Gross Metropolitan Product

As of 2021, the Philadelphia metropolitan area is estimated to produce a gross metropolitan product (GMP) of US$479 billion.

2021: Record Homicides

In 2021, Philadelphia surpassed the 1990 "record" with the 501st murder occurring on November 27. The city ended the year with 562 murders, an all-time record.

2022: South American Migrants Transported to Philadelphia

In 2022, South American migrants were being transported by bus from Texas to Philadelphia.

2022: Homicides Decrease

In 2022, the number of homicides in Philadelphia dropped to 514.

November 2023: Cherelle Parker Wins Election

In November 2023, Cherelle Parker won the election to become the mayor of Philadelphia.

2023: Philadelphia International Airport Ranking

As of 2023, Philadelphia International Airport is the 21st-busiest airport in the nation with over 13.6 million passengers.

2023: Philadelphia Media Market Size

As of 2023, the Philadelphia media market is the fifth-largest in North America with over 7.8 million viewers.

2023: Philadelphia Metropolitan Area in 2023

As of 2023, the Philadelphia metropolitan area had a gross metropolitan product of US$557.6 billion. The city's 30th Street Station also served over 4.1 million passengers.

2023: Significant Further Decrease in Homicides

In 2023, homicides decreased significantly further to 410 in Philadelphia.

January 2024: Jim Kenney's Term Ends

In January 2024, Jim Kenney's term as mayor ended.

April 2, 2024: Open Wards Philadelphia Archived

As of April 2, 2024, Open Wards Philadelphia was archived at the Wayback Machine.

September 2024: Philadelphia Television Market

Since September 2024, Philadelphia is the nation's largest television market where at least one of the six English networks are shown at a station not owned by a particular network's associated parent company.