Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia , "brotherly love" (from philos "loving" and adelphos "brother") is the fifth most populous city in the United States and the largest in population and area in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The city is coterminous with Philadelphia County. The population of the city (at the 2000 census) is 1,517,550. It is the second largest city on the U.S. East Coast (after New York), and a major commercial and cultural center for the East Coast. The Philadelphia metropolitan area is the fourth largest in the U.S. by the current official definition, with 5.8 million people.

Philadelphia is one of the oldest and most historically significant cities in the United States. During part of the 18th century, the city was the second capital and most populous city of the United States. At that time, it eclipsed Boston and New York City in political and social importance, with Benjamin Franklin playing an extraordinary role in Philadelphia's rise.

1 The local economy
2 Recent Philadelphia business news
3 See also
4 External links

The local economy

Philadelphia's economy is heavily based upon manufacturing, refining, food, and financial services. The city also has its own stock exchange.

The city is home to many major Fortune 500 companies, including cable television and internet provider Comcast, insurance companies CIGNA and Lincoln Financial Group, energy company Sunoco, food services company Aramark, Crown Holdings Incorporated, Rohm and Haas Company, the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, Boeing helicopters division, and automotive parts retailer Pep Boys.

The Federal government plays a large role in Philadelphia as well. The city served as the capital city of the United States, before the construction of Washington, D.C. Today, 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.

Due in part to the historical presence of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and the large ridership at 30th Street Station, Amtrak also maintains a significant presence in the city. These jobs include customer service representatives and ticket processing and other behind-the-scenes personnel, in addition to the normal functions of the railroad.

Because of the presence of the federal government, the city has a large contingent of law firms. The city is also a national center of law due to the prestigious University of Pennsylvania Law School and the Temple University Beasley School of Law.

Source - Wikipedia: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Recent Philadelphia business news

Links to recent headlines via Topix.net

Pennsylvania stubbing out smoking in public places: Smokers who enjoy lighting up in restaurants after a meal or in work during a lunch break only have a few more days before a new law makes them quit the habit.
Okay, one more:: The guy in the funny hat is John Ruberry, aka Marathon Pundit . Picture by Backyard Conservative Anne Leary, a Rice Lake expatriate.
Pennsylvania stubbing out smoking in public places: Pennsylvania's smoking ban takes effect Thursday - 90 days after it was signed into law on June 13.
Green Fest Phila. is Today; Buxco Green Fest Next Week: Thousands of people are expected to attend today's Green Fest at 2nd and South Streets in Philadelphia, and there are plans for a similar event next weekend in Bucks County.
Hanna fails to live up to hype: "We fell short on rainfall," said National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Eberwine.
Yo! Don't touch that channel: This city best known to tourists for its historical sites and museums has a surprise new high-tech hit that is developing into a must-see attraction: a huge atrium wall in Philadelphia 's newest and tallest ...
Lovely Rita is bringing her water ice to Horseheads: A few years ago, I unwittingly created a family crisis by writing about the Christmas gift-buying habits of my three sisters.
Inqlings: Philly shrugs at a major film shoot: Plop a major Hollywood production in Philly, and watch film fans and paparazzi go gaga.