Parkway Knows PHILADELPHIA
Located along the Delaware River in the heart of the Northeast
Corridor, Philadelphia is situated at the crossroads of the most
prosperous and densely populated region in the country. It is the
business capital of Pennsylvania, the state's largest city and
second in size only to New York City on the East Coast.
Philadelphia is located only 100 miles south of New York and 140
miles north of Washington, D.C. The city's location and extensive
transportation system provide convenient access to 25% of the U.S.
population within a 300-mile radius and four of Canada's largest
markets. In addition to its size and big-city energy,
Philadelphia's colonial attractions and historic sites and parks
imbue it with a unique character, which sets it apart from other
American cities
Philadelphia's Center City is one of the premier 24-hour urban
areas in the United States. Over the last decade, the population of
Center City has surged, as several state and local initiatives
encouraged growth in the area and thousands of new high-end
residential units were created for working professionals and
empty-nesters looking to live in the heart of the city. Businesses,
individuals and developers alike have all been attracted to the
area because of its excellent infrastructure, cultural offerings
and convenient walk-to-work location. The area has seen retail
activity flourish with the opening of many street cafes and
restaurants and plans for several flagship national chain stores.
In addition, several new hotels opened in Center City in the late
1990s, which have further bolstered the attractiveness of the area
as a major center for business. Today, Center City has developed a
critical mass of business activity, residents and a plethora of
cultural amenities.
Measured in terms of its diversity and balance, the economic
climate in Philadelphia is vibrant. Philadelphia boasts a large,
highly-skilled workforce that forms the base of one of the most
wide-ranging economies in the nation. Today, Philadelphia has a
strong presence in the fields of healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and
biotechnology, as well as oil and chemicals, telecommunications,
computer technology, food processing and finance. Due in large part
to the numerous surrounding colleges and universities, Philadelphia
is also one of the nation's largest and strongest markets for
telecommunication and technology.
Philadelphia is the sixth largest CMSA in the United States with
over 5.8 million people. The population increased by a rate of 7.6%
between 1990 and 2008, and it is anticipated that the Philadelphia
MSA will grow to 5,970,852 people by 2012, a further 1.85%
increase. In Center City, the population grew by 9% in
the 1990's and is now home to approximately 90,000 people, making
it the third largest downtown residential district in the U.S.
behind New York and Chicago.
The fastest growing sectors of the Philadelphia economy are the
biomedical and pharmaceutical industries with 14 major
pharmaceutical firms and nearly 100 biotech firms in the area.