Census Data for Philadelphia
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Philadelphia a population of 1,584,439 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Philadelphia a population of 1,526,006 people.
The city of Philadelphia is located in Philadelphia County. The 2010 Census gave Philadelphia County; a population of 1,528,283 people. This means that Philadelphia had 99.9% of the county's total population, making it Philadelphia's most populous community.
At the same time, Pennsylvania had a population of 12,702,379 people, meaning that Philadelphia had 12.01% of the total population of Pennsylvania - making it the state's most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Philadelphia has a total area of 142.7 square miles [369.6 km²]. Of this total, 134.1 square miles [347.3 km²] is land, with the balance (6.03%) being water (8.61 square miles [22.3 km²]).
Philadelphia County has a land area of 134.1 square miles [347.3 km²]. At 134.1 square miles [347.3 km²], Philadelphia has 100% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Philadelphia, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the city.
- Things like population, area and housing for Philadelphia reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Philadelphia might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 40° 0' 33" (or 40.01°)
- Lon: -75° 8' 0" (or -75.13°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, Philadelphia had 670,171 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 1,526,006 people, this averages 2.28 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Philadelphia had a land area of 134.1 square miles [347.3 km²]. This translates to 4,696 Housing Units per square mile [1,813 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Philadelphia had 661,958 Housing Units, a population of 1,517,550 people and a land area of 135.1 square miles [349.9 km²]. This gives a density of 2.29 people per Housing Unit and 4,640 Housing Units per square mile [1,791 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 Census and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Philadelphia and you need to be careful when comparing results between the censuses. More information about the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Philadelphia County ...
Philadelphia is located in Philadelphia County<4> and is the County Seat for Philadelphia County.
The county had a population of 1,528,283 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 1,526,006 people, Philadelphia represented 99.9% of the county's total.
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Philadelphia County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Philadelphia, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Philadelphia. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Philadelphia or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Philadelphia, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Philadelphia.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 40.009376° (or 40°0'33" N)
- Lon: -75.133346° (or -75°8'0" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 39.998012° (or 39°59'52" N)
- Lon: -75.144793° (or -75°8'41" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 5,233 feet to the northeast<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#1215531) to Philadelphia. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Philadelphia. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 39.952335° (or 39°57'8" N)
- Lon: -75.163789° (or -75°9'49" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 4 miles to the north<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Philadelphia. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Philadelphia.
Miscellaneous Information for Philadelphia ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Philadelphia County or the city of Philadelphia:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 42 (Pennsylvania)
- County Code: 101 (Philadelphia County)
- Place Code: 60000 (Philadelphia)
- State & County Code: 42/101 (Pennsylvania / Philadelphia County)
- State & Place Code: 42/60000 (Pennsylvania / Philadelphia)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Philadelphia is located in Census Region #1 (the Northeast Region) and Division #2 (the Middle Atlantic Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Philadelphia.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Philadelphia: www.phila.gov/
The official website for Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: https://www.pa.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway). |
| <4> | If you're interested in how the shape of Pennsylvania's counties, including Philadelphia, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 322 degrees and a distance of 5,233 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 337 degrees and a distance of 4 miles. |