PHILADELPHIA LANDSCAPE
When William Penn received land in the American colonies from King Charles II, he began drafting plans for a new city. This city would be based on his Quaker beliefs and his desire to build in a "greene country towne" in the New World. He called this city "Philadelphia."
PENN'S VISION
Green Space
Coming from a life in London to his colony of Pennsylvania, Penn wanted to create a country town with large swaths of fields. He detested the filthy, cramped environment of 1670s London that residents had built up over centuries. With an opportunity to start anew, Penn decided to create a city quite opposite.
Delaware River
Penn chose to place his city on the western bank of the Delaware River. The river provided access to the ocean and the Port of Philadelphia soon proved to be commercially successful for ships of all sizes.
An Orderly Grid
Another aspect Penn disliked about London was the lack of order. The streets went at all angles and were crosscut by alleyways. When the Great Fire of 1666 destroyed a significant area of London, mapmaker Richard Newcourt designed a new city with streets on a grid. It proved unrealistic for the city, but Penn used it as inspiration for Philadelphia.
THE ACTUAL LANDSCAPE
While Penn did his best to set up Philadelphia according to plan, the people who settled in the city had different ideas.
A Hint of Green
From the start, landowners and workers in Philadelphia were more interested in trade and making a living than they were in Penn's vision. The green spaces he wanted existed on the edges of town while the center of activity became the docks and markets.
Two Rivers
The Port of Philadelphia proved a roaring success. As trade moved into the area, the city's population rose, making Philadelphia one of the largest cities in colonial and early America. For decades, it was also the largest seaport. Urban growth also meant the city spread father away from the river, eventually reaching the Schuylkill River to the west and moving
beyond.
Chutes & Ladders
Remnants of Penn's street grid can be seen in the modern landscape of Philadelphia. However, residents wanted to live close to the river to work on the docks. Shantytowns and alleyways grew naturally to house the port's laborers and ruined the perfect grid Penn hoped would separate his city from London.