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Delaware Valley

Coordinates: 39°52′37″N 75°19′23″W / 39.877°N 75.323°W / 39.877; -75.323
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Delaware Valley
Greater Philadelphia
Southeastern Pennsylvania
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA
Philadelphia
Map of the Lower Delaware Valley Metropolitan Area
Map of the Lower Delaware Valley Metropolitan Area
Country United States
State - Pennsylvania
 - New Jersey
 - Delaware
 - Maryland
Principal citiesPhiladelphia
Camden
Wilmington
Reading
Trenton
Atlantic City
Vineland
Hammonton
Dover
Area
 • Urban
1,981.4 sq mi (5,131.7 km2)
 • Metro
5,118 sq mi (13,256 km2)
Elevation0 - 1,080 ft (0 - 329 m)
Population
 (2013 est.)
 • Density2,746.32/sq mi (1,060.36/km2)
 • Urban
5,441,567 (5th)
 • MSA
6,034,678 (6th)
 • CSA
7,146,706 (8th)
 MSA/CSA = 2013, Urban = 2010
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EST)

The Delaware Valley is the valley through which the Delaware River flows. By extension, this toponym is commonly used to refer to Greater Philadelphia or Philadelphia metropolitan area ("the [Lower] Delaware Valley Metropolitan Area"), which straddles the Lower Delaware River just north of its estuary. The Delaware Valley Metropolitan Area is located at the southern part of the Northeast megalopolis and as such, the Delaware Valley can be described as either a metropolitan statistical area (MSA), or as a broader combined statistical area (CSA). The Delaware Valley Metropolitan Area is composed of several counties in southeastern Pennsylvania and southwestern New Jersey, one county in northern Delaware and one county in northeastern Maryland. The MSA has a population of over 6 million, while the CSA has a population of over 7.1 million (as of the 2010 Census Bureau count). Philadelphia, being the region's major commercial, cultural, and industrial center, wields a rather large sphere of influence that affects the counties that immediately surround it.

Some of the Delaware Valley's most well-known contributions to human civilization involve the region's higher education and medical institutions. The Delaware Valley has been influential upon American history and industry. The region are leaders in higher education, biotechnology, medicine, tourism and many others. With a gross domestic product of $388 billion, Philadelphia ranks ninth among world cities and fourth in the nation.[3]

The area has hosted many people and sites significant to American culture and history, particularly in the arts, where Philadelphia alone has more outdoor sculptures and murals than any other American city,[4] politics, including many influential people involved in politics such as Benjamin Franklin and Joe Biden, and the American Revolution. Philadelphia is famously known as "The Birthplace of America"[5] as the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were both drafted and signed there. On December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution, and has since promoted itself as "The First State".[6]

The Delaware Valley was home to many other instrumental moments in the American Revolution, including the First and Second Continental Congress, the preservation of the Liberty Bell, the Battles of Germantown, Brandywine, and Red Bank, the Siege of Fort Mifflin, the winter of 1777–78 at Valley Forge, the Philadelphia Convention, and many others. Philadelphia was one of the nation's capitals in the Revolutionary War, and served as temporary U.S. capital while Washington, D.C., was under construction.

Today, the area is home to some of the most prestigous universities in the world, such as the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, Villanova University, Saint Joseph's University, and Temple University.[7] The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is consistently ranked as the best business school in the world.[8]

Geography

The drainage basin of the Delaware River.

In geology and geography, a strict sense of the term would incorporate the Delaware River's main drainage basin, and so encompass major tributaries such as the Schuylkill River and Lehigh River and their valleys or sub-basins. These extensions also apply culturally with decreasing degree gradually decreased by proximal distance because the ease of land travel enables a great deal of daily interaction; for example, the large number of commuters who travel daily 45–90 minutes creates cultural blends and parallel values.

In the course of their work, U.S. government agencies have reached various definitions of the Delaware Valley and the Greater Philadelphia Area. The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) serves Philadelphia, four suburban Pennsylvania counties (Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, and Montgomery County), and four New Jersey counties (Burlington County, Camden County, Gloucester County, and Mercer County).[9] The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines metropolitan statistical area (MSAs), which are regions with relatively high population densities at their cores and close economic ties throughout their respective areas. Philadelphia is located in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of the counties served by the DVRPC except for Mercer County, and also includes New Castle County, Delaware, Cecil County, Maryland, and Salem County, New Jersey. The OMB also groups one or more MSAs into larger combined statistical areas (CSAs), which reflect commuting patterns. MSAs and CSAs are not formal administrative divisions, but serve as useful tools for understanding the extent of metropolitan areas such as the Delaware Valley. The Philadelphia-Reading-Camden Combined Statistical Area includes all of the counties from the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area, as well as Berks County, Pennsylvania, Kent County, Delaware, Atlantic County, New Jersey, Cape May County, New Jersey, and Cumberland County, New Jersey.

Population and economy

According to 2016 estimates from the United States Census Bureau, the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area ranks as the seventh-largest MSA in the United States with 6,070,500 people.[10] According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington MSA had a gross domestic product of $431 billion, the ninth-largest among U.S. metropolitan areas.[11] 2016 Census Bureau estimates rank the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden Combined Statistical Area as the ninth-largest CSA in the United States, with 7,179,357 people.[12]

The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area's population of roughly 6 million people is comparable to that of countries such as Lebanon, Denmark, and Nicaragua. The MSA's nominal gross domestic product of $431 billion is comparable to countries such as Belgium, Iran, and Thailand. The MSA also ranks as the second most populous in the Northeastern United States after the New York metropolitan area, while the CSA is third-largest in the Northeast after the New York and Boston metropolitan areas. The Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area, which is part of Northeast Megalopolis but is considered part of the Southeastern United States under Census Bureau definitions, is also larger than the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Philadelphia itself is the sixth-most populous city in the United States and the third-most populous U.S. city east of the Mississippi River, after New York City and Chicago. Philadelphia's media market ranks fourth, behind New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago, in Nielsen Media Market size rankings.[13]

Such educational institutions as Delaware Valley Regional High School in Alexandria Township and Delaware Valley College in Doylestown Township are named after the region. Likewise, Frenchtown's now defunct newspaper The Delaware Valley News was another example of the usage.

Subregions

Sixteen counties in four states constitute the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden Combined Statistical Area. The five Pennsylvania counties in the MSA are collectively known as Southeastern Pennsylvania, and the four suburban counties from this region are sometimes called the "collar counties."[14] Aside from Philadelphia, major municipalities in Southeastern Pennsylvania include the inner suburbs of Upper Darby Township and Bensalem Township. Berks County, which forms its own MSA and contains the CSA's second largest city, Reading, is generally not considered to be part of Southeastern Pennsylvania and is sometimes assigned to South Central Pennsylvania.

The seven New Jersey counties in the CSA form South Jersey, although Ocean County, which is part of the New York CSA, is also sometimes considered to be part of South Jersey.[15] Atlantic County, Cape May County, and Cumberland County each form their own respective metropolitan statistical areas. Atlantic City and the Jersey Shore are major tourist destinations for people from inside and outside of the Delaware Valley. Other major municipalities in South Jersey include Cherry Hill and Camden, which is across the Delaware River from Philadelphia.

The two counties of Delaware in the CSA constitute a majority of Delaware's land mass and population. Wilmington is the most populous city in Delaware and the fifth-most populous municipality in the Delaware Valley. The lone Maryland county in the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden Combined Statistical Area is part of the region known as the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Although Mercer County in Central Jersey is often considered part of the Delaware Valley from a cultural perspective, it is classified as part of New York's CSA by the OMB. Mercer County and two counties in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, Lehigh County and Northampton County, are part of the Philadelphia media market. Caroline County, Maryland is also part of the Philadelphia media market.[16]

List of counties

County State Seat 2010 Pop.[17] 2016 Pop.[17] Pop. Change Area[18] MSA[19] Map
Kent DE Dover 162,310 174,827 7.7% 279.4 mi2 Dover MSA
New Castle DE Wilmington 538,479 556,987 3.4% 426.3 mi2 Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington MSA
Cecil MD Elkton 101,108 102,603 1.5% 348.2 mi2 Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington MSA
Atlantic NJ Mays Landing 274,549 270,991 -1.3% 561.2 mi2 Atlantic City-Hammonton MSA
Burlington NJ Mount Holly 448,734 449,284 0.1% 804.8 mi2 Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington MSA
Camden NJ Camden 513,657 510,150 -0.7% 222.3 mi2 Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington MSA
Cape May NJ Cape May Court House 97,265 94,430 -2.9% 255.2 mi2 Ocean City MSA
Cumberland NJ Bridgeton 156,898 153,797 -2% 489.3 mi2 Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton MSA
Gloucester NJ Woodbury 288,288 292,330 1.4% 324.9 mi2 Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington MSA
Salem NJ Salem 66,083 63,436 -4% 337.8 mi2 Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington MSA
Berks PA Reading 411,442 414,812 0.8% 859.2 mi2 Reading MSA
Bucks PA Doylestown 625,249 626,399 0.2% 607.6 mi2 Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington MSA
Chester PA West Chester 498,886 516,312 3.5% 756 mi2 Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington MSA
Delaware PA Media 558,979 563,402 0.8% 184.2 mi2 Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington MSA
Montgomery PA Norristown 799,874 821,725 2.7% 781 mi2 Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington MSA
Philadelphia PA Philadelphia 1,526,006 1,576,872 3.3% 135.1 mi2 Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington MSA
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington MSA 5,965,343 6,070,500 1.8% 4928.2 mi2 Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington MSA -
Philadelphia–Reading–Camden CSA 7,067,807 7,179,357 1.6% 7372.5 mi2 N/A -

List of largest municipalities

Ocean City, New Jersey
Wilmington, Delaware

These municipalities are all within the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden Combined Statistical Area.

City Pop.[20] County State
Philadelphia 1,567,872 Philadelphia PA
Reading 87,575 Berks PA
Upper Darby Township 82,765 Delaware PA
Camden 74,420 Camden NJ
Wilmington 71,502 New Castle DE
Cherry Hill 70,976 Camden NJ
Gloucester Township 64,049 Camden NJ
Vineland 60,876 Cumberland NJ
Bensalem Township 60,354 Bucks PA
Lower Merion Township 58,220 Montgomery PA
Abington Township 55,640 Montgomery PA
Bristol Township 54,170 Bucks PA
Haverford Township 48,893 Delaware PA
Washington Township 48,301 Gloucester NJ
Evesham Township 45,578 Burlington NJ
Middletown Township 45,318 Bucks PA
Egg Harbor Township 43,747 Atlantic NJ
Mount Laurel 41,849 Burlington NJ
Northampton Township 39,562 Bucks PA
Winslow Township 39,417 Camden NJ
Historical population (estimates)
Year Pop. ±%
1850 405,000 -
1860 608,000 50.12%
1870 747,000 22.86%
1880 949,000 27.04%
1890 1,180,000 24.34%
1900 1,454,000 10.44%
1910 1,746,000 8.26%
1920 2,072,000 18.67%
1930 2,264,000 9.27%
1940 2,538,000 12.10%
1950 3,297,000 29.90%
1960 4,419,000 34.09%
1970 5,323,000 20.46%
1980 5,239,000 -1.57%
1990 5,435,000 3.74%
2000 5,687,000 4.66%
2010 5,965,000 4.89%
2017 6,029,312 1.07%
Populations for the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area

Source: city-data.com

Statistical history

When metropolitan areas were originally defined in 1950, most of the area now in the Delaware Valley was split between four metropolitan areas, or "standard metropolitan areas," as they were called. The Philadelphia SMA comprised Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania and Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties in New Jersey. The Wilmington SMA comprised New Castle County in Delaware and Salem County in New Jersey, while Berks County was the Reading SMA and Atlantic County was the Atlantic City SMA.

In 1960, Cecil County was added to what was now the Wilmington Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 1980, Cumberland County was defined as the Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton SMSA.

In 1990, the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Vineland-Millville-Bridgedon SMSAs were merged with the Trenton SMSA as the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Trenton Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the same time, Cape May County was added to the Atlantic City SMSA. Kent County became the Dover MSA in 2000, and it and Atlantic City were added to the Philadelphia CSA in 2010.

Characteristics

Grave of some of the 57 Irish victims of Duffy's Cut in West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. Irish Americans make up the largest ethnicity in the Delaware Valley.[21]
Philadelphia's Chinatown is home to many Chinese and other Asian restaurants.
West Chester, Pennsylvania

The Delaware Valley is home to extensive populations of Irish Americans, German Americans, English Americans, Ukrainian Americans, Italian Americans, Swedish-Americans (which have a museum located at FDR Park in South Philadelphia), Polish Americans, Scottish Americans, Scotch-Irish Americans, Greek Americans, African Americans, Asians such as Chinese, Indian, Korean and Vietnamese, Armenians, Arabs and Turks, and Pakistanis, Israelis (while American Jews form a significant ethno-religious community), Hispanics. Within the Hispanic population, the vast majority are Puerto Ricans, though other groups include Dominicans and Mexicans.[22] There is a significant West Indian community. There is even a small Native American community known as Lenapehoking for Lenni-Lenape Indians of West Philadelphia.

Philadelphia's suburbs contain a high concentration of malls, the two largest of which have at least 5,000,000 square feet (460,000 m2) of office space, and at least 600,000 square feet (56,000 m2) of retail. These are the King of Prussia Mall in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, which is the largest in the United States (leasable sq. feet of retail space), and the Cherry Hill Mall in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, which was the first enclosed mall on the East Coast. Malls, office complexes, strip shopping plazas, expressways, and tract housing are common sights, and more and more continue to replace rolling countryside, farms, woods, and wetlands. However, due to strong opposition by residents and political officials, many acres of land have been preserved throughout the Delaware Valley. Older townships and large boroughs such as Cheltenham, Norristown, Jenkintown, Upper Darby and West Chester retain distinct community identities while engulfed in suburbia. The fastest-growing counties[as of?] are Chester, Montgomery, Bucks, and Gloucester. Upper Darby, in Delaware County is the largest township in the United States.[citation needed] Sometimes Reading is included in the Delaware Valley Metro Area. [citation needed]

Mid-Atlantic American English and its subset, Philadelphia English, are two common dialects of American English in Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley.

Climate

The Delaware Valley has four distinct seasons with ample precipitation and is divided by the 0 °C (32 °F) January isotherm. Most of Philadelphia and the NJ portion, almost all of the DE and MD portions, part of Delaware County, and extreme southern portions of Bucks and Chester Counties have a humid subtropical climate (Cfa.) The remainder of the Delaware Valley has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa.) Snow amounts may vary widely year-to-year and normally do vary widely within the Delaware Valley. The region has only two ski areas: Bear Creek Ski and Recreation Area in eastern Berks County and Spring Mountain in central Montgomery County.

Using the -3 °C January isotherm as a boundary, all of the Delaware Valley is humid subtropical except for portions of Berks County and higher areas of northern Chester County. The warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb) only exists in higher areas of Berks where all monthly temperatures average below 22 °C.

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 74
(23)
79
(26)
87
(31)
95
(35)
97
(36)
102
(39)
104
(40)
106
(41)
102
(39)
96
(36)
84
(29)
73
(23)
106
(41)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 63.3
(17.4)
63.5
(17.5)
73.8
(23.2)
84.3
(29.1)
90.2
(32.3)
94.8
(34.9)
97.1
(36.2)
94.8
(34.9)
90.6
(32.6)
82.6
(28.1)
72.4
(22.4)
64.2
(17.9)
98.1
(36.7)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 41.3
(5.2)
44.3
(6.8)
52.8
(11.6)
64.7
(18.2)
74.4
(23.6)
83.2
(28.4)
87.8
(31.0)
85.8
(29.9)
78.9
(26.1)
67.2
(19.6)
55.9
(13.3)
46.0
(7.8)
65.2
(18.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 33.7
(0.9)
35.9
(2.2)
43.6
(6.4)
54.5
(12.5)
64.3
(17.9)
73.5
(23.1)
78.7
(25.9)
76.8
(24.9)
69.9
(21.1)
58.2
(14.6)
47.4
(8.6)
38.6
(3.7)
56.3
(13.5)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 26.0
(−3.3)
27.5
(−2.5)
34.3
(1.3)
44.3
(6.8)
54.2
(12.3)
63.9
(17.7)
69.6
(20.9)
67.9
(19.9)
60.9
(16.1)
49.2
(9.6)
38.8
(3.8)
31.2
(−0.4)
47.3
(8.5)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 10.7
(−11.8)
13.7
(−10.2)
20.8
(−6.2)
33.0
(0.6)
43.1
(6.2)
53.2
(11.8)
62.2
(16.8)
60.3
(15.7)
49.5
(9.7)
37.1
(2.8)
26.4
(−3.1)
19.0
(−7.2)
8.6
(−13.0)
Record low °F (°C) −7
(−22)
−11
(−24)
5
(−15)
14
(−10)
28
(−2)
44
(7)
51
(11)
44
(7)
35
(2)
25
(−4)
8
(−13)
−5
(−21)
−11
(−24)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.13
(80)
2.75
(70)
3.96
(101)
3.47
(88)
3.34
(85)
4.04
(103)
4.38
(111)
4.29
(109)
4.40
(112)
3.47
(88)
2.91
(74)
3.97
(101)
44.11
(1,120)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 7.1
(18)
8.4
(21)
3.6
(9.1)
0.3
(0.76)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.2
(0.51)
3.5
(8.9)
23.1
(59)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 11.0 9.7 10.9 10.9 11.0 10.3 10.1 8.9 9.3 9.1 8.6 11.0 120.8
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 4.1 3.8 2.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.8 12.0
Average relative humidity (%) 66.2 63.6 61.7 60.4 65.4 67.8 69.6 70.4 71.6 70.8 68.4 67.7 67.0
Average dew point °F (°C) 19.8
(−6.8)
21.0
(−6.1)
28.6
(−1.9)
37.0
(2.8)
49.5
(9.7)
59.2
(15.1)
64.6
(18.1)
63.7
(17.6)
57.2
(14.0)
45.7
(7.6)
35.6
(2.0)
25.5
(−3.6)
42.3
(5.7)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 155.7 154.7 202.8 217.0 245.1 271.2 275.6 260.1 219.3 204.5 154.7 137.7 2,498.4
Percent possible sunshine 52 52 55 55 55 61 61 61 59 59 52 47 56
Average ultraviolet index 2 3 4 6 8 9 9 8 6 4 2 2 5
Source 1: NOAA (relative humidity, dew point and sun 1961–1990)[26][27][24]
Source 2: Weather Atlas (UV index)[28]
Climate data for Philadelphia
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average sea temperature °F (°C) 41.8
(5.5)
39.9
(4.4)
41.2
(5.1)
46.7
(8.2)
53.9
(12.2)
66.3
(19.0)
74.0
(23.3)
75.9
(24.4)
71.4
(21.9)
64.2
(17.9)
55.1
(12.8)
47.7
(8.8)
56.5
(13.6)
Mean daily daylight hours 10.0 11.0 12.0 13.0 14.0 15.0 15.0 14.0 12.0 11.0 10.0 9.0 12.2
Source: Weather Atlas [28]
Climate data for Atlantic City International Airport, 1991–2020 normals,[c] extremes 1874–present[d]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 78
(26)
76
(24)
87
(31)
94
(34)
99
(37)
106
(41)
105
(41)
103
(39)
99
(37)
96
(36)
84
(29)
77
(25)
106
(41)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 63.5
(17.5)
64.8
(18.2)
73.2
(22.9)
83.2
(28.4)
89.3
(31.8)
94.5
(34.7)
96.9
(36.1)
94.6
(34.8)
90.1
(32.3)
82.8
(28.2)
72.7
(22.6)
65.3
(18.5)
98.1
(36.7)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 43.2
(6.2)
45.8
(7.7)
52.6
(11.4)
63.3
(17.4)
72.5
(22.5)
81.5
(27.5)
86.6
(30.3)
84.8
(29.3)
78.5
(25.8)
67.7
(19.8)
57.1
(13.9)
48.1
(8.9)
65.1
(18.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 34.1
(1.2)
36.0
(2.2)
42.6
(5.9)
52.5
(11.4)
61.9
(16.6)
71.4
(21.9)
76.9
(24.9)
75.0
(23.9)
68.4
(20.2)
57.1
(13.9)
46.8
(8.2)
38.7
(3.7)
55.1
(12.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 25.1
(−3.8)
26.2
(−3.2)
32.6
(0.3)
41.7
(5.4)
51.4
(10.8)
61.3
(16.3)
67.2
(19.6)
65.2
(18.4)
58.2
(14.6)
46.4
(8.0)
36.6
(2.6)
29.4
(−1.4)
45.1
(7.3)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 6.5
(−14.2)
9.7
(−12.4)
16.1
(−8.8)
26.7
(−2.9)
36.0
(2.2)
46.2
(7.9)
55.9
(13.3)
53.8
(12.1)
43.5
(6.4)
31.0
(−0.6)
20.4
(−6.4)
14.0
(−10.0)
4.4
(−15.3)
Record low °F (°C) −10
(−23)
−11
(−24)
2
(−17)
12
(−11)
25
(−4)
37
(3)
42
(6)
40
(4)
32
(0)
20
(−7)
10
(−12)
−7
(−22)
−11
(−24)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.38
(86)
3.23
(82)
4.52
(115)
3.32
(84)
3.34
(85)
3.58
(91)
4.47
(114)
4.59
(117)
3.55
(90)
4.14
(105)
3.37
(86)
4.47
(114)
45.96
(1,167)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 5.7
(14)
5.9
(15)
2.2
(5.6)
0.3
(0.76)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.1
(0.25)
3.2
(8.1)
17.4
(44)
Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) 3.6
(9.1)
3.1
(7.9)
1.3
(3.3)
0.1
(0.25)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
1.9
(4.8)
6.0
(15)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 10.8 10.4 10.9 11.4 10.5 9.9 9.9 9.2 8.5 8.9 8.9 10.8 120.1
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 3.0 3.2 1.2 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.4 8.9
Average relative humidity (%) 69.5 69.0 66.9 66.4 70.7 72.9 73.9 75.7 76.4 74.8 72.8 70.6 71.6
Average dew point °F (°C) 21.6
(−5.8)
23.2
(−4.9)
30.0
(−1.1)
37.9
(3.3)
49.5
(9.7)
59.4
(15.2)
64.8
(18.2)
64.2
(17.9)
57.7
(14.3)
46.4
(8.0)
37.0
(2.8)
27.0
(−2.8)
43.2
(6.2)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 150.8 157.9 204.5 218.9 243.9 266.2 276.3 271.3 227.6 200.5 147.4 133.8 2,499.1
Percent possible sunshine 50 53 55 55 55 60 61 64 61 58 49 46 56
Average ultraviolet index 1.6 2.6 4.2 6.0 7.5 8.5 8.6 7.7 6.0 3.8 2.1 1.5 5.0
Source 1: NOAA (relative humidity, dew point and sun 1961–1990)[30][31][32]
Source 2: UV Index Today (1995 to 2022)[33]
Climate data for Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 39
(4)
43
(6)
52
(11)
63
(17)
74
(23)
82
(28)
87
(31)
85
(29)
77
(25)
66
(19)
55
(13)
44
(7)
64
(18)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 24
(−4)
25
(−4)
33
(1)
42
(6)
52
(11)
61
(16)
66
(19)
65
(18)
57
(14)
45
(7)
37
(3)
29
(−2)
45
(7)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.94
(100)
2.87
(73)
4.24
(108)
3.85
(98)
4.81
(122)
3.61
(92)
4.72
(120)
4.34
(110)
4.66
(118)
3.35
(85)
3.74
(95)
3.80
(97)
47.93
(1,217)
Source: Weather Channel [34]
Climate data for Reading, Pennsylvania
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 71
(22)
77
(25)
88
(31)
97
(36)
96
(36)
97
(36)
102
(39)
102
(39)
100
(38)
92
(33)
82
(28)
77
(25)
102
(39)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 38
(3)
42
(6)
51
(11)
63
(17)
73
(23)
82
(28)
86
(30)
84
(29)
77
(25)
66
(19)
54
(12)
43
(6)
63
(17)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 22
(−6)
24
(−4)
32
(0)
41
(5)
51
(11)
61
(16)
65
(18)
64
(18)
56
(13)
44
(7)
36
(2)
27
(−3)
44
(6)
Record low °F (°C) −20
(−29)
−8
(−22)
−2
(−19)
16
(−9)
26
(−3)
39
(4)
46
(8)
42
(6)
30
(−1)
20
(−7)
8
(−13)
−4
(−20)
−20
(−29)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.92
(74)
2.93
(74)
3.56
(90)
3.69
(94)
4.03
(102)
4.50
(114)
4.67
(119)
3.80
(97)
4.42
(112)
3.78
(96)
3.44
(87)
3.58
(91)
45.32
(1,151)
Source: The Weather Channel[35]
Climate data for Dover, Delaware (1981−2010 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 43.4
(6.3)
47.0
(8.3)
54.9
(12.7)
65.7
(18.7)
74.7
(23.7)
83.2
(28.4)
87.0
(30.6)
85.2
(29.6)
79.3
(26.3)
68.8
(20.4)
58.5
(14.7)
47.4
(8.6)
66.3
(19.1)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 27.1
(−2.7)
29.0
(−1.7)
35.6
(2.0)
44.3
(6.8)
53.8
(12.1)
63.4
(17.4)
68.4
(20.2)
67.0
(19.4)
60.1
(15.6)
48.7
(9.3)
39.8
(4.3)
31.0
(−0.6)
47.4
(8.6)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.41
(87)
3.07
(78)
4.31
(109)
3.88
(99)
4.25
(108)
4.00
(102)
4.09
(104)
4.36
(111)
4.13
(105)
3.42
(87)
3.48
(88)
3.65
(93)
46.05
(1,171)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 4.6
(12)
7.7
(20)
.3
(0.76)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
.2
(0.51)
2.9
(7.4)
15.7
(40.67)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 10.1 9.6 10.0 11.3 10.9 9.1 9.3 8.6 8.3 8.0 7.9 10.3 113.4
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 2.2 1.9 .3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .9 5.3
Source: NOAA[36]
Climate data for Wilmington, Delaware (New Castle Airport), 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1894–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 75
(24)
78
(26)
86
(30)
97
(36)
98
(37)
102
(39)
103
(39)
107
(42)
100
(38)
94
(34)
85
(29)
75
(24)
107
(42)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 40.2
(4.6)
43.5
(6.4)
52.4
(11.3)
63.5
(17.5)
73.0
(22.8)
81.8
(27.7)
86.1
(30.1)
84.2
(29.0)
77.4
(25.2)
66.2
(19.0)
55.7
(13.2)
44.6
(7.0)
64.1
(17.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 24.6
(−4.1)
26.8
(−2.9)
33.6
(0.9)
43.0
(6.1)
52.6
(11.4)
62.6
(17.0)
67.6
(19.8)
66.1
(18.9)
58.2
(14.6)
46.1
(7.8)
37.4
(3.0)
28.7
(−1.8)
45.6
(7.6)
Record low °F (°C) −14
(−26)
−15
(−26)
2
(−17)
11
(−12)
30
(−1)
40
(4)
48
(9)
43
(6)
32
(0)
23
(−5)
11
(−12)
−7
(−22)
−15
(−26)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.01
(76)
2.68
(68)
3.92
(100)
3.50
(89)
3.95
(100)
3.88
(99)
4.57
(116)
3.25
(83)
4.32
(110)
3.42
(87)
3.10
(79)
3.48
(88)
43.08
(1,094)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 5.9
(15)
8.3
(21)
1.9
(4.8)
0.3
(0.76)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0.4
(1.0)
3.4
(8.6)
20.2
(51)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 10.5 9.4 10.7 11.3 11.2 10.3 9.9 8.1 8.5 8.3 9.2 10.3 117.7
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 4.3 3.6 1.3 0.4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.2 2.0 11.8
Source: NOAA[37][38]

Colonial history

The valley was the territory of the Susquehannock and Lenape, who are recalled in place names throughout the region. The region became part of the Dutch colony of New Netherland after the exploration of Delaware Bay in 1609. The Dutch called the Delaware River the Zuyd Rivier, or South River, and considered the lands along it banks and those of its bay to be the southern flank of its province of New Netherland. In 1638, it began to be settled by Swedes, Forest Finns, Dutch, and Walloons and became the colony of New Sweden, though this was not officially recognized by the Dutch Empire which re-asserted control in 1655. The area was taken by the English in 1664.[39] The name Delaware comes from Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, who had arrived at Jamestown, Virginia in 1610, just as original settlers were about to abandon it, and thus maintaining the English foothold on the North American continent.

Transportation

Many residents commute to jobs in Philadelphia, Camden, and Wilmington with the help of expressways and trains. Commutes from one suburb to another are also common, as office parks have sprung up in new commercial centers such as King of Prussia, Fort Washington, Cherry Hill, and Plymouth Meeting.

Commuter rail

Formerly, the region was served by the Delaware Valley Railway.

Philadelphia's 30th St. Station has SEPTA Regional Rail and Amtrak service

Major highways

Traffic heading into Philadelphia on Interstate 95.

Pennsylvania

New Jersey

Delaware

Maryland

Delaware River Bridges

Ben Franklin Bridge
Philadelphia International Airport

Airports

Major:

Secondary:

Colleges and universities

Parrish Hall at Swarthmore College and Cohen Hall, previously named Logan Hall, former home of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; The Wharton School is consistently ranked as the best business school in the world[41]

Delaware

New Jersey

Pennsylvania

Culture

Sports teams

Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies

Listing of the professional sports teams in the Delaware Valley

Media

The two main newspapers are The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News, owned by the Philadelphia Media Network. Local television channels include KYW-TV 3 (CBS), WPVI 6 (ABC), WCAU 10 (NBC), WHYY-TV 12 (PBS), WPHL-TV 17 (MyNetworkTV), WTXF 29 (FOX), WPSG 57 (CW), and WPPX 61 (Ion). Radio stations serving the area include: WRTI, WIOQ, WDAS (AM), and WTEL.

Area codes

  • 215/267: The City of Philadelphia and some of its northern suburbs
  • 610/484: Southeastern Pennsylvania outside Philadelphia, including the western suburbs, the Lehigh Valley, and most of Berks County
  • 856: Southwestern New Jersey, including Camden, Cherry Hill, and Vineland
  • 609: Central and Southeastern New Jersey, including Trenton, Atlantic City and the Jersey Shore
  • 302: Delaware
  • 410/443/667: Eastern half of Maryland, including Cecil County
  • 717: South Central Pennsylvania, including Western Berks County

Politics

Philadelphia itself is heavily Democratic, having voted for the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since 1936. The surrounding suburban counties are key political areas in Pennsylvania, which itself is an important swing state in federal politics.[42] South Jersey has consistently voted Democratic at the presidential level in recent years, although the region is slightly more Republican-leaning than North Jersey and has voted for Republicans at the state and local level.[43] New Castle County's Democratic lean and large share of Delaware's population has tended to make Delaware as a whole vote for Democrats, while the less populous Kent County is more competitive.[44] Recent well-known political figures from the Greater Philadelphia area include former Vice President Joe Biden and former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell.

Congressional districts

The following congressional districts of the United States House of Representatives are located partly or entirely in the Delaware Valley CSA. Italicized counties are not part of the CSA.

District Incumbent
District PVI Incumbent Party Counties
DE-AL D+6 Lisa Blunt Rochester D Kent, New Castle, and Sussex
MD-1 R+14 Andy Harris R Cecil and several other counties
NJ-1 D+13 Donald Norcross D Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester
NJ-2 R+1 Frank LoBiondo R Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem
NJ-3 R+2 Tom MacArthur R Burlington and Ocean
PA-1 D+31 Bob Brady D Delaware and Philadelphia
PA-2 D+40 Dwight Evans D Montgomery and Philadelphia
PA-6 R+2 Ryan Costello R Berks, Chester, Lebanon, and Montgomery
PA-7 R+1 Pat Meehan R Berks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, and Montgomery
PA-8 R+2 Brian Fitzpatrick R Bucks and Montgomery
PA-13 D+15 Brendan Boyle D Montgomery and Philadelphia
PA-15 R+4 Charlie Dent R Berks, Dauphin, Lebanon, Lehigh, and Northampton
PA-16 R+5 Lloyd Smucker R Berks, Chester, and Lancaster

Additionally, the Delaware Valley is represented in the United States Senate by the eight Senators from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Lexicon note

Some believe that the term "Delaware Valley" is not entirely a synonym for "Greater Philadelphia". "Greater Philadelphia" implies that the region is centered on the city in an economic and cultural context, while "Delaware Valley" is a more generic geographic term that does not imply that any part is of more consequence than any other. Several organizations, such as KYW Radio and the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, consciously use the term "Greater Philadelphia" to assert that Philadelphia is the center of the region, referring to the less urbanized areas as "Philadelphia's countryside".[45] Others note that the customary media usage of the term omits the majority of the length of the Delaware River's valley that is not in metropolitan Philadelphia.

WPVI-TV uses the slogan, "The Delaware Valley's leading news program" for their Action News broadcast, since that program has led the ratings for news programs in the Philadelphia market for over 30 years.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
  2. ^ Official temperature and precipitation measurements for Philadelphia were taken at the Weather Bureau Office in downtown from January 1872 to 19 June 1940, and at Philadelphia Int'l from 20 June 1940 to the present.[23] Snowfall and snow depth records date to 1 January 1884 and 1 October 1948, respectively.[24] In 2006, snowfall measurements were moved to National Park, New Jersey directly across the Delaware River from the airport.[25]
  3. ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
  4. ^ The official climatology station for Atlantic City was at the Weather Bureau Office downtown from January 1874 to 15 June 1958 and Atlantic City Int'l (ACY) in Egg Harbor Township since 16 June 1958.[29] ACY's location in the Pine Barrens and distance away from the coast and urban heat island of downtown Atlantic City largely account for its markedly colder temperatures at night as compared to downtown; for example, from 1959 to 2013, there were 50 days with a low of 0 °F (−18 °C) or lower, while in the same period, the corresponding number of days at downtown was 2. The National Weather Service ceased regular snowfall observations at downtown after the winter of 1958–59.

References

  1. ^ "Welsh Mountain". Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  2. ^ "MyTopo – Welsh Mountain area". Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  3. ^ "Global city GDP rankings 2008–2025". Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Archived from the original on May 4, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Gateway to Public Art in Philadelphia Archived August 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Fairmount Park Art Association.
  5. ^ "Words and Their Stories: Nicknames for Philadelphia and Boston". Voice of America. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  6. ^ "The First to Ratify" would be more accurate, as the beginnings of the states themselves date back to the Declaration of Independence, celebrated July 4, 1776, when what was to become the State of Delaware was still the three lower counties of Pennsylvania with the governor in Philadelphia, and not establishing independence from that body until September 20, 1776. According to Delaware's own website, "Delaware became a state in 1776, just two months after the signing of the Declaration of Independence." (ref-pdf) Therefore Delaware was actually the last of the thirteen colonies to establish itself as a state. Additionally, the Delaware State Quarter is minted with this nickname, yet shows Caesar Rodney on horseback in commemoration of how he was the last delegate to show up to the Continental Congress for the historic vote for independence. And with regard to the original Articles of Confederation, Delaware was the 12th of the 13 states to ratify.
  7. ^ Tucker, Laura (November 25, 2014). "Philadelphia". QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
  8. ^ "The 50 best business schools in the world".
  9. ^ "Greater Philadelphia Economic Development Framework" (PDF). September 2009. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  10. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2016". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  11. ^ Analysis, US Department of Commerce, BEA, Bureau of Economic. "Bureau of Economic Analysis". www.bea.gov. Retrieved October 4, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2016 - United States -- Combined Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico". United States Census Bureau, Population Division. March 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  13. ^ "Local Television Market Universe Estimates" (PDF). Nielsen. The Nielsen Company. September 24, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  14. ^ Bond, Michaelle (November 7, 2017). "In historic win, Delco Dems take council seats". Philly.com. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  15. ^ Stirling, Steven (April 24, 2015). "Here are the North, Central and South Jersey borders as determined by you (INTERACTIVE)". NJ.com. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  16. ^ "PHILADELPHIA DESIGNATED MARKET DATA". TruckAds. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  17. ^ a b "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2010-2016". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  18. ^ "Land Area, Population, and Density for States and Counties: 1990". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  19. ^ "OMB BULLETIN NO. 13-01" (PDF). Office of Management and Budget. February 28, 2013. p. 107. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 19, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ "Community Facts". American FactFidner. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  21. ^ "Global Philadelphia". Global Philadelphia Association. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  22. ^ "Dominicans in the Delaware Valley". Medgar Evers College. Archived from the original on February 16, 2011. Retrieved May 13, 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ ThreadEx; search for location= "PA - Philadelphia", variable= "Station thread"
  24. ^ a b "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  25. ^ Wood, Anthony R. "Snow total at airport gets a boost A new measuring station and technique likely contributed to two 8-inch-plus readings". Philly.com. The Inquirer. Archived from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  26. ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  27. ^ "WMO Climate Normals for PHILADELPHIA/INT'L ARPT PA 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  28. ^ a b "Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA - Monthly weather forecast and Climate data". Weather Atlas. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  29. ^ Threadex
  30. ^ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  31. ^ "Station: ATLANTIC CITY INTL AP, NJ". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  32. ^ "WMO Climate Normals for ATLANTIC CITY, NJ 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  33. ^ "Historical UV Index Data - Atlantic City, NJ". UV Index Today. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  34. ^ Average weather for Doylestown Weather Channel Retrieved May 12, 2008
  35. ^ "Climate Statistics for Reading, Pennsylvania". Retrieved March 10, 2012.
  36. ^ "Station Name: DE DOVER". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  37. ^ "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
  38. ^ "Station Name: DE WILMINGTON NEW CASTLE CO AP". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  39. ^ *Family Search.com: Map of Delaware Valley in 17th century showing forts & settlements with date of founding
  40. ^ "New Hope-Lambertville Route 202 Toll Bridge". Delaware River Joint Toll Brice Commission. Archived from the original on February 25, 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  41. ^ "The 50 best business schools in the world".
  42. ^ Cohen, Micah (October 29, 2012). "In Pennsylvania, the Democratic Lean Is Slight, but Durable". New York Times. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  43. ^ Cohen, Micah (July 14, 2012). "In Blue New Jersey, Red Spots May Be Sign of the Past". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  44. ^ Cohen, Micah (August 31, 2012). "Delaware: A Small Example of a Larger Trend". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  45. ^ Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation.

Further reading

  • Jean R. Soderlund, Lenape Country: Delaware Valley Society before William Penn. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2014.
  • Mark L. Thompson, The Contest for the Delaware Valley: Allegiance, Identity, and Empire in the Seventeenth Century. Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana State University Press, 2013.

Template:USLargestMetros

39°52′37″N 75°19′23″W / 39.877°N 75.323°W / 39.877; -75.323