On This Day in American History: October 27, 1682: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is Founded

October 27, 1682 is a watershed moment in American History. On this day, Philadelphia Pennsylvania was founded, the city which would over the course of the birth of the United States serve as an integral seat of government, the birthplace of our founding documents and the tenants of our society, and our nation's capital from 1790 until 1800 while Washington, D.C. was under construction.

Today, the "City of Brotherly Love," Philadelphia, is home to a thriving arts culture, showcased by its outdoor murals and sculptures that are more numerous in Philadelphia than in any other city in America.

The American History behind the October 27 founding of Philadelphia Pennsylvania has roots that run extraordinarily deep. William Penn had planned a city positioned on the Delaware river that would function as a port and government seat. This proved to be an ideal position for Philadelphia, which grew quickly to become the largest city and trading port of the original American Colonies. King Charles II of England, in partial payment of a debt to William Penn, provided him with a charter for the Pennsylvania Colony. Although Penn was granted colonial title to the land, he desired to remain on good terms with the native Lenape Native American tribe who resided there. According to local lore, Penn struck a treaty with chief Tammany in what is now called Philadelphia's Fishtown Section. Today, the spot where the Elm tree stood under which Penn and Tammany struck their accord is called Penn treaty park.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania takes its name from a literal derivation from two greek words, Philos, meaning love, and Adelphos, meaning brother.

The rapid growth of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is by some attributed to Penn's Quaker roots. The founding of the colony was based on religious tolerance, facilitating strong bonds with the local Native Americans as well as the arriving immigrants who may not have found as much tolerance in the other American Colonies.

In 1701, Philadelphia Pennsylvania was established as a city, and by the mid-1700s, it was Benjamin Franklin who helped found one of the Colonies first hospitals.

By 1776, Philadelphia's place in American History had been forever cemented in place with the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 and the United States Constitution in 1787.