POPULATION. The population in 1900 was 1,293,697, Philadelphia ranking third among American cities. Since 1554 no territory been added to the municipal limits. The Iterecnt age of increase from 1550 to 1590 was 23.55. and from 1890 to 1900, 23.57. Fifty-four mid seven-tenths per cent. of the white population is of foreign parentage. hut native whites of foreign birth comprise 32 per cent. of the entire population. The negroes numbered 25.940 in 1900; Chinese, Japanese. and Indians, 1277. The largest classes of European descent are Berman. Irish. English. and Italian. French. Greeks. Armenians. Rns Bohemians. and Poles arc present in much lesser numbers. Though ...ADC tendency to con gregate is shown, there are few well-defined for eign colonies. In 1800 the population of Phila delphia was 25..522: in 63.802: in 15t0, 93.11115: in 1860, 563.529: in 1550, in 1590. 1.046.964.
Dismay. The first settlement (called \Vicaeo) within the present limits of Philadelphia was made in 1636 by a company of Sureties sent out by the 1:overnment of Queen Chris tiny. On October 7, 1681, Captain William Markham. Deputy Governor for William Penn, arrived with a small company, and started au English .settlement. here. which in July of the following rear was laid out and called Philadel phia. 'the city of brotherly love.' In 1683 a company of Germans, invited hither by Penn. ar rived and settled at Germantown, within the pre city limits. In 1684. immigration having been rapid (rein the start, there stern 300 'louses and more than 2500 inhabitants. The majmity of the early settlers were Friends, and their in fluence, combined with that of the Germans, pre for many years and greatly affected the course of Pennsylvania's history. Penn re turned to England in 1684, and did not n-visit the Pity until 1699, when he found a population of 4500, and 700 houses. Ile chartered the city in 1701, and thereafter frequent controversies arose between the people and the Penn family over pro prietary privileges, especially as regards taxa tion of the Penn lands. The first English school was opened in 1083. Franklin's Pennsylrunia Gazette began publication in 1729 and the Penn sylranin Jonrnal and Weekly Ad/Tr/if:Cr was started in 1742. lu 1741 the city, then having 1621 taxable citizens, was divided into ten wards.
In 1723 Benjamin Franklin. who, next to Penn, exerted the greatest influence in the history of the city. calm' to Philadelphia. In 1747, during King George's war with the French and Indians, the publication of his Plain Truth roused a spirit of military enthusiasm, a force of 10.000 was raised in Pennsylvania, and a battery was erected Mow the city. on the site of the present United States Navy Yard. In 1751 the first line of packets to Now York was established, followed in 173e by a stage line. Under Franklin's in fluence. in 1747 the merchants of Philadelphia sent a ship to discover the Nerthwest Passage. In 1735 a militia bill was passed, and Franklin beeame of the city regiment.
From 1703 to 1771 Philadelphia was prominent in resisting British aggression, though the Loy alist party was strong, and most of the Friends opposed warfare; and here most of the important onieial events of the Bevolution took plan-. In 1773 (October 17), during the excitement over the expected arrival of the tea ships, the people met in mass meeting and passed resolutions which, on November 501. were readopted at Bos ton. The first Continental Congress met in Car penter's Ilall. September Ti. 1774; the second met Slay 10, 1775, in the State House; and there, on June 15th, Washington was appointed com mander-in-chief of the Continental army. In 1776 Congress met for the third time in the State House, and there, en July 4111, the Deelaration of Independence was adopted. Philadelphia was held by the British from September 27, 1777, to June 18, 1778, and during this period, while the American army was at Valley Forge, was the scene of much gayety. On Slay IS. 1778, the famous entertainment called the Misehianza (fix.). was given in humor of General Howe, xvho was about to depart for Europe. On October 4, 1777. the battle of 11'1'111111A° WTI ( ) was fought. On Slay 2, 1787, delegates from the different States assembled here. am 1, after almost four months of debate behind closed (lours, adopted a Constitution for the United September 17th. On Mareh 11, 1789. the cite received a new charter from the Legislature. Epidemics of yellow fever in 1793 and 1798 caused great loss of life, at least 4000 dying in the former year and almost 5000 out of the 30,000 who remained in the city in the latter.