Philadelphia Historic Timeline -
1682: William Penn leaves England, sets sail across the Atlantic and arrives in Philadelphia, his “City of Brotherly Love.” Find more information at the Philadelphia History Museum, 15 S. 7th Street, and Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch Street. Some new residents of Philadelphia live in caves carved into the banks of the Delaware River.
1682: William Penn leaves England, sets sail across the Atlantic and arrives in Philadelphia, his “City of Brotherly Love.” Find more information at the Philadelphia History Museum, 15 S. 7th Street, and Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch Street. Some new residents of Philadelphia live in caves carved into the banks of the Delaware River.
Philadelphia in 1682: The Birth of a "Greene Countrie Towne"
The year 1682 marks the true genesis of Philadelphia as a planned urban center and a beacon of William Penn's "Holy Experiment." While the Lenni Lenape had long inhabited the region, and a scattering of Swedish and Dutch settlers had established small communities, it was in this pivotal year that Penn himself arrived, laying the groundwork for what would become one of America's most historically significant cities.
William Penn's Arrival and the Founding Vision
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October 27, 1682: Penn's Landing: William Penn, a Quaker nobleman, arrived on the shores of the Delaware River aboard the ship Welcome. He landed at the small Swedish settlement of Upland (modern-day Chester, PA) before proceeding upriver to the area he had designated for his new city. This arrival marked the official beginning of Pennsylvania as a Quaker colony and Philadelphia as its capital.
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The "Holy Experiment": Penn's vision for Pennsylvania and Philadelphia was unique for its time. He sought to create a colony founded on principles of religious freedom, peaceful coexistence with Native Americans, and democratic governance. Philadelphia was to be the urban embodiment of this "Holy Experiment," a city built on moral and ethical foundations.
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The "Greene Countrie Towne": Penn famously envisioned Philadelphia as a "Greene Countrie Towne," a city that would blend urban living with open, green spaces. His plan for the city was a revolutionary grid system, with wide streets and public squares, designed to prevent overcrowding and promote health and community. This foresight is still evident in Philadelphia's layout today, with its five original squares.
Treaties, Land, and Coexistence
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The "Great Treaty" (Treaty of Shackamaxon): While the exact date is debated and sources vary, 1682 is the year when William Penn's legendary "Great Treaty" with the Lenni Lenape (Delaware) Native Americans is believed to have taken place, likely at Shackamaxon (now the Kensington neighborhood). Penn’s approach to land acquisition was notably different from many other European colonizers; he insisted on purchasing land fairly from the Indigenous inhabitants.
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This treaty, marked by mutual respect and peaceful negotiation, established a long-standing peace between the Quakers and the Lenni Lenape, setting a precedent for peaceful relations that lasted for decades. While no written treaty exists, historical accounts and wampum belts attest to its significance.
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Early Development and Influx of Settlers
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Laying Out the City: Penn's surveyor, Thomas Holme, began to meticulously lay out the city according to Penn's grid plan. This plan specified wide north-south and east-west streets (like Broad and High/Market), and the five public squares (Centre Square, now Dilworth Park; Franklin, Washington, Rittenhouse, and Logan Squares).
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Rapid Growth: Following Penn's arrival, there was a rapid influx of Quaker settlers, as well as Anabaptists, Mennonites, and other persecuted religious groups from Europe, drawn by the promise of religious freedom and economic opportunity. This diversity of early settlers laid the foundation for Philadelphia's multicultural character.
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Initial Structures: The initial buildings were modest, mostly log cabins and temporary shelters, as settlers worked quickly to establish homes and infrastructure in the nascent city.
Significance of 1682
The events of 1682 were foundational for Philadelphia:
- Planned Urbanism: It marked the official establishment of a carefully planned city, a rarity in the colonial world.
- Quaker Influence: It cemented the Quaker principles of peace, equality, and religious tolerance as core tenets of the city's identity.
- Indigenous Relations: It set a unique and remarkably peaceful tone for relations with Native Americans, at least in the initial decades.
The year 1682 was nothing short of revolutionary for Philadelphia. It was the year William Penn stepped onto its shores, bringing with him a visionary plan for a "Greene Countrie Towne" founded on principles of peace and liberty. Through his direct engagement with the Lenni Lenape and the meticulous laying out of the city, Penn established the cornerstones of what would become a thriving metropolis, a cradle of American independence, and a living testament to his "Holy Experiment."
