Delaware Valley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Delaware Valley
Greater Philadelphia Philadelphia metropolitan area Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD CSA
|
|
|---|---|
|
Combined Statistical Area
|
|
Center City Philadelphia (in background) and the Schuylkill River (on left) as seen from South Street Bridge in July 2016
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| States |  Pennsylvania New Jersey Delaware Maryland |
| Principal city | Philadelphia |
| Satellite cities and towns | Camden Wilmington Atlantic City Reading Trenton Vineland Conshohocken Dover Chester Upper Darby Media Middletown Township Hammonton Pennsauken Township Norristown Doylestown Cherry Hill West Chester Evesham Washington Township Millville Salem Cape May Court House Lower Township The Wildwoods Brigantine Ventnor City Margate City Ocean City Sea Isle City Haverford Bridgeton Coatesville Lower Merion Gloucester Township Downingtown Phoenixville New Castle Pottstown King of Prussia Bensalem Township Burlington City and Burlington Township Middle Township (Cape May County) Mount Holly Newark Hamilton Township (Mays Landing) Woodbury Elkton Cheltenham Township Abington Township Bristol Township Mount Laurel Northampton Township Winslow Township New Hope Falls Township Middletown Township (Bucks County) Egg Harbor Township Galloway Township Pennsville Maurice River Township |
| Area | |
| • Urban | 1,981.4 sq mi (5,131.7 km2) |
| • Metro | 5,118 sq mi (13,256 km2) |
| Elevation | 0 - 1,080 ft (0 - 329 m) |
| Population
(2021 est.)
|
|
| • Urban | 5,441,567 (5th) |
| • Metro density | 1,217.00/sq mi (469.89/km2) |
| • MSA | 6,228,601 (7th) |
| • CSA | 7,366,346 (9th) |
| MSA/CSA = 2021, Urban = 2010 | |
| GDP | |
| • MSA | $518.5 billion (2022) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EST) |
| Area codes | 215/267/445, 302, 410/443/667, 609/640, 610/484/835, 717/223, 856 |
The Delaware Valley, also known as Greater Philadelphia, is a large area in the Northeast U.S.. It centers around Philadelphia, which is the sixth-largest city in the country. This region covers parts of four states: southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, northern Delaware, and a small part of Maryland.
About 6.2 million people live in the main part of the Delaware Valley. If you count the wider area, it's home to over 7.3 million people. This makes it the eighth-largest metropolitan region in the U.S. and one of the largest in the world.
Besides Philadelphia, other important cities here include Reading and Chester in Pennsylvania. In New Jersey, you'll find Atlantic City, Camden, and Cherry Hill. In Delaware, there's Wilmington and Dover. The economy of the Philadelphia area is very strong, ranking among the top ten in the nation.
The Delaware Valley has played a huge role in American history. Philadelphia is often called "The Birthplace of America." This is because the Second Continental Congress met at Independence Hall here. They adopted the Declaration of Independence and formed the Continental Army to fight for freedom. After the American Revolution, Philadelphia was the first capital of the U.S. for many years. The U.S. Constitution was also approved here in 1789.
This region is also a major center for learning and research. It has many famous universities, like the University of Pennsylvania, which is one of the eight Ivy League schools. Other big universities include Drexel University, Temple University, and the University of Delaware. The area is also a leader in biotechnology. South Jersey is a key spot for logistics and large warehouses.
Culturally, the Delaware Valley is known for its unique accent, special foods, and a strong love for sports. It's home to five professional sports teams that have very passionate fans!
Contents
- What is the Geography of the Delaware Valley?
- How Many People Live in the Delaware Valley?
- What is the Economy of the Delaware Valley Like?
- What are the Subregions of the Delaware Valley?
- What are the Largest Cities and Towns?
- What is the Climate Like?
- What is the Colonial History of the Delaware Valley?
- How Do People Get Around? (Transportation)
- What are the Colleges and Universities?
- What is the Culture of the Delaware Valley?
- What are the Area Codes?
- Images for kids
- See also
What is the Geography of the Delaware Valley?
The Delaware Valley is closely connected to the Delaware River. This river has three main branches: the Schuylkill River, Lehigh River, and Brandywine Creek.
The U.S. government uses different ways to define areas like the Delaware Valley. A metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a region with many people living close together. These areas also have strong economic ties. MSAs can be grouped into larger combined statistical areas (CSAs), which show how people commute between different areas. These are not official government borders, but ways to understand population and economy.
What is a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)?
The main part of the Delaware Valley is called the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area. It includes counties from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, plus one county from Maryland.
- Camden, NJ Metropolitan Division:
* Burlington County (NJ) * Camden County (NJ) * Gloucester County (NJ)
- Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division:
* Bucks County (PA) * Chester County (PA) * Delaware County (PA) * Montgomery County (PA) * Philadelphia County (PA)
- Wilmington, DE-NJ Metropolitan Division:
* New Castle County (DE) * Salem County (NJ) * Cecil County (MD)
What is a Combined Statistical Area (CSA)?
The larger Philadelphia-Reading-Camden Combined Statistical Area includes all the counties from the MSA, plus more counties. These extra counties include:
- Berks County, Pennsylvania (home to Reading, PA)
- Atlantic County, New Jersey (home to Atlantic City)
- Cape May County, New Jersey
- Cumberland County, New Jersey
- Kent County, Delaware
How Many People Live in the Delaware Valley?
As of 2020, the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area has over 6.2 million people. This makes it the seventh-largest MSA in the U.S. The larger Philadelphia–Reading–Camden CSA has over 7.3 million people, making it the ninth-largest combined area in the country.
To give you an idea, the population of the main Philadelphia area is larger than that of entire countries like Lebanon or Denmark!
What is the Economy of the Delaware Valley Like?
The Philadelphia area has a very strong economy. In 2021, its total economic output was over $477 billion. This makes it the tenth-largest economy among U.S. metropolitan areas. This amount is similar to the economies of countries like Belgium or Thailand.
Metropolitan Philadelphia is one of the top five places in America for venture capital. This means it's a great place for new businesses to get funding. This is partly because it's close to New York City's financial world and Washington, D.C.'s government offices.
What are the Subregions of the Delaware Valley?
The Philadelphia-Reading-Camden area includes sixteen counties across four states.
- Southeastern Pennsylvania: This part includes five counties. Besides Philadelphia, important towns are Upper Darby Township and Bensalem Township.
- South Jersey: This includes seven counties. Atlantic City and the southern Jersey Shore are popular tourist spots. Other major towns are Cherry Hill and Camden, which is right across the river from Philadelphia.
- Delaware: The two counties in Delaware make up most of the state's land and population. Wilmington is Delaware's largest city.
- Maryland: Only one county in Maryland is part of this area, located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
What are the Largest Cities and Towns?
.jpg)
Here are some of the largest cities and towns in the Delaware Valley:
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Pop. 1,567,872)
- Reading, Pennsylvania (Pop. 87,575)
- Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania (Pop. 82,765)
- Camden, New Jersey (Pop. 74,420)
- Wilmington, Delaware (Pop. 71,502)
- Cherry Hill, New Jersey (Pop. 70,976)
- Gloucester Township, New Jersey (Pop. 64,049)
- Vineland, New Jersey (Pop. 60,876)
- Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania (Pop. 60,354)
What are the Characteristics of the Delaware Valley?
The suburbs of Philadelphia have many large shopping malls. The King of Prussia Mall in Pennsylvania is one of the biggest malls in the U.S. The Cherry Hill Mall in New Jersey was the first indoor mall on the East Coast. Another popular spot is the Christiana Mall in Delaware, where you can enjoy tax-free shopping!
While new buildings and roads are common, many people and leaders work hard to protect natural areas. Older towns like Norristown and West Chester keep their unique community feel, even as suburbs grow around them.
What is the Climate Like?
The Delaware Valley experiences all four seasons. It gets plenty of rain and snow. The climate is mostly a humid subtropical climate, which means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters. Higher areas might have a humid continental climate with colder winters.
Snowfall can change a lot each year and from place to place within the region. There are even two ski resorts nearby for winter fun!
What is the Colonial History of the Delaware Valley?
Long ago, the Delaware Valley was home to the Susquehannock and Lenape Native American tribes. You can still see their names in many places today.
In 1609, the Dutch explored the Delaware Bay. They called the Delaware River the "South River." In 1638, people from Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands started to settle here, creating the colony of New Sweden. However, the Dutch took control again in 1655. Then, in 1664, the English took over the area.
The name Delaware comes from Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr. He arrived in Virginia in 1610 and helped keep the English presence in North America. In the early 1700s, French refugees, called Huguenots, also settled in the Delaware River Valley.
How Do People Get Around? (Transportation)
Many people travel for work and other activities in Philadelphia, Camden, and Wilmington. They use expressways, trains, and buses.
Train Travel
There are different types of train services:
Rapid Transit
- SEPTA trains connect parts of Philadelphia and nearby towns like Upper Darby and Norristown.
- PATCO trains link Philadelphia to Lindenwold, NJ.
Light Rail
- SEPTA also has trolley lines that run on streets and underground in Philadelphia and Delaware County.
- NJ Transit's River Line runs along the Delaware River in New Jersey.
Commuter Rail
- SEPTA Regional Rail connects Philadelphia to many suburbs in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including the Philadelphia International Airport.
- NJ Transit's Atlantic City Line connects Philadelphia to Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Intercity Rail
- Amtrak trains connect Philadelphia to major cities across the U.S., like Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago, and Boston.
Bus Service
You can find many bus services in the Delaware Valley:
- Local buses are run by SEPTA, NJ Transit, and other local agencies.
- Long-distance buses like Greyhound Lines and Megabus connect the area to other cities.
Major Highways
_from_the_overpass_for_Spring_Garden_Street_in_Philadelphia,_Pennsylvania.jpg)
Many major highways run through the Delaware Valley, making it easy to travel by car. These include Interstate 95, Interstate 76, and many U.S. Routes and State Routes.
Delaware River Bridges
Several bridges cross the Delaware River, connecting Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Some famous ones are the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and the Walt Whitman Bridge.
Airports
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is the main airport for the Delaware Valley.
- Other airports in the region include Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) and New Castle Airport (ILG).
Ferry Service
- The Cape May–Lewes Ferry takes cars and people across the mouth of the Delaware Bay.
- The Riverlink Ferry offers rides across the Delaware River between Camden, New Jersey, and Philadelphia.
What are the Colleges and Universities?
The Delaware Valley is home to many colleges and universities. Some of the well-known ones include:
- University of Delaware (Delaware)
- Rowan University (New Jersey)
- Rutgers University–Camden (New Jersey)
- Stockton University (New Jersey)
- University of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania)
- Drexel University (Pennsylvania)
- Temple University (Pennsylvania)
- Villanova University (Pennsylvania)
- Saint Joseph's University (Pennsylvania)
- West Chester University (Pennsylvania)
- La Salle University (Pennsylvania)
- Swarthmore College (Pennsylvania)
What is the Culture of the Delaware Valley?
The Delaware Valley has a rich and unique culture. It's known for its special way of speaking English, called Philadelphia English, and its delicious local foods, like cheesesteaks.
Sports Teams
The region is famous for its passionate sports fans and professional teams:
- Basketball: Philadelphia 76ers (NBA)
- Baseball: Philadelphia Phillies (MLB)
- Football: Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)
- Hockey: Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
- Soccer: Philadelphia Union (MLS)
There are also minor league teams like the Jersey Shore BlueClaws and the Reading Fightin Phils.
Media
The main newspapers in the area are The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News. There are many local TV channels, including CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and PBS affiliates. You can also find many radio stations playing different types of music and news.
What are the Area Codes?
The Delaware Valley uses several different phone area codes depending on the specific location:
- 215/267/445: Philadelphia and its northern suburbs.
- 610/484/835: Southeastern Pennsylvania outside Philadelphia.
- 856: Southwestern New Jersey.
- 609/640: Central and Southeastern New Jersey.
- 302: All of Delaware.
- 410/443/667: Eastern half of Maryland.
- 717/223: South Central Pennsylvania.
Images for kids
-
The drainage basin of the Delaware River
-
A warehouse in South Jersey
See also
In Spanish: Valle de Delaware para niños
