I've been thinking about this for the longest and that is understanding the history of this city and it's role that it played in US history. We all know that it's the birthplace of America and where the Declaration of Independence was signed and the home of the Liberty Bell. What I've been thinking about is that Philadelphia should be the Gateway to PA. I understand that there are already tours that go to Reading, Valley Forge, and Amish country, but I look at NYC, Boston, and DC, and I see them playing their roles as being gateways to their respective regions, and I see Phila not really promoting itself. I still wish we had more international carriers like Alitalia, SAS Scandinavian, KLM Royal Dutch, Japan Air Lines, and Virgin Airlines in our airport, and still wish we had a bigger subway system and a bigger commuter rail system serving all of the Delaware Valley, and deep down, wish we was always a big immigration center like NYC and Boston currently is so we wouldn't talk about the population loss, the high city taxes, or the lack of diversity. Sometimes I get tired of hearing of Phila being just a black and white city. I know we have a large Puerto Rican population, but I believe we can do better than that. Personally, I feel that if Phila does good, than the whole commonwealth of PA can do just as good. If immigrants land on PA, then they can help the smaller cities like Allentown, Reading, Lancaster, York, Harrisburg, and even our western counterparts like Pittsburgh, Johnstown, Altoona, and even Erie. Sure the city seems like it's doing better, but I still feel that's it's missing something and even the numbers speak for itself. Please look at euroamericans.net for the Philadelphia metro are and jameskenney.com, go to issues, and look at the Plan to Attract New Philadelphians. that's my belief about the city.

insert Baltimore for Philadelphia and MD for PA and this is exactly how I feel.

I always thought that MD was benefitting from DC. I guess I was wrong.

I def. think that Philly is the gateway to PA but I'm not sure of it being the gateway to anywhere else.

I already think Philly is the gateway.

I def. think that Philly is the gateway to PA but I'm not sure of it being the gateway to anywhere else.

delaware.

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are the centers of everything in the Commonwealth except state lawmaking, deer hunting and cross burning and Philadelphia is the top of the totem pole. Take away the Philadelphia region and this state loses nearly half its population and its largest economic engine, its gateway to world cities, its cultural capital and the thing that makes this state relevant to the rest of the Northeastern United States.

Anyone that thinks otherwise or can't see it is a fool of the most benighted variety. Unless they say Delaware, then it's all good:)

well said VZ!

I always thought that MD was benefitting from DC. I guess I was wrong.
Dont get me wrong. It does in lots of ways, but its also a negative in some aspects.

I would say Philly is the gateway to the Delaware Valley - South Jersey, Atl City, ALL of Delaware, York, Lancaster, AB(E) and the in-betweens. It just doesn't market itself well in these ways.

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are the centers of everything in the Commonwealth except state lawmaking, deer hunting and cross burning and Philadelphia is the top of the totem pole. Take away the Philadelphia region and this state loses nearly half its population and its largest economic engine, its gateway to world cities, its cultural capital and the thing that makes this state relevant to the rest of the Northeastern United States.

Anyone that thinks otherwise or can't see it is a fool of the most benighted variety. Unless they say Delaware, then it's all good:)


I'm pretty sure that the philly metro only has at max 4 million people in the state. much of its metro is in jersey and delaware. So that's a third the population.

plus, one of the cool parts about PA is all its small and mid-sized towns. people in allentown, lancaster and reading don't really commute to philly for much besides sports games (which is why they aren't considered part of the metro area). so its not like it dominates its region like nyc dominates the lower hudson valley or long island. meaning it may be the largest cultural center in the state, but that's not the same as the center of culture for the rest of the state. especially not the western half.

anyhow, I think it would be good to consolidate philly's reputation as a gateway to the midatlantic. but the only way the rest of the state will give a damn or partake is if they tread lightly, and realize the rest of the state is quite proud of their own distinct heritages.

I would say Philly is the gateway to the Delaware Valley - South Jersey, Atl City, ALL of Delaware, York, Lancaster, AB(E) and the in-betweens. It just doesn't market itself well in these ways.

how is philly a gateway to those areas? I think I'm confused about what the term gateway means.

much of york uses bwi and roots for the orioles. many in the Lehigh Valley (which is what residents call ABE) migrated from north jersey and new york. Especially in Easton.

clarification?

Either way, phillys going to be the gateway this weekend. Live 8 will be crazy :crazy:

PHILLY ROCKS AND YOU ALL SUCK!!!!

I'm sorry that was uncalled for...

PHILLY SUCKS!

...oh wait, no it doesn't.

^LOL... It sure as hell better not.

YOU ARE BOTH CRAZY!!!!!! :jk: :tongue3:

how is philly a gateway to those areas? I think I'm confused about what the term gateway means.

much of york uses bwi and roots for the orioles. many in the Lehigh Valley (which is what residents call ABE) migrated from north jersey and new york. Especially in Easton.

clarification?

Philly is hundreds of years old. Even though many parts may be independent nowadays, it really leaves its mark in terms of architecture, lingual accent, sports teams, and history on the surrounding area.

It's strange to describe, but little things like old railroads, colonization patterns, dutch names of roads, rivers, etc makes the area surrounding Philly pretty uniform.

Philly is hundreds of years old. Even though many parts may be independent nowadays, it really leaves its mark in terms of architecture, lingual accent, sports teams, and history on the surrounding area.

It's strange to describe, but little things like old railroads, colonization patterns, dutch names of roads, rivers, etc makes the area surrounding Philly pretty uniform.

I guess that part of it being hundreds of years old is kind of my point. Take Bethlehem for example, my hometown. It was founded in 1742, when the 70 miles to philly meant it was a light year away. So it grew a solid foundation until the advent of the railroads in the late 1800's, when it formed links with both New York and Philadelphia. In fact, It created these links on its own through the Lehigh Valley Railroad, which had its iron (and later steel) supplied locally, fired by coal supplied locally.

my point is that many towns in southeast PA (and jersey and delaware) were this independent historically, which gave rise to industrial giants like Bethlehem Steel, Dupont, Mack Trucks (moved from NYC to Allentown in the 1890's), Hershey Foods, etc. that were marketed nationwide and internationally, without Philadelphia capital or involvement. That makes it more difficult to make the case that it is the historic gateway.

But you are right that the areas are historically very similar, even if they didn't necessarily rely on Philadelphia in their development. So that could be the angle that Philly uses in marketing itself as a gateway to the area.