Fact Check: Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania.

Published July 2, 2025

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VERDICT

True

# Fact Check: "Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania." ## What We Know Philadelphia is indeed the largest city in Pennsylvania, with a pop...

Fact Check: "Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania."

What We Know

Philadelphia is indeed the largest city in Pennsylvania, with a population of approximately 1.6 million as of the 2020 census, making it not only the most populous city in the state but also the sixth-most populous city in the United States (Wikipedia). The city is located at the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers in southeastern Pennsylvania and serves as the county seat of Philadelphia County (Wikipedia).

In comparison, the second-largest city in Pennsylvania is Pittsburgh, which has a population of about 303,000 (Wikipedia). This stark difference in population clearly establishes Philadelphia's status as the largest city in the state.

Analysis

The claim that "Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania" is supported by multiple reliable sources, including Wikipedia and the Encyclopaedia Britannica. Both sources confirm Philadelphia's population figures and its ranking as the largest city in Pennsylvania (Wikipedia, Britannica).

The reliability of these sources is generally high; Wikipedia is a widely used reference that is regularly updated and monitored for accuracy, while Britannica is a long-established and reputable encyclopedia known for its scholarly rigor.

Additionally, demographic data from the Pennsylvania state government corroborates these figures, indicating that Philadelphia's population significantly surpasses that of other cities in the state (Pennsylvania Demographics).

There are no credible sources that contradict the claim, and the data consistently aligns with the assertion that Philadelphia holds the title of the largest city in Pennsylvania.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that "Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania" is accurate based on multiple reliable sources that confirm its population and status. The significant population difference between Philadelphia and other cities in Pennsylvania, such as Pittsburgh, further supports this conclusion.

Sources

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