Philadelphia is not a US state. It is a city in the state of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania and where the US Constitution was signed. The state is Pennsylvania (capital: Harrisburg).
Pennsylvania at a glance
USPS code: PA
Capital: Harrisburg
Largest city: Philadelphia
Region: Northeast
Year admitted: 1787
Why people ask this
"Is Philadelphia a state?" gets searched thousands of times a year. There are three common reasons:
- City is more famous than its state. Travelers see "Philadelphia" on flights, news, sports, and TV — but the state name comes up less often.
- The US has 50 states + many big cities, so it's easy to lose track. Only 17 of the 50 capitals are the largest city of their state — meaning a famous city is usually not the capital.
- People learning US geography from scratch (non-Americans, kids, ESL learners) need a quick disambiguation page like this one. You're welcome.
Quick reference: Philadelphia vs Pennsylvania
If you ever need to fill in a form or quiz:
- City: Philadelphia
- State: Pennsylvania
- State abbreviation (USPS): PA
- State capital: Harrisburg
Master US geography in 5 minutes a day
Statedoku is a free daily puzzle that drops a new US-states grid every morning — including states like Pennsylvania.
Play today's puzzle →FAQ
Is Philadelphia a state?
No — Philadelphia is a US city in Pennsylvania.
What state is Philadelphia in?
Philadelphia is in Pennsylvania.
What is the capital of Pennsylvania?
The capital of Pennsylvania is Harrisburg. The largest city is Philadelphia.
How many cities does Pennsylvania have?
Pennsylvania has dozens of incorporated cities and towns. The largest is Philadelphia. See all of Pennsylvania's major cities and facts.