I think it's bull to say that anybody that doesn't go to Center City on a regular basis isn't part of hte city.

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I've Made a Huge Tiny Mistake

- On the lookout for black people and immigrants

I agree. Center City, although definitely the city's heart, is just one part of the city. Overall, it's not even typical of most of the city of Philadelphia. I think you're missing something if you don't have anything to do with it, but you can still be a Philadelphian none the less.

in nj its easy. east of river = suburbs. west of river = city!

Any place were John Street's is not the boss. All hail our Glorious Leader.A Protector and Provider for his People

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And so it was that later
as the miller told his tale
that her face, at first just ghostly,
turned a whiter shade of pale


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I look at the city as Center City and then the "neighborhoods". I used to say Manayunk is the best of both worlds in that it was an affordable, dense neighborhood within the city but with small yards and the Wissahickon Park.

It has become a different place over the last decade. Every family has at least one car and some 3 or more. Yards are turned over to parking spaces. Many residents work outside the city. Since they all drive, they go where parking is free.

Have we become a suburb of King of Prussia?

From growing up in Lower Merion, I have noticed, people who live in the adjacent suburbs consider themselves philadelphians. My friends and I always go into town, south street, where ever, and hang. And I all ways represent my city, I have philadelphia stuff all over my dorm room. However, people who live in the far suburbs, past norristown, don't usually consider themselves philadelphians, or don't want to admit it. Those are also the people, I have experienced, are the people who still think philadelphia is that big ol bad city. People from the jersey suburbs, just say their from jersey.

On a side note. Going to college in the south, people down here have an interesting view of the city. They either think of it as it was in the 70's, a Detroit. The other view, is people think of it as a smaller nyc. I don't know which is worse. (*none of these people have ever been here*)

i'm from south jersey and my parents were born and raised in south philly, and i was born in center city. i identify with philly, at least more than the people around whos parents have no ties to it. i dunno, i love philly and i usually tell people i'm "about 10 minutes from philly" more than just "south jersey".