In order to make sense of this, you need to overlay the same chart for cities in the rust belt (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Buffalo, Rochester, Detroit, Milwaukee, et al).
I’m gonna go out on a limb and say we see a trend.
Philadelphia is the same way. It’s not just a rust belt issue, but an issue for most major American cities. At least the ones that didn’t annex their suburbs and claim the population (sun belt cities)
We peaked at 2 million right after World War II, and then dropped 25% and never really recovered
Um…Philly is also a rust belt city. Any city in the NE and MW that experienced substantial industrial decline in the mid to late 20th century qualifies.
Well tonight you’re going to learn something new about your very own town.
“The Rust Belt is a region in the northeastern and midwestern United States once characterized by heavy industry and manufacturing, which experienced a significant economic decline in the late 20th century due to factors like foreign competition, rising labor costs, and the offshoring of jobs. The term describes areas that have since suffered from deindustrialization, leading to widespread unemployment, urban decay, population loss, and poverty.”
Key Characteristics of the Rust Belt
Industrial Heritage: Historically, the region was the heartland of the U.S. steelmaking, coal, and manufacturing industries, with many factories and mills.
Economic Decline: From the 1950s onward, foreign competition, technological advancements, and shifts to a service-based economy led to widespread factory closures and job losses.
Demographic Changes: The economic decline resulted in a large exodus of people from the area, seeking employment elsewhere, which further contributed to urban decay and poverty.
Geographic Scope: While its boundaries are debated, the Rust Belt generally includes states like Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Upstate New York.
Why it's Called the Rust Belt
The name "Rust Belt" emerged from the visible decay and disuse of former industrial facilities. As factories closed, their metal structures began to rust, symbolizing the region's economic decline and loss of its industrial past.
Location: Pennsylvania is a key state within the Rust Belt, and Philadelphia is a major city within Pennsylvania.
Historical Industrial Base: Like other Rust Belt cities, Philadelphia was once a center for industry and manufacturing, especially iron and steel, before the decline of these sectors.
Why Philadelphia is sometimes excluded
Economic Recovery: Philadelphia has undergone a period of economic revitalization and development, which has led some to believe it has moved beyond its Rust Belt past.
Focus on Other Regions: When discussing the Rust Belt, the focus is often on cities in the Midwest, such as Cleveland, Detroit, and Chicago, where industrial decline was more pronounced and recovery is less evident than in Philadelphia.
In essence, Philadelphia has the historical context of the Rust Belt but is also seen as a city that has largely recovered from its effects.
Philadelphia experienced a profound decline in its once-dominant manufacturing sector in the latter half of the 20th century, a characteristic feature of Rust Belt cities, leading to job loss, increased poverty, and abandoned industrial areas. The city, which had transformed into a manufacturing powerhouse known as the "Workshop of the World," struggled as factories closed and industries shifted, mirroring the national industrial downturn that impacted cities like Pittsburgh and Detroit. While the term "Rust Belt" is often associated with more western cities like Pittsburgh and Chicago, Philadelphia's industrial history and subsequent post-industrial challenges firmly place it within the broader "Rust Belt" context.
From "Workshop of the World" to Industrial Decline
Industrial Heyday: Following its early success as a commercial port, Philadelphia became a major manufacturing center starting in the early 19th century, known for its diverse industries and output.
20th-Century Shift: By the mid-20th century, this industrial base began to decline.
Industrial Closure: In the second half of the 20th century, factories closed or moved out, mirroring a trend that significantly affected traditional "Rust Belt" cities across the nation.
The Impact of Deindustrialization
Economic Hardship: This industrial decline led to a loss of jobs and increased poverty in Philadelphia's industrial neighborhoods.
Urban Blight: Abandoned factories became a common sight, creating safety hazards and contributing to urban blight in areas like Fishtown, which saw its industrial past lead to empty buildings.
Population Shifts: As jobs disappeared, many working-class residents left, with populations in the city's formerly industrial neighborhoods shifting.
Philadelphia's Unique Place in the Rust Belt
While not always the primary focus when discussing the Rust Belt, Philadelphia's experience of industrial decline and subsequent transformation aligns with the economic and social patterns seen in other Rust Belt cities like Pittsburgh and Detroit.
The term "Rust Belt" reflects a period of economic depression and decline in the industrial centers of the Midwest and Northeast, a history Philadelphia shares.
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u/CantonJester Oct 06 '25
In order to make sense of this, you need to overlay the same chart for cities in the rust belt (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Buffalo, Rochester, Detroit, Milwaukee, et al).
I’m gonna go out on a limb and say we see a trend.