Editing Consolidation Era Politics (section)

== Legacy ==

The consolidation era's political conflicts shaped the Philadelphia that emerged in 1854 and influenced the city's subsequent development. The consolidated city encompassed all of Philadelphia County—approximately 130 square miles, compared to the original city's 2 square miles—making it briefly the largest city by area in the United States. The unified government could address urban problems that fragmentation had made intractable, including establishing a professional police force and coordinated fire protection. However, the tensions of the consolidation era persisted: neighborhoods retained distinct identities, political organizations adapted to the new structure, and the relationship between center and periphery remained contested. Understanding the consolidation era is essential to understanding how Philadelphia became the city it is today—a vast municipality whose neighborhoods often feel like separate communities, reflecting the independent municipalities they once were.<ref name="warner"/>