At the time the American colonies went to war with England, which American city had the largest population?

During the era of the American Revolution, the continent's most populous and influential urban center was the bustling metropolis on the Delaware River. With an estimated 40,000 residents in 1776, it far surpassed its rivals, including New York with roughly 25,000 people and Boston with about 16,000. This thriving port was a magnet for diverse immigrants and a hub of transatlantic commerce, making it the second-largest city in the entire British Empire, surpassed only by London itself.

The city's size and central location among the thirteen colonies made it the logical heart of the revolutionary movement. It was here that the First and Second Continental Congresses convened to debate the colonies' future, and where the Declaration of Independence was ultimately signed in the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. The presence of influential figures like Benjamin Franklin further cemented its reputation as a center for political thought, innovation, and American culture, making it the de facto capital of the emerging nation.