When the province of PA was formed in 1682, three counties were established: Phila., Bucks, & Chester. Through the years as more people poured into the province & more land was obtained by the Penn family, additional counties were formed: Berks & Montgomery. Today, records will be found in Phila. for Berks County prior to 1752 & for Montgomery County prior to 1784. While the process of county formation continued in PA as late as 1878, changes were made within counties, in township lines, as well. In 1854 the city & county of Phila. were consolidated. This reprinted volume contains a valuable collection of maps which trace the changes in ward boundaries over the years, & also includes a map of the city wards as of 1982.