The collections found in the Philadelphia City Archives are typical county records. That they document Philadelphia's history means that they can be used to much larger effect, by tracing the development of the country's first major trading center and its role in establishing both regional and national commercial networks. Most relevant to economic and cultural historians using this guide are county court records, district and borough records before the city's consolidation in 1854, general financial and assessment records, and records dealing with real estate issues, from deeds to internal improvements.