"[1] The paper had multiple mottos: "A General Interest Miscellaneous Newspaper" and "the Periodic Journal of Urban Particulars" were printed above the masthead.

In issue twenty, of winter 2004, after President George W. Bush was reelected, the second headline after "God Help Us" read, "Reverend Rove's Red Rubes Rock Rickety Republic / Righteous Rabble Ratifies Rogue Ruler's Reign."

The Independent was sold in at least 60 stores and restaurants in Philadelphia including the Weavers Way (co-op), Wooden Shoe Books and Records, and Reading Terminal Market.

Outside of the city, the paper was sold at locations in Doylestown, New Hope, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Brooklyn, Chicago, and Portland.

In issue 21, released in March 2005, the Editors announced a temporary but possibly permanent hiatus: "We may start up again one day, and if we do, we promise our second volume will be even better than our first.