Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is a commonwealth and one of the states of the
United States of America. It has given its name to the
Pennsylvanian time period in geology. Pennsylvania is called
the Keystone State.
State nickname: "The Keystone State"
Although Swedes and Dutch were Other U.S. States
the first European settlers, th e
Quaker William Penn named Capital Harrisburg
Pennsylvania for the latin Area Ranked 33rd
phrase meaning "Penn's Ê- Total 119,283 km2
woodlands", in honor of his Ê- Land 116,074 km2
father. Today, two major cities Ê- Water 3,208 km2
dominate the state -- Ê- % water 2.7%
Philadelphia, home of the Population Ranked 6th
Liberty Bell, Constitution Hall, Ê- Total (2000) 12,281,054
and a thriving metropolitan Ê- Density 106/km2
area, and Pittsburgh, a busy
inland river port. Pennsylvania Admittance into
is one of the nation's most Union Revolutionary War
historic states. Philadelphia is Ê- Order 2nd
often called the cradle of the Ê- Date December 12, 1787
American Nation. It was here Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
that the Declaration of
Independence and the Latitude 39¡43'N to 42¡N
Constitution were drawn up by Longitude 74¡43'W to 80¡31'W
the founding fathers. The Pocono Width 255 km
Mountains and the Delaware Water Length 455 km
Gap provide popular recreational Elevation Ê
activities. The Pennsylvania Ê -Highest 979 meters
Dutch region in south-central Ê -Mean 335 meters
Pennsylvania is another favorite Ê -Lowest 0 meters
of sightseers. Some Pennsylvania ISO 3166-2: US-PA
German and Dutch groups,
including the Amish and the Mennonites, are called the Plain People; they
live and dress as their ancestors did, with no modern conveniences.
USS Pennsylvania was named in honor of this state.
History
Before the state existed, the area was home to the Delaware, Susquehanna,
Shawnee and other native american tribes.
In 1643, it was settled by Sweden, but control later passed to Netherlands,
and then to Britain.
On March 4, 1681, Charles II of England granted a land charter to William
Penn for the area that now includes Pennsylvannia. Penn then founded a
colony there as a place of religious freedom for Quakers, and named it for
the Latin phrase meaning "Penn's woods".
In 1704 the "three lower counties" New Castle, Kent, and Sussex gained a
separate legislature, and in 1710 a separate executive council, to form the
new colony Delaware.
Pennsylvania and Delaware were two of the thirteen colonies that revolted
against British rule in the American Revolution of 1776. Pennsylvania became
the second state on December 12, 1787 (five days after Delaware became the first).
Benjamin Franklin was one of the most important figures in Pennsylvania's
history, although he was born in Boston, Massachusetts.
Law and Government
The capital of Pennsylvania is Harrisburg and its current governor is Ed
Rendell (Democrat). Pennsylvania's two U.S. senators are Rick Santorum
(Republican) and Arlen Specter (Republican). List of Pennsylvania Governors.
The origin of Pennsylvania's government is unique as it was based on
consensus (as with Quakers) rather than voting.
Geography
See: List of Pennsylvania counties
Pennsylvania is bordered on the north and northeast by New York, on the
east, across the Delaware River by New Jersey, on the south by Delaware,
Maryland, and West Virginia, on the west by Ohio, and on the northwest by
Lake Erie. The Delaware, Susquehanna, Monongahela, Allegheny, and Ohio
Rivers are the major rivers of the state. The capital is Harrisburg.
Pennsylvania is 180 miles north to south and 310 miles east to west. The
total land area is 44,817 square miles, 739,200 acres (1,239 square miles)
of which are bodies of water. It is the 33rd largest state in the United
States. The highest point of 2,213 feet above sea level is at Mt. Davis. The
lowest point is 0 feet above sea level on the Delaware River. Pennsylvania
is in the Eastern time zone.
Economy
Pennsylvania's 1999 total gross state product was $383 billion, placing it
6th in the nation and its 2000 Per Capita Personal Income was $29,539, 18th
in the nation. Its agricultural outputs are dairy products, poultry, cattle,
nursery stock, mushrooms, hogs, and hay. Its industrial outputs are food
processing, chemical products, machinery, electric equipment, and tourism.
Demographics
As of 2000, the population was 12,281,054. When Pennsylvania became a state
in 1787, it had a population of about 300,000.
Important Cities and Towns
* Philadelphia * Wilkes-Barre
* Pittsburgh * Scranton
* Lancaster * Erie
* York * State College
Pennsylvania is also the site of Gettysburg, the site of the Battle of
Gettysburg, the major battle of the American Civil War, and of the
Gettysburg National Cemetery.
Education
Colleges and Universities The Keystone State
State Animal: Whitetail Deer
* Albright College State Beverage: Milk
* Allegheny College State Bird: Ruffed Grouse
* Alvernia College
* American College State Capital: Harrisburg
* Arcadia University State Dog: Great Dane
* Baptist Bible College State Fish: Brook Trout
* Bloomsburg University of
Pennsylvania State Flower: Mountain Laurel
* Bryn Athyn College of the State Insect: Firefly
New Church
* Bryn Mawr College State Song: Pennsylvania
* Bucknell University State Tree: Hemlock
* Cabrini College
* California University of
Pennsylvania
* Carlow College
* Carnegie Mellon University
* Cedar Crest College
* Chatham College
* Chestnut Hill College
* Cheyney University
* Clarion University
* College Misericordia
* Curtis Institute of Music
* Delaware Valley College
* DeSales University
* Dickinson College
* Drexel University
* Duquesne University
* East Stroudsburg University
of Pennsylvania
* Eastern College
* Edinboro University of
Pennsylvania
* Elizabethtown College
* Franklin and Marshall
College
* Gannon University
* Geneva College
* Gettysburg College
* Gratz College
* Grove City College
* Gwynedd Mercy College
* Harrisburg Area Community
College
* Haverford College
* Holy Family College
* Immaculata College
* Indiana University of
Pennsylvania
* Juniata College
* Keystone College
* Kings College
* Kutztown University of
Pennsylvania
* La Roche College
* Lafayette College
* Lancaster Bible College
* Lancaster Theological
Seminary
* LaSalle University
* Lebanon Valley College
* Lehigh University
* Lincoln University
* Lock Haven University of
Pennsylvania
* Lycoming College
* Mansfield University of
Pennsylvania
* Marywood University
* Mercyhurst College
* Messiah College
* Millersville University
* Moore College of Art and
Design
* Moravian College
* Mount Aloysius College
* Muhlenberg College
* Neumann College
* Peirce College
* Pennsylvania College of
Optometry
* Pennsylvania College of
Podiatric Medicine
* Pennsylvania School of Art
and Design
* Pennsylvania State
University System
o Pennsylvania State
University Abington
o Pennsylvania State
University Altoona
o Pennsylvania State
University Beaver
* Pennsylvania State University
System Continued
o Pennsylvania State University
Erie, the Behrend College
o Pennsylvania State University
Berks - Lehigh Valley
o Pennsylvania State University
College of Medicine
o Pennsylvania State University
Commonwealth College
o Pennsylvania State University
Delaware County
o Pennsylvania State University
DuBois
o Pennsylvania State University
Fayette
o Pennsylvania State University
Great Valley
o Pennsylvania State University
Harrisburg
o Pennsylvania State University
Hazleton
o Pennsylvania State University
McKeesport
o Pennsylvania State University
New Kensington
o Pennsylvania State University
Mont Alto
o Pennsylvania College of
Technology
o Pennsylvania State University
Schuylkill
o Pennsylvania State University
Shenango
o Pennsylvania State University
University Park
o Pennsylvania State University
Wilkes-Barre
o Pennsylvania State University
Worthington Scranton
o Pennsylvania State University
York
* Philadelphia Biblical University
* Philadelphia College of Pharmacy
and Science
* Philadelphia University
* Point Park Morris College
* Robert Morris College
* Rosemont College
* Saint Francis College
* Saint Joseph's University
* Saint Vincent College
* Seton Hill College
* Shippensburg University
* Slippery Rock University of
Pennsylvania
* Susquehanna University
* Swarthmore College
* Temple University
* Thiel College
* Thaddeus Stevens State School of
Technology
* Thomas Jefferson University
* University of Pennsylvania
* University of Pittsburgh
o University of Pittsburgh at
Bradford
o University of Pittsburgh at
Greensburg
o University of Pittsburgh at
Johnstown
* University of Scranton
* University of the Arts
* University of the Sciences in
Philadelphia
* Ursinus College
* Valley Forge Christian College
* Villanova University
* Washington and Jefferson College
* Waynesburg College
* West Chester University of
Pennsylvania
* Westminster College
* Westminster Theological Seminary
* Widener University
* Wilkes University
* Wilson College
* York College of Pennsylvania
Professional Sports Teams
* National Football League * Women's United Soccer Association
o Philadelphia Eagles o Philadelphia Charge
o Pittsburgh Steelers * Minor League Baseball Teams
* Major League Baseball o Erie SeaWolves
o Philadelphia Phillies o Altoona Curve
o Pittsburgh Pirates o Harrisburg Senators
* National Basketball o Williamsport Crosscutters
Association o Reading Phillies
o Philadelphia 76ers o Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red
* National Hockey League Barons
o Philadelphia Flyers
o Pittsburgh Penguins
