Pennsylvania

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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Flag of Pennsylvania Seal Nickname(s): Keystone State, Quaker State, Coal State, Oil State, State of Independence Motto(s): Virtue, Liberty and Independence
Demonym	Pennsylvanian
Capital	Harrisburg
Largest city	Philadelphia
Largest metro area	Delaware Valley
Area	Ranked 33rd in the US
- Total	46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)
- Width	280 miles (455 km)
- Length	160 miles (255 km)
- % water	2.7
- Latitude	39°43′ N to 42°16′ N
- Longitude	74°41′ W to 80°31′ W
Population	Ranked 6th in the US
- Total	12,448,279 (2008 est.)[1]
- Density	274.02/sq mi  (105.80/km²) Ranked 10th in the US
Elevation
- Highest point	Mount Davis[2] 3,213 ft  (979 m)
- Mean	1,099 ft  (335 m)
- Lowest point	Delaware River[2] 0 ft  (0 m)
Admission to Union	December 12, 1787 (2nd)
Governor	Edward G. Rendell (D)
Lieutenant Governor	Joseph B. Scarnati III (R)
U.S. Senators	Arlen Specter (R) Bob Casey, Jr. (D)
U.S. House delegation	12 Democrats, 7 Republicans (list)
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Abbreviations	PA Penn. or Penna. US-PA
Website	www.pa.gov

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( /ˌpɛnsɨlˈveɪnjə/ (help·info)), often colloquially referred to as PA (its postal abbreviation which succeeds the archaic Penn. and Penna. as common abbreviations) by natives and Northeasterners, is a state located in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and a water border with Canada to the north, and New Jersey to the east. The state's most populated city is Philadelphia.

Pennsylvania has been known as the Keystone State since 1802,^[3] based in part upon its central location among the original Thirteen Colonies forming the United States. Pennsylvania is also nicknamed the "Keystone State" because of the number of important American documents signed in the state (such as the Declaration of Independence). It was also a keystone state economically, having both the industry common to the North, making such wares as Conestoga wagons^[4] and rifles,^[5] and the agriculture common to the South, producing feed, fiber, food, and tobacco.^[6]

Another one of Pennsylvania's nicknames is the Quaker State; in colonial times, it was known officially as the Quaker Province,^[7] in recognition of Quaker^[8] William Penn's First Frame of Government^[9] constitution for Pennsylvania that guaranteed liberty of conscience. He knew of the hostility^[10] Quakers faced when they opposed religious ritual, taking oaths, violence, war and military service, and what they viewed as ostentatious frippery.^[11]

Pennsylvania has 51 miles (82 km)^[12] of coastline along Lake Erie and 57 miles (92 km)^[13] of shoreline along the Delaware Estuary.

Contents 1 Geography 2 Climate 3 History 4 Demographics 4.1 Religion 4.2 Pennsylvania Dutch 5 Economy 5.1 Agriculture 6 Politics 6.1 Government of the Commonwealth 6.1.1 Governor 6.1.2 General Assembly 6.1.3 Districts 6.1.4 Taxation 6.2 Representation in the 111th Congress 6.3 Regional strength 7 Important cities and municipalities 8 Recreation 9 Transportation 10 Sports 11 Food 12 State symbols 13 Gallery 14 See also 15 References 16 External links

[edit] Geography

Pennsylvania is 170 miles (274 km) north to south and 283 miles (455 km) east to west.^[14] Of a total 46,055 square miles (119,282 km²), 44,817 square miles (116,075 km²) are land, 490 square miles (1,269 km²) are inland waters and 749 square miles (1,940 km²) are waters in Lake Erie.^[15] It is the 33rd largest state in the United States.^[16]

The bounds of the state are the Mason-Dixon Line (39° 43' N) in the south, the Delaware River in east, 80° 31' W on the west, and the 42° N parallel on the north, with the exception of a short segment on the western end, where a triangle extends north to Lake Erie. Pennsylvania borders six other states: New York to the north; New Jersey to the east; Delaware and Maryland southeast; West Virginia southwest, and finally Ohio to the west. Pennsylvania also shares a water border with Canada.

It has cities of Philadelphia in the south-east, Pittsburgh in the south-west, tri-cities of Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton in the central-east, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre in the north east, and Erie in the north-west, with state capital Harrisburg on the Susquehanna River in the central region of the commonwealth.

[edit] Climate

Pennsylvania's diverse geography also produces a variety of climates. Straddling two major zones, the southeastern corner of the state has the warmest climate. Greater Philadelphia lies at the southernmost tip of the humid continental climate zone, with some characteristics of the humid subtropical climate that lies in Delaware and Maryland to the south. Moving toward the mountainous interior of the state, the climate becomes markedly colder, the number of cloudy days increases, and winter snowfall amounts are greater. Western areas of the state, particularly cities near Lake Erie, can receive over 100 inches (254 cm) of snowfall annually, and the entire state receives plentiful rainfall throughout the year.

Monthly Normal High and Low Temperatures For Various Pennsylvania Cities in Fahrenheit
City	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Scranton	34/18	37/20	47/28	59/38	71/48	78/57	83/61	81/60	72/53	61/42	49/34	39/24
Erie	33/20	36/21	45/28	56/38	67/49	76/59	80/64	79/63	72/56	61/46	49/36	39/27
Pittsburgh	37/20	39/21	50/29	62/38	71/48	80/56	85/62	83/60	76/53	64/41	53/33	42/25
Harrisburg	38/23	41/25	51/33	63/42	73/51	81/61	86/66	84/64	76/57	64/45	53/36	42/28
Philadelphia	39/25	42/28	51/35	62/44	72/55	81/64	86/70	84/69	77/61	66/49	55/40	44/31
Allentown	35/19	39/21	49/29	60/38	71/48	79/58	84/63	82/61	74/53	63/41	51/33	40/24
Philadelphia, Scranton, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Erie, Allentown

[edit] History

Before the Commonwealth was settled, the area was home to the Delaware (also known as Lenni Lenape), Susquehannock, Iroquois, Eriez, Shawnee, and other Native American tribes.^[17]

In 1681, Charles II granted a land charter^[18] to William Penn, to repay a debt of £20,000 (around $30,000,000 in 2007^[19]) owed to William's father, Admiral Penn. This was one of the largest land grants to an individual in history.^[20] It was called Pennsylvania, meaning "Penn's Woods", in honor of Admiral Penn. William Penn, who had wanted his province to be named "Sylvania", was embarrassed at the change, fearing that people would think he had named it after himself, but King Charles would not rename the grant.

Penn established a government with two innovations that were much copied in the New World: the county commission, and freedom of religious conviction.^[20]

Between 1730 and when it was shut down by Parliament with the Currency Act of 1764, the Pennsylvania Colony made its own paper money to account for the shortage of actual gold and silver. The paper money was called Colonial Scrip. The Colony issued "bills of credit" which were as good as gold or silver coins because of their legal tender status. Since they were issued by the government and not a banking institution, it was an interest-free proposition, largely defraying the expense of the government and therefore taxation of the people. It also promoted general employment and prosperity since the Government used discretion and did not issue too much to inflate the currency. Benjamin Franklin had a hand in creating this currency, of which he said its utility was never to be disputed, and it also met with the "cautious approval" of Adam Smith.^[21]

After the Stamp Act Congress of 1765, Delegate John Dickinson of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania wrote the Declaration of Rights and Grievances. The Congress was the first meeting of the thirteen colonies, called at the request of the Massachusetts Assembly, but only nine colonies sent delegates.^[22] Dickinson then wrote Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania, To the Inhabitants of the British Colonies, which were published in the Pennsylvania Chronicle between December 2, 1767, and February 15, 1768.^[23]

When the Founding Fathers of the United States were to convene in Philadelphia in 1774, 12 colonies sent representatives to the First Continental Congress.^[24] The First Continental Congress drew up and signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia,^[25] but when that city was captured by the British, the Continental Congress escaped westward, meeting at the Lancaster courthouse on Saturday, September 27, 1777, and then to York. There they drew up the Articles of Confederation that formed 13 independent colonies into a new nation. Later, the Constitution was written, and Philadelphia was once again chosen to be cradle to the new American Nation.^[26]

Pennsylvania became the second state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on December 12, 1787,^[27] five days after Delaware became the first.

Dickinson College of Carlisle was the first college founded in the United States. Established in 1773, the college was ratified five days after the Treaty of Paris on September 9, 1783. The school was founded by Benjamin Rush and named after John Dickinson.

For half a century, the Commonwealth's legislature met at various places in the general Philadelphia area before starting to meet regularly in Independence Hall in Philadelphia for 63 years.^[28] But it needed a more central location, as for example the Paxton Boys massacres of 1763 had made them aware. So, in 1799 the legislature moved to the Lancaster Courthouse,^[28] and finally in 1812 to Harrisburg.^[28] The legislature met in the old Dauphin County Court House until December 1821,^[28] when the Redbrick Capitol was finished. It burned down in 1897, presumably because of a faulty flue.^[28] The legislature met at Grace Methodist Church on State Street (still standing), until the present capitol was finished in 1907.^[28]

The new state Capitol drew rave reviews.^[28] Its dome was inspired by the domes of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and the United States Capitol.^[28] President Theodore Roosevelt called it the "the most beautiful state Capitol in the nation", and said "It's the handsomest building I ever saw" at the dedication. In 1989, the New York Times praised it as "grand, even awesome at moments, but it is also a working building, accessible to citizens ... a building that connects with the reality of daily life".^[28]

Pennsylvania accounts for nine percent of all wooded areas in the United States. In 1923 President Calvin Coolidge established the Allegheny National Forest under the authority of the Weeks Act of 1911 in the northwest part of the state in Elk, Forest, McKean, and Warren Counties for the purposes of timber production and watershed protection in the Allegheny River basin. The Allegheny is the state's only national forest.

James Buchanan, of Franklin County, was the only bachelor President of the United States^[29] and the only one to be born in Pennsylvania. The Battle of Gettysburg — the major turning point of the Civil War — took place near Gettysburg.^[30] An estimated 350,000 Pennsylvanians served in the Union Army forces along with 8,600 African American military volunteers.^[31]

Pennsylvania was also the home of the first commercially drilled oil well. In 1859, near Titusville, Pennsylvania, Edwin L. Drake successfully drilled the well, which led to the first major oil boom in United States history.

[edit] Demographics

Demographics of Pennsylvania (csv)
By race	White	Black	AIAN*	Asian	NHPI*
2000 (total population)	87.60%	10.71%	0.43%	2.04%	0.07%
2000 (Hispanic only)	2.74%	0.44%	0.06%	0.03%	0.02%
2005 (total population)	86.83%	11.20%	0.45%	2.46%	0.09%
2005 (Hispanic only)	3.52%	0.53%	0.07%	0.05%	0.02%
Growth 2000–05 (total population)	0.32%	5.83%	5.64%	22.23%	18.99%
Growth 2000–05 (non-Hispanic only)	-0.64%	5.21%	2.77%	21.86%	14.13%
Growth 2000–05 (Hispanic only)	29.86%	20.24%	23.61%	45.64%	35.44%
* AIAN is American Indian or Alaskan Native; NHPI is Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

The center of population of Pennsylvania is located in Perry County, in the borough of Duncannon.^[32]

As of 2006, Pennsylvania has an estimated population of 12,440,621, which is an increase of 35,273 from the previous year, and an increase of 159,567 since the year 2000. Net migration from other states resulted in a decrease of 27,718, and immigration from other countries resulted in an increase of 126,007. Net migration to the Commonwealth was 98,289. Migration of native Pennsylvanians resulted in a decrease of 100,000 people. In 2006, 5.00% of Pennsylvanians were foreign born (621,480 people).^[33] The state has an estimated 2005 poverty rate of 11.9%.^[34] The state also has the 3rd highest proportion of elderly (65+) citizens in 2005.^[34]

Foreign-born Pennsylvanians are largely from Asia (36.0%), Europe (35.9%), Latin America (30.6%), 5% coming from Africa, 3.1% coming from North America, and 0.4% coming from Oceania.

Pennsylvania's reported population of Hispanics, especially among the Asian, Hawaiian and White races, has markedly increased in recent years.^[35] The Hispanic population is greatest in Allentown, Reading and around Philadelphia, with over 20% being Hispanic. It is not clear how much of this change reflects a changing population, and how much reflects increased willingness to self-identify minority status.

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1790	434,373		—
1800	602,365		38.7%
1810	810,091		34.5%
1820	1,049,458		29.5%
1830	1,348,233		28.5%
1840	1,724,033		27.9%
1850	2,311,786		34.1%
1860	2,906,215		25.7%
1870	3,521,951		21.2%
1880	4,282,891		21.6%
1890	5,258,113		22.8%
1900	6,302,115		19.9%
1910	7,665,111		21.6%
1920	8,720,017		13.8%
1930	9,631,350		10.5%
1940	9,900,180		2.8%
1950	10,498,012		6.0%
1960	11,319,366		7.8%
1970	11,793,909		4.2%
1980	11,863,895		0.6%
1990	11,881,643		0.1%
2000	12,281,054		3.4%

Pennsylvania's population was reported as 5.9% under 5 and 23.8% under 18, with 15.6% were 65 or older. Females made up 51.7% of the population.^[36]

The five largest ancestry groups self-reported in Pennsylvania are: German (27.66%), Irish (17.66%), Italian (12.82%), English (8.89%) and Polish (7.23%).^[37]

The population around the Philadelphia area is beginning to decrease due to over-crowding concerns. Most people are starting to buy land in rural areas of Pennsylvania. The same population concern is occurring in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The reduction of the steel industry in the Pittsburgh region has greatly impacted the population. With health care on the rise however, Pittsburgh's (and surrounding areas') population is beginning to increase again.

A rapidly growing population is occurring in the Lower Susquehanna Valley of Pennsylvania (Particularly Lancaster, York, Gettysburg, and Harrisburg). Most residents are natives of Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia or have jobs in those cities. The population in this region is exceeding two million people already.

[edit] Religion

“

The new sovereign also enacted several wise and wholesome laws for his colony, which have remained invariably the same to this day. The chief is, to ill–treat no person on account of religion, and to consider as brethren all those who believe in one God. - Voltaire, speaking of William Penn[38]

”

Of all the colonies, only in Rhode Island was religious freedom as secure as in Pennsylvania - and one result was an incredible religious diversity, one which continues to this day.^[39]

Pennsylvania's population in 2000 was 12,281,054. Of these, 8,448,193 were estimated to belong to some sort of organized religion. According to the Association of religion data archives at Pennsylvania State University, reliable data exists for 7,116,348 religious adherents in Pennsylvania in 2000, following 115 different faiths.^[40] Their affiliations, including percentage of all adherents, were:^[41]

• Roman Catholic: 3,802,524 (53.43%)
• Orthodox: 75,354 (1.06%)
• Mainline Protestant: 2,140,682 (30%)
  • United Methodist Church: 659,350 (9.27%)
  • Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: 611,913 (8.60%)
  • Presbyterian Church: 324,714 (4.56%)
  • United Church of Christ: 241,844 (3.40%)
  • American Baptist Churches in the USA: 132,858 (1.87%)
  • Episcopal Church: 116,511 (1.64%)
• Evangelical Protestant: 704,204 (10%)
  • Assemblies of God: 84,153 (1.18%)
  • Church of the Brethren: 52,684 (0.74%)
  • Mennonite Church USA: 48,215 (0.68%)
  • Christian and Missionary Alliance: 45,926 (0.65%)
  • Southern Baptist Convention: 44,432 (0.62%)
  • Independent Non-charismatic churches: 42,992 (0.60%)
• Other theology: 393,584 (5.53%)
  • Jewish estimate: 283,000 (3.98%)
  • Muslim estimate: 71,190 (1.00%)
  • Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations: 6,778 (0.10%)
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: 31,032 (0.44%)

Pennsylvania is also noted for having the highest concentration of an Amish population in the United States.^[42]

While Pennsylvania owes its existence to Quakers and many of the older trappings of the Commonwealth are rooted in the teachings of the Religious Society of Friends (as they are officially known), practicing Quakers are a small minority today.

[edit] Pennsylvania Dutch

The term "Dutch," when referring to the Pennsylvania Dutch, means "German" or "Teutonic" rather than "Netherlander." Germans, in their own language, call themselves "Deutsch," which in English became, misleadingly, "Dutch."^[43] The Pennsylvania Dutch language is a descendant of German, in the West Central German dialect family. The language is only very rarely used as a first language among Pennsylvanians; however, in eastern and south central areas of the state it is a common second language and greatly influences dialect and accent.

[edit] Economy

Pennsylvania's 2007 total gross state product (GSP) of $531.31 billion^[44] ranks the state 6^th in the nation. If Pennsylvania were an independent country, its economy would rank as the 18^th largest in the world. On a per-capita basis, Pennsylvania's per-capita GSP of $34,619 ranks 26^th among the 50 states.^[44]

Philadelphia in the southeast corner, Pittsburgh in the southwest corner, Erie in the northwest corner, Scranton-Wilkes-Barre in the northeast corner, and Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton in the east central region are urban manufacturing centers. Much of the Commonwealth is rural; this dichotomy affects state politics as well as the state economy.^[45] Philadelphia is home to eight Fortune 500 companies,^[46] with more located in suburbs like King of Prussia; it's a leader in the financial^[47] and insurance industry.^[48] Pittsburgh is home to seven Fortune 500 companies, including U.S. Steel, PPG Industries, H.J. Heinz, and Alcoa.^[46] In all, Pennsylvania is home to fifty Fortune 500 companies.^[46]

As in the US as a whole and in most states, the largest private employer in the Commonwealth is Wal-Mart, followed by the University of Pennsylvania, United Parcel Service and Giant Food (called Stop and Shop in other states). The largest manufacturing employer is Merck.^[49]

[edit] Agriculture

Pennsylvania ranks 19^th overall in agricultural production,^[50] but 1^st in mushrooms, 3^rd in Christmas trees and layer chickens, 4^th in nursery and sod, milk, corn for silage, grapes grown (including juice grapes),^[51] and horses production. It is also 8^th in the nation for Wine County, Pennsylvania.^[51]

[edit] Politics

[edit] Government of the Commonwealth

Pennsylvania has had five constitutions during its statehood:^[52] 1776, 1790, 1838, 1874, and 1968. Prior to that, the province of Pennsylvania was governed for a century by a Frame of Government, of which there were four versions: 1682, 1683, 1696, and 1701.^[52] The capital of the Commonwealth is Harrisburg. The legislature meets in the State Capitol there.

[edit] Governor

The current Governor is Ed Rendell, a former head of the Democratic National Committee who began as a popular District Attorney and mayor in Philadelphia.^[53] The other elected officials composing the executive branch are the Lieutenant Governor Joseph Scarnati, Attorney General Tom Corbett, Auditor General Jack Wagner, and State Treasurer Robert McCord.^[54]

[edit] General Assembly

Pennsylvania has a bicameral legislature set up by Commonwealth's constitution in 1790. The original Frame of Government of William Penn had a unicameral legislature.^[55] The General Assembly includes 50 Senators^[56] and 203 Representatives.^[57] Joseph B. Scarnati III is currently President Pro Tempore of the State Senate,^[58] Dominic Pileggi the Majority Leader,^[59] and Robert J. Mellow the Minority Leader.^[60] Keith R. McCall is Speaker of the House of Representatives,^[61] with Todd A. Eachus as Majority Leader^[62] and Samuel Smith as Minority Leader.^[63] As of the 2008 elections, the Democrats have a narrow majority in the state house and the Republicans retain their lead in the state senate.

[edit] Districts

Pennsylvania is divided into 60 judicial districts,^[64] most of which (except Philadelphia) have magisterial district judges (formerly called district justices and justices of the peace), who preside mainly over preliminary hearings in felony and misdemeanor offenses, all minor (summary) criminal offenses, and small civil claims.^[64] Most criminal and civil cases originate in the Courts of Common Pleas, which also serve as appellate courts to the district judges and for local agency decisions.^[64] The Superior Court hears all appeals from the Courts of Common Pleas not expressly designated to the Commonwealth Court or Supreme Court. It also has original jurisdiction to review warrants for wiretap surveillance.^[64] The Commonwealth Court is limited to appeals from final orders of certain state agencies and certain designated cases from the Courts of Common Pleas.^[64] The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the final appellate court. All judges in Pennsylvania are elected; the chief justice is determined by seniority.^[64] The state holds 21 electoral votes.^[34]

[edit] Taxation

Sales tax provides 39% of Commonwealth's revenue; personal income tax 34%; motor vehicle taxes about 12%, and taxes on cigarettes and alcohol beverage 5%.^[65]

Counties, municipalities, and school districts levy taxes on real estate. In addition, some local bodies assess a wage tax on personal income. Generally, the total wage tax rate is capped at 1% of income but some municipalities with home rule charters may charge more than 1%. Thirty-two of the Commonwealth's sixty-seven counties levy a personal property tax on stocks, bonds, and similar holdings.

[edit] Representation in the 111th Congress

Pennsylvania's two U.S. Senators in the 111th Congress are Arlen Specter and Bob Casey, Jr.

Pennsylvania's U.S. Representatives for the term beginning January 2009 are Robert Brady (1^st), Chaka Fattah (2^nd), Kathy Dahlkemper (3^rd), Jason Altmire (4^th), Glenn "G.T." Thompson (5^th), Jim Gerlach (6^th), Joe Sestak (7^th), Patrick Murphy (8^th), Bill Shuster (9^th), Chris Carney (10^th), Paul E. Kanjorski (11^th), John Murtha (12^th), Allyson Schwartz (13^th), Michael F. Doyle (14^th), Charlie Dent (15^th), Joe Pitts (16^th), Tim Holden (17^th), Tim Murphy (18^th), and Todd Russell Platts (19^th).^[66]

See map of congressional districts

[edit] Regional strength

In the past decade, no political party has been clearly dominant in Pennsylvania. This, combined with Pennsylvania's rank of 6th in the country in population, has made it one of the most important swing states. Democrats are strong in urban Philadelphia and the areas of Pittsburgh, Reading, Allentown, Erie, Johnstown, State College and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Republicans are generally dominant in the areas of Altoona, York, Lancaster, Williamsport, and the vast rural areas that make up the balance of the Commonwealth. Traditionally, Republicans have also fared well in the densely populated and wealthy suburbs of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, but in the 1990s and 2000s many of these suburbs began to associate more with the Democratic Party.

Since 1992, Pennsylvania has been trending Democratic in Presidential elections, voting for Bill Clinton twice by large margins, and slightly closer in 2000 for Al Gore. In the 2004 Presidential Election, Senator John F. Kerry beat President George W. Bush in Pennsylvania 2,938,095 (50.92%) to 2,793,847 (48.42%). Most recently, in the 2008 Presidential Election, Democrat Barack Obama defeated Republican John McCain in Pennsylvania, 3,184,778 (55%) to 2,584,088 (44%).

[edit] Important cities and municipalities

Municipalities in Pennsylvania are incorporated as cities of several classes, as boroughs, as townships of several classes, or under home rule charters. A "village," often identified by a roadside sign, is unincorporated, and is merely a locale without distinct boundaries. There are 2,567 municipalities in the state.^[34]

There is some confusion about the number of "towns" in Pennsylvania. In 1870, Bloomsburg, the county seat of Columbia County was incorporated as a town, and is recognized by state government publications as "the only incorporated town" in Pennsylvania.^[67][68][69] However, in 1975, McCandless Township, in Allegheny County adopted a home rule charter under the name "Town of McCandless".^[70][71]

The ten most populated cities in Pennsylvania are:

1. Philadelphia (1,449,634)
2. Pittsburgh (312,819)
3. Allentown (108,603)
4. Erie (103,717)
5. Reading (81,207)
6. Bethlehem (72,531)
7. Scranton (72,485)
8. Lancaster (55,381)
9. Altoona (49,523)
10. Harrisburg (47,196)

[edit] Recreation

Pennsylvania is home to the nation's first zoo, the Philadelphia Zoo.^[72] Other long-accredited AZA zoos include the Erie Zoo and the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. The Lehigh Valley Zoo and ZOOAMERICA are other notable zoos. The Commonwealth boasts some of the finest museums in the country, including the Carnegie Museums in Pittsburgh, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and several others. One of the unique museums is the Houdini Museum in Scranton, the only building in the world devoted to the legendary magician.^[73] Pennsylvania is also home to the National Aviary, located in Pittsburgh.

All 121 state parks in Pennsylvania feature free admission.

Pennsylvania offers a number of notable amusement parks, including Camel Beach, Conneaut Lake Park, Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, Dutch Wonderland, DelGrosso Amusement Park, Hersheypark, Idlewild Park, Kennywood, Knoebels, Lakemont Park, Sandcastle Waterpark, Sesame Place, Great Wolf Lodge and Waldameer Park. Pennsylvania also is home to the largest indoor waterpark resort on the East Coast, Splash Lagoon in Erie.

There are also notable music festivals that take place in Pennsylvania. These include Musikfest in Bethlehem, the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Creation Festival, the Great Allentown Fair and Purple Door.

There are nearly one million licensed hunters in Pennsylvania. Whitetail deer, cottontail rabbits, squirrel, turkey, and grouse are common game species. Pennsylvania is considered one of the finest wild turkey hunting states in the Union, alongside Texas and Alabama. Sport hunting in Pennsylvania is a massive boost for the Commonwealth's economy. A report from The Center for Rural Pennsylvania (a Legislative Agency of the Pennsylvania General Assembly) reported that hunting, fishing, and furtaking generated a total of $9.6 billion statewide.

The Boone and Crockett Club shows that five of the ten largest (skull size) black bear entries came from the state.^[74] The state also has a tied record for the largest hunter shot black bear in the Boone & Crockett books at 733 lb (332 kg) and a skull of 23 3/16 tied with a bear shot in California in 1993.^[74] The largest bear ever found dead was in Utah in 1975 and second largest was shot by a poacher in the state in 1987.^[74] Pennsylvania holds the second most number of Boone & Crockett recorded record black bears at 183 second only to Wisconsin's 299.^[74]

[edit] Transportation

There are 69 railroads in the state and 5,100 miles (8,200 km) of railways which is 5th in the nation.^[34] There are 134 public-use airports and 6 international airports.^[34] The Port of Erie is the state's only Great Lakes port and provides access to the St. Lawrence Seaway. It boasts some of the finest port facilities on the Great Lakes. The port of Pittsburgh is the 2nd largest inland port in the United States.^[34] There are 120,000 miles (190,000 km) of highways in the state.^[31] SEPTA, based in Philadelphia, is the fifth largest transportation agency in the United States. The Port Authority of Allegheny County, which services Pittsburgh, is the 12th largest transportation agency in the United States.

[edit] Sports

Pennsylvania is home to many professional sports teams, including the Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball, the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League, the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association, the Erie Bayhawks of the National Basketball Association Development League, the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League, and the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League. Among them, these teams have accumulated 7 World Series Championships (Pirates 5, Phillies 2), 14 National League Pennants, 3 pre-Super Bowl era NFL Championships (Eagles), 6 Super Bowl Championships (Steelers), 1 Arena Bowl Championship (Soul), 2 NBA Championships (76ers), and 4 Stanley Cup winners (Flyers 2, Penguins 2).

There are many minor league baseball teams located throughout the state; several of these teams are associated with either the Phillies or the Pirates. In 2008, the Phillies moved their AAA-level team from Ottawa, Ontario, in Canada, to a newly-constructed stadium, Coca-Cola Park in Allentown. The Lehigh Valley is a core fan base for both the Phillies and the Philadelphia Eagles, who conduct their pre-season training camp on the practice fields of Lehigh University. Therefore, expectations are that the new team, called the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (after pig iron, an instrumental part in the construction of steel which has been a large part of the local economy for decades), is likely to prove popular among Allentown and Lehigh Valley Phillies fans. The Phillies' AA team, also called the Phillies, is located in Reading, while the short-season A-level affiliate, called the Crosscutters, is located in Williamsport. The Pirates' AA team, the Curve, is located in Altoona. The short-season A-level affiliate, the State College Spikes, is located in State College. The Spikes share a stadium with the Penn State University baseball team. Other Major League Baseball teams have a presence in the state as well. The New York Yankees' AAA team, also called the Yankees, is located in Moosic, between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre in the northeastern part of the state. The Detroit Tigers' AA team, the SeaWolves, is located in Erie, and the Washington Nationals' AA affiliate, the Senators, plays in the capital of Harrisburg. Two independent-league teams, the Lancaster Barnstormers and York Revolution of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, are located in south-central Pennsylvania, while the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League are located in the south-western corner of the state.

Each summer, the Little League World Series is held in South Williamsport, near where Little League Baseball was founded in Williamsport. Also, the first World Series between the Boston Pilgrims (which became the Boston Red Sox) and Pittsburgh Pirates was played in Pittsburgh in 1901.

College football is very popular in Pennsylvania. The Penn State University Nittany Lions are coached by Joe Paterno who has led Penn State to two national championships (1982 & 1986) as well as five undefeated seasons (1968, 1969, 1973, 1986 and 1994). Penn State plays its home games in the largest stadium in the United States, Beaver Stadium, which seats 107,282. In addition, the University of Pittsburgh Panthers have won nine national championships (1915, 1916, 1918, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1937 and 1976) and have played eight undefeated seasons (1904, 1910, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1920, 1937 and 1976).[4] Pitt plays its home games at Heinz Field, a facility it shares with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Other Pennsylvania schools that have won national titles in football include Lafayette College (1896) and the University of Pennsylvania (1895, 1897, 1904 and 1908).[5]

College basketball is also popular in the state, especially in the Philadelphia area where five universities, collectively termed the Big Five, have a rich tradition in NCAA Division I basketball. National titles in college basketball have been won by the following Pennsylvania universities: La Salle University (1954), Temple University (1938), University of Pennsylvania (1920 and 1921), University of Pittsburgh (1928 and 1930) and Villanova University (1985).[6][7]

In motorsports, the Mario Andretti dynasty of race drivers hails from Nazareth. Notable Racetracks in Pennsylvania include the Jennerstown Speedway in Jennerstown, the Lake Erie Speedway in North East, the Mahoning Valley Speedway in Lehighton, the Motordome Speedway in Smithton, the Mountain Speedway in St. Johns, the Nazareth Speedway in Nazareth; and the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, which is home both the Pennsylvania 500 and the Pocono 500.

There are also two motocross race tracks that host a round of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championships in Pennsylvania. [High Point Raceway]High Point in located in Mt. Morris, PA, and Steel City is located in Delmont, PA.

Horse racing courses for horses in Pennsylvania consist of The Meadows Racetrack, south of Pittsburgh, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, in Wilkes-Barre and Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack in Chester which offer harness racing, and Penn National Race Course in Grantville and Philadelphia Park, in Bensalem, and Presque Isle Downs, south of Erie, which offer thoroughbred racing. Smarty Jones, the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, had Philadelphia Park as his home course.

Arnold Palmer, one of the 20th century's most notable pro golfers, comes from Latrobe, while Jim Furyk, a current PGA member, grew up near in Lancaster. PGA tournaments in Pennsylvania include the 84 Lumber Classic, played at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, in Farmington and the Northeast Pennsylvania Classic, played at Glenmaura National Golf Club, in Moosic.

Philadelphia is home to LOVE Park, once a skateboarding mecca, and across from City Hall, host to ESPN's X Games in 2001 and 2002.

[edit] Food

In his book Yo Mama Cooks Like a Yankee, author Sharon Hernes Silverman calls Pennsylvania the snack food capital of the world.^[75] It leads all other states in the manufacture of pretzels and potato chips. The Sturgis Pretzel House introduced the pretzel to America, and companies like Anderson Bakery Company, Intercourse Pretzel Factory, and Snyder's of Hanover are leading manufacturers in the Commonwealth. Two of the three companies that define the U.S. potato chip industry are based in Pennsylvania: Utz Quality Foods, Inc., which started making chips in Hanover, Pennsylvania in 1921, and Wise Snack Foods which started making chips in Berwick in 1921 (the third, Lay's Potato Chips, is a Texas company). Other companies such as Herr Foods, Martin's Potato Chips, Snyder's of Berlin (not associated with Snyder's of Hanover) and Troyer Farms Potato Products are popular chip manufacturers. The U.S. chocolate industry is centered in Hershey, Pennsylvania, with Mars, Godiva, and Wilbur Chocolate Company nearby, and smaller manufacturers such as Asher's near Lansdale and Gertrude Hawk of Dunmore. Other notable companies include Just Born in Bethlehem, PA, makers of Hot Tamales, Mike and Ikes, and the Easter favorite marshmallow Peeps, Benzel's Pretzels and Boyer Brothers of Altoona, PA, which is well known for its Mallo Cups. Auntie Anne's Pretzels started in Maryland, but their corporate headquarters is now located in Lancaster.^[76] Traditional Pennsylvania Dutch foods include chicken potpie, schnitz un knepp (dried apples, hame, and dumplings), fasnachts (raised doughnuts), scrapple, pretzels, bologna, and chow-chow. Shoofly is another traditional Pennsylvanian Dutch food. D.G. Yuengling & Son, America's oldest brewery, has been brewing beer in Pottsville since 1829.

Among the regional foods associated with Pennsylvania are pierogies, cheesesteaks, hoagie, soft pretzels, liver on a stick, Italian water ice, scrapple, Tastykake, and strombolis. In Pittsburgh, tomato ketchup was improved by Henry John Heinz from 1876 to the early 1900s. Famous to a lesser extent than Heinz ketchup are the Pittsburgh's Primanti Brothers Restaurant sandwiches. Outside of Scranton, in Old Forge there are dozens of Italian restaurants specializing in pizza made unique by thick, light crust and American cheese. Sauerkraut along with pork and mashed potatoes is a common meal on New Year's Day in Pennsylvania.

Multi-ethnic cuisine is common^{[citation needed]}, especially in the Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Coal Region areas. Amish, Chinese, Italian, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Mexican, Pakistani, Persian, Polish, Russian, Thai, Turkish cuisine and many others can be found not only in specialty restaurants but at hundreds of community or religious festivals.

[edit] State symbols

Pennsylvania state insignia and historical facts

State tree	Tsuga canadensis
State bird	Ruffed grouse[3]
State flower	Mountain laurel[3]
State insect	Photuris pennsylvanica (Pennsylvania Firefly)[3]
State animal	White-tailed deer[3]
State dog	Great Dane
State fish	Brook trout[3]
State fossil	the trilobite Phacops rana[3]
State beverage	Milk[3]
State capital	Harrisburg[77]
Union admission rank	2nd
State song	Pennsylvania (Formerly Hail, Pennsylvania!, until 1990)[3]
State toy	Slinky[78]
State ship	United States Brig Niagara[3]
State electric locomotive	Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 #4849 Locomotive
State steam locomotive	Pennsylvania Railroad K4s Locomotive
State beautification plant	Crown vetch[3]
State soil	Hazleton[77]

[edit] Gallery

Allentown	Altoona	Beaver Falls	Bedford
Bethlehem	Bloomsburg	Breezewood	Butler
Chambersburg	Coudersport	Easton	Edinboro
Ellwood City	Erie	Everett	Gettysburg
Harrisburg	Hazleton	Johnstown	Lancaster
Lebanon	Mansfield	New Castle	Orbisonia
Philadelphia	Pittsburgh	Pottstown	Pottsville
Punxsutawney	Reading	Rockhill	Scranton
Shamokin	State College	Stroudsburg	Uniontown
Warren	Wellsboro	West Chester	Wilkes-Barre
Williamsport	York

[edit] See also

• List of Pennsylvania-related topics

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Pennsylvania travel guide from Wikitravel
• Pennsylvania at the Open Directory Project
• Gov. Andrew Curtin's Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps, Civil War 1861–1864
• Official state government site
• Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
• Allegheny National Forest
• Pennsylvania Wilds
• USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Pennsylvania
• Energy Data & Statistics for Pennsylvania
• Pennsylvania State Facts
• Official state tourism site
• Biography of William Penn from 1829
• A History of Pennsylvania from 1905
• Free Original Documents Online: Pennsylvania State Archives 1600s to 1800s
• Miller, Randall M. and William Pencak, Pennsylvania: A History of the Commonwealth
• Interactive Pennsylvania for Kids
• Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
• National Association of Counties (information on each Pennsylvania County)

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Preceded by Delaware

List of U.S. states by date of statehood Ratified Constitution on December 12, 1787 (2nd)

Succeeded by New Jersey

Coordinates: 41°00′N 77°30′W / 41°N 77.5°W / 41; -77.5