Pennsylvania Details

Pennsylvania is state located in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders New Jersey to the east, Delaware to the southeast, Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west and Lake Erie and New York to the north. This state has a total land area of 44,817 sq mi. (116,076 sq km) and is the 33rd largest state in the United States. It has a total population of 12,448,279 (2008 estimate).

The name Pennsylvania means “Penn’s Woods” and is used in honor of Admiral Sir William Penn, father of William Penn. This state is also called the “Keystone State” or “Quaker State”. It became the 2nd member of the confederate in Dec. 12, 1787.

Pennsylvania used to be an England property. It was later granted to William Penn, a Quaker, by King Charles II sometime in 1681. This state served as the seat of federal government from 1776 to 1800. This is where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776 and it is also where the US Constitution was drawn up. Aside from these mentioned, Pennsylvania was also the site of the pivotal battle of the Civil War.

Pennsylvania boasts of its own oil reserves. It also boasts of abundant iron ore and coal which has been instrumental in its steel industry. This state is the country’s leading producer of specialty steel. It provides massive job opportunities in service, retail trade and manufacturing sectors. This state is also a leader in the production of chemicals and pharmaceuticals, food products and electronic equipments.

Pennsylvania has impressive farms that occupy nearly 8 million acres of land. This state produces a large variety of crops. It is also a leading producer of dairy products, cattle and calves, mushrooms. greenhouse and nursery products, poultry and eggs, a variety of fruits, sweet corn, potatoes, maple syrup and Christmas trees.

Among its leading tourist attractions are the Gettysburg National Military Park, Valley Forge National Historical Park, Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Dutch region, the Eisenhower farm near Gettysburg, and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

The state capital of Pennsylvania is Harrisburg which boasts of a sprawling Italian Renaissance capitol with a 272 ft dome modeled after St. Peter’s in Rome. Its largest city is Philadelphia, the 6th most populous city in the entire United States, having more than 1.4 million populations. Pennsylvania’s largest metro area is the Delaware Valley.

Residents of this state are called Pennsylvanians. Its state flower is the mountain laurel.