Pennsylvania
Keystone State · Capital: Harrisburg · Northeast (Mid Atlantic)
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Bordering states: Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York.
About Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania runs from the tidal Delaware River at Philadelphia to about 51 miles of Lake Erie shore, reached through a triangle the state bought from the federal government in 1792. The Mason-Dixon Line forms the southern border, and the boundary with Delaware is an arc of the Twelve-Mile Circle, the only circular state line in the country. Folded ridges cross the center of the state, and west of the Allegheny Front lies the Allegheny Plateau, where Mount Davis reaches 3,213 feet. Rain drains four ways: through the Susquehanna to Chesapeake Bay, to Delaware Bay, down the Ohio, which forms at Pittsburgh, and into Lake Erie.
Charles II granted the province to William Penn in 1681 to settle a debt owed to Penn's father. Penn, a Quaker, guaranteed liberty of conscience and bought land from the Lenape, and Philadelphia was laid out in 1682. Independence was voted there in July 1776 and the Constitution drafted in 1787, and Pennsylvania ratified it on December 12, 1787, second after Delaware. In 1780 it passed the first gradual abolition act in the new nation. Gettysburg, fought July 1 to 3, 1863, cost about 51,000 casualties. Edwin Drake's 1859 oil well at Titusville, anthracite and Pittsburgh steel then made the state an industrial power.
The 2020 census counted 13,002,700 Pennsylvanians, up 2.4% since 2010, the fifth largest population of the fifty states, with 17 House seats, one fewer than before. Harrisburg has been the capital since 1812, and Philadelphia is the largest city. After the steel mills closed, Pittsburgh rebuilt around hospitals, universities and robotics and Philadelphia around medicine and finance, while Marcellus shale drilling since 2008 has made the state a major gas producer. The Pennsylvania Dutch are of German origin. Pennsylvanians include James Buchanan and Joe Biden, the painter Andy Warhol, the biologist Rachel Carson and the singer Marian Anderson.
4 fun facts about Pennsylvania
- The Declaration of Independence and US Constitution were both signed in Philadelphia.
- Hershey, PA was built entirely around the chocolate factory, the streetlights are shaped like Hershey's Kisses.
- The first commercial oil well was drilled in Titusville, Pennsylvania, in 1859.
- Taylor Swift was born in West Reading, PA.
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Frequently asked questions about Pennsylvania
Is Pennsylvania a US state?
Yes, Pennsylvania is one of the 50 US states. It was admitted to the Union in 1787, making it the 2nd state. Its capital is Harrisburg and its largest city is Philadelphia.
What is the capital of Pennsylvania?
The capital of Pennsylvania is Harrisburg. Note that the largest city in Pennsylvania is Philadelphia, not the capital, a common point of confusion.
When did Pennsylvania become a state?
Pennsylvania became a US state in 1787. It is the 2nd state admitted to the Union.
What is the abbreviation for Pennsylvania?
The 2-letter USPS abbreviation for Pennsylvania is PA.
How big is Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania ranks #33 of 50 US states by area. With 290.6 residents per square mile in 2020, it was the 9th most densely populated state.
What is the population of Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania had 13,002,700 residents at the 2020 census, the 5th largest population of the 50 states, up 2.4% since 2010. That count gives it 17 seats in the US House of Representatives.
What region is Pennsylvania in?
Pennsylvania is in the Northeast region of the United States, per the US Census Bureau.
What time zone is Pennsylvania in?
Pennsylvania observes Eastern Time.
Learn more
How to learn the 50 states (full guide)
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