Pennsylvania State Guide

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a state in the northeastern part of the United States.

Pennsylvania has been known as the Quaker State since 1776; prior to that, it was known as the Quaker Province, in recognition of Quaker William Penn's First Frame of Government constitution for Pennsylvania that guaranteed liberty of conscience. Penn knew of the hostility Quakers faced when they opposed rituals, oaths, violence, and ostentatious frippery.

Pennsylvania has also been known as the Keystone State since 1802, based in part upon its central location among the original Thirteen Colonies forming the United States. Pennsylvania, however is not only geographically the keystone state, but economically as well, having both the industry common to the North, making such wares as Conestoga wagons and rifles, and the agriculture common to the South, producing feed, fiber, food, and tobacco.

Pennsylvania has 51 miles (82 km) of coastline along Lake Erie and 57 miles (92 km) of shoreline along the Delaware Estuary. Philadelphia is home to a major seaport and shipyards on the Delaware River.

Pennsylvania State Guide - Geography

Pennsylvania is 180 miles (290 km) north to south and 283 miles east to west. Of 46,055 square miles, 44817 square miles are land, 490 square miles are inland waters and 749 square miles are waters of Lake Erie. It is the 33rd largest state in the United States. The highest point of 3,213 feet (979 m) above sea level is at Mount Davis, the lowest point is at sea level on the Delaware River, and the approximate mean elevation is 1100 feet (336 meters).

Pennsylvania is in the Eastern time zone.

The original southern boundary of Pennsylvania was supposed to be at 40° North latitude, but as a result of a bad faith compromise by Lord Baltimore during Cresap's War, the king's courts moved the boundary 20 miles south to 39° 43' N. The city of Philadelphia, at 40°0'N 75°8'W, would have been split in half by the original boundary. When a captive Cresap, a Marylander, was paraded through Philadelphia, he taunted the officers by announcing that Philadelphia was one of the prettiest towns in Maryland.

Pennsylvania State Guide - History

Before the state existed, the area was home to the Delaware (also known as Lenni Lenape), Susquehannock, Iroquois, Eriez, Shawnee, and other Native American tribes.

In 1681, Charles II granted a land charter to William Penn, due to the fact that a large debt was owed to William Penn's father, Admiral Penn. One of the largest land grants to an individual in history. That land included both present-day Delaware and Pennsylvania ("Penn's Woods", named in honor of his father). He established government with two innovations that were much copied in the new world: the county commission, and freedom of religious conviction. Writer Murray Rothbard in his four-volume history of the U.S., Conceived in Liberty, refers to the years of 1681–90 as "Pennsylvania's Anarchist Experiment."

The first meeting of the thirteen colonies was the Stamp Act Congress in 1765, called at the request of the Massachusetts Assembly, but only 9 colonies sent delegates. John Dickinson of Philadelphia wrote the Declaration of Rights and Grievances that came out of the Stamp Act Congress — then followed it up with 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. When the Founding Fathers to convene in Philadelphia in 1774, 12 of the 13 colonies sent representatives to the First Continental Congress.

The First Continental Congress drew up and signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, 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 moving to York, where they drew up the Articles of Confederation, forming the independent colonies into a new nation. Later, the Constitution was written, Philadelphia was once again chosen to be cradle to the new American Nation.

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

James Buchanan, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was the only bachelor President of the United States. The Battle of Gettysburg — the major turning point of the Civil War — took place near Gettysburg.

Pennsylvania State Guide - Demographics

The center of population of Pennsylvania is located in Perry County, in the borough of Duncannon.

As of 2005, Pennsylvania has an estimated population of 12,429,616,which is an increase of 20,958 from the previous year, and an increase of 131,888 since the year 2000. Migration from other states resulted in an increase of 32,200, and immigration from Latin American and Asian countries resulted in an increase of 399,100. Migration of native Pennsylvanians resulted in a decrease of 100,000 people. In 2006, 5.00% of Pennsylvanians were foreign born (621,480 people).

The foreign-born Pennsylvanian population is 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.

Pennsylvanian's reported population of Hispanics, especially among the Asian, Hawaiian and White races, has markedly increased in the last years. It is not clear how much of this change reflects a changing population, and how much reflects increased willingness to self-identify minority status.

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.

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

" 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"

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

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. Their affiliations, including percentage of all adherents, were:

* Roman Catholic – 3,877,879 – 54.49%
o Roman Catholic – 3,802,524 – 53.43%
o Orthodox – 75,354 – 1.06%
* Mainline Protestant – 2,140,682 – 30%
o United Methodist Church – 659,350 – 9.27%
o Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – 611,913 – 8.60%
o Presbyterian Church – 324,714 – 4.56%
o United Church of Christ – 241,844 – 3.40%
o American Baptist Churches in the USA – 132,858 – 1.87%
o Episcopal Church – 116,511 – 1.64%
* Evangelical Protestant – 704,204 – 10%
o Assemblies of God – 84,153 – 1.18%
o Church of the Brethren – 52,684 – 0.74%
o Mennonite Church USA – 48,215 – 0.68%
o Christian and Missionary Alliance – 45,926 – 0.65%
o Southern Baptist Convention – 44,432 – 0.62%
o Independent Non-charismatic churches – 42,992 – 0.60%
* Other theology – 393,584 – 5.53%
o Jewish estimate – 283,000 – 3.98%
o Muslim estimate – 71,190 – 1.00%
o Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations – 6,778 – 0.10%
o Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – 31,032 – 0.44%

Note: These statistics are based on 7,116,348 of the estimated 8,448,193 religious adherents in Pennsylvania, and only the largest of 115 different faiths are reported here. Data excludes most of the historically African-American denominations. Public Law 94-521 prevents the Census Bureau from collecting better data, so this information comes from the Association of religion data archives at Penn State.) Terms used to describe organizations are ARDA's, and may not be the group's own preferred name.

Pennsylvannia is also noted for having the highest concentration of an Amish population in the United States.

Pennsylvania State Guide - Economy

Pennsylvania's 2005 total gross state product (GSP) of $430.31 billion ranks the state 6th in the nation. If Pennsylvania were an independent country, its economy would rank as the 17th largest in the world, ahead of Belgium, but behind the Netherlands. On a per-capita basis, though, Pennsylvania's per-capita GSP of $34,619 ranks 26th among the 50 states. Neighboring Delaware was tops, with $56,447, and Mississippi's $23,851 puts it last.

Philadelphia in the southeast corner and Pittsburgh in the southwest corner are urban manufacturing centers, with the "t-shaped" remainder of the state being much more rural; this dichotomy affects state politics as well as the state economy. Philadelphia is home to 10 Fortune 500 companies, with more located in suburbs like King of Prussia; it's a leader in the financial and insurance industry. Pittsburgh is home to 6 Fortune 500 companies, including U.S. Steel, PPG Industries and H.J. Heinz. In all, Pennsylvania is home to 49 Fortune 500 companies.

Manufacturing

States cannot thrive by "taking in each other's laundry", but manufacturing imports money and jobs from the rest of the world. Pennsylvania's factories and workshops manufacture 16.1% of the Gross State Product (GSP); only 10 states are more industrialized. While Educational Services is only 1.8% of the state's GSP, that's twice the national average; only Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont outrank Pennsylvania. Although Pennsylvania is known as a coal state, mining only amounts to 0.6% of the state's economy, compared to 1.3% for the country as a whole.

Agriculture

Pennsylvania ranks 19th overall in agricultural production, but 3rd in christmas trees and layer chickens, 4th in nursery and sod, milk, corn for silage, and horse production. Only about 9,600 of the state's 58,000 farmers have sales of $100,000 or more, and with production expenses equalling 84.9% of sales, most not only have a net farming income below the $19,806 that marks poverty for a family of four, but are liable for a 12.4% self-employment tax as well. The average farmer is 53 and getting older, as young Pennsylvanians find low farming income a tough row to hoe.

Pennsylvania State Guide - Politics

Pennsylvania is considered a swing state because, no political party has a dominate edge, but Democrats are strong in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Reading, Allentown, Erie, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, while Republicans are the strongest in the middle of the state, but with the major population in the cities, however Pennsylvania has a Democratic lean. In the 2004 Presidential Election Senator John F. Kerry beat President George W. Bush 2,938,095 50.92% -2,793,847 48.42%. In the 2006 Mid-Term Elections Pennsylvania seemed to move solidly Democratic, because of the war in Iraq, and the unpopularity of President Bush. In the 2006 Elections in Pennsylvania Bob Casey Jr.handily defeated Senator Rick Santorum 59%-41%, and Governor Ed Rendell Crushed his Republican opponent Lynn Swann 60-40%. In Pennsylvania 4th Congressional district Democrat Jason Altmire defeated incumbent Republican Melissa Hart 52%-48%. In Pennsylvania 7th Congressional district Democrat Joe Sestak defeated incumbent Republican Curt Weldon 56%-44% in increasing democratic Philadelphia suburbs. In Pennsylvania 8th Congressional district Democrat Patrick Murphy defeated incumbment Republican Mike Fitzpatrick by a very small margin 50-50% about 1500 votes decided it. In Pennsylvania 10th Congressional district Democrat Chris Carney defeated incumbment Republican Don Sherwood 53%-47%. In the General Assembly Republicans lost eight seats. 2007-2008 Session will be in the senate 29-21 in the house 101-102 in favor of Republicans.

Pennsylvania State Guide - Important Cities and Municipalities

Municipalities in Pennsylvania are incorporated as cities, boroughs, or townships.

In 1870, Bloomsburg, the county seat of Columbia County, and in 1975, McCandless, Pennsylvania, in Allegheny County were incorporated as towns by special act of the legislature.

Important cities in Pennsylvania include Allentown, Altoona, Bethlehem, Chester, Easton, Erie, Harrisburg, Johnstown, Lancaster, New Castle, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Reading, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport, and York.

Pennsylvania State Guide - 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, and the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League. Among them, these teams have accumulated 6 World Series Championships, 14 National League Pennants, 3 NFL Championships, 5 Super Bowl Championships, 4 NBA Championships, and 4 Stanley Cup winners.

Motorsports are popular in Pennsylvania. The Mario Andretti dynasty of race drivers hail 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.

Race courses for horses in Pennsylvania consist of Ladbroke at the Meadows, in Pittsburgh, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, in Wilkes-Barre and Summerside Raceway in Summerside which offer harness racing, and Penn National Race Course in Grantville and Philadelphia Park, in Bensalem which offer thoroughbred racing. Smarty Jones, the 2004 Kentucky Derby winner, had Philadelphia Park as his home course.

Arnold Palmer, one of the leading 20th century pro golfers, comes from Latrobe, and Jim Furyk, one of the leading 21-century pro golfers, 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.

Pennsylvania State Guide - Food

In his book Pennsylvania Snacks: A Guide to Food Factory Tours, Author Sharon Hernes Silverman calls Pennsylvania the snack food capital of the world. 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 state. The three companies that define the U.S. potato chip industry are Utz Quality Foods which started making chips in Hanover, Pennsylvania in 1921, Wise Snack Foods which started making chips in Berwick in 1921, and Lay's Potato Chips, a Texas company. Other companies such as Herr Foods, Martin's Potato Chips, and Troyer Farms Potato Products are popular chip manufacturers. The U.S. chocolate industry is centered in Hershey, Pennsylvania, with Mars and Wilbur Chocolate Company nearby, and many smaller manufacturers such as Asher's. Other notable companies include Benzel's Pretzels and Boyer Candies, which is well known for its Mallow Cups.

Among the regional foods associated with Pennsylvania are the Philadelphia cheesesteak and the hoagie, the soft pretzel, Italian water ice, scrapple, Tastykake, and the stromboli. Tomato ketchup was improved by Henry John Heinz of Pittsburgh from 1876 to the early 1900's. Pittsburgh also embraces its locally famous Primanti Brothers Restaurant sandwiches. Pittsburgh is also famous for its Polish food.

Ethnic cuisine is common, especially in the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia areas. Many restaurateurs offer Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Turkish, Pakistani, Russian and Amish dining.

Article Source: Wikipedia