Other meanings of Pennsylvania
U.S. State
Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. It is bordered by Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, New York, and the Canadian province of Ontario via Lake Erie. Known as the Keystone State, it is one of the original thirteen colonies and played a central role in the founding of the United States, hosting the signing of both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Its capital is Harrisburg, and its largest city is Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania's geography is remarkably diverse, ranging from the Atlantic Coastal Plain in the southeast to the Appalachian Mountains and the Allegheny Plateau in the west. The state is divided into several physiographic provinces, including the Piedmont, the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, and the Erie Lowlands. The highest point is Mount Davis at 3,213 feet, while the lowest is the Delaware River at sea level. The climate is humid continental, with hot summers and cold winters, though the southeastern region experiences a more moderate subtropical influence. The state is home to the Susquehanna, Ohio, and Delaware river basins, which provide water to millions and support rich ecosystems. 1
Pennsylvania was founded in 1681 by William Penn as a haven for Quakers and other religious minorities, under a royal charter from King Charles II. Penn's Frame of Government (1682) established a representative assembly and guaranteed religious freedom, attracting diverse settlers including Germans, Scots-Irish, and Africans. Philadelphia became a leading colonial city and the meeting place of the Continental Congress, where the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776 and the U.S. Constitution was drafted in 1787. The state also witnessed pivotal events such as the Battle of Gettysburg (1863) and the Johnstown Flood (1889). 2
Pennsylvania's economy has evolved from heavy industry to a diversified mix of manufacturing, agriculture, energy, and services. Historically, it was a leader in coal, steel, and railroads, with Pittsburgh as the center of the steel industry. Today, the state is a top producer of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale, and it ranks among the largest producers of mushrooms, apples, and Christmas trees. Philadelphia is a hub for healthcare, education, and pharmaceuticals, while the state hosts major corporations like Comcast and Wawa. The Port of Philadelphia and the Pittsburgh International Airport are key trade gateways.
Beyond its famous landmarks, Pennsylvania holds many surprising facts. It is the only original colony not bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, yet it has a coastline on Lake Erie. The state is home to the oldest continuously operating brewery in the U.S. (Yuengling, founded 1829) and the first daily newspaper (The Pennsylvania Packet, 1784). The Pennsylvania Dutch are not Dutch but German, and their dialect persists in some communities. The state's official fossil is the trilobite Phacops rana, and its official tree is the eastern hemlock. The town of Centralia, once a coal mining hub, has been burning underground since 1962 and is nearly abandoned. 3
Pennsylvania's nickname 'Keystone State' derives from its geographic and political centrality among the original colonies.
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