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Geography
Pennsylvania is 180 miles north
to south and 283 miles east to west. Of 46,055 total square miles,
44,817 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 above sea level is at Mount Davis, which was named for its
owner, John Davis, a schoolteacher who fought for the Union Army
at the Battle of Gettysburg. The lowest point is at sea level on
the Delaware River, and the approximate mean elevation is 1100
feet.
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.
In Depth: History of
Pennsylvania
Before the state existed, the
area was home to the Delaware (also known as Lenni Lenape),
Susquehannock, Iroquois, Eriez, Shawnee, and other American Indian
tribes.
In 1681, Charles II granted a
land charter to William Penn, to repay a large debt owed to
William's father, Admiral Penn. This was one of the largest land
grants to an individual in history. The land included present-day
Delaware and Pennsylvania. It was called Pennsylvania, meaning
"Penn's Woods", in honor of Admiral Penn.
Penn established a 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 168190 as
"Pennsylvania's Anarchist Experiment."
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 9 colonies sent delegates.
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.
When the Founding Fathers of the
United States were 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 to York. There they drew up the
Articles of Confederation that formed the 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.
Pennsylvania became the second
state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on December 12, 1787, five
days after Delaware became the first.
For half a century, the state
legislature met at various places in the general Philadelphia area
before starting to meet regularly in Independence Hall in
Philadelphia for 63 years. 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, and finally in 1812 to Harrisburg. The legislature met
in the old Dauphin County Court House until December 1821, when
the Redbrick Capitol was finished. It burned down in 1897,
presumably due to a faulty flue. The legislature met at Grace
Methodist Church on State Street (still standing), until the
present capitol was finished in 1907.
The new state Capitol drew rave
reviews. Its dome was inspired by the domes of St. Peter's
Cathedral in Rome and the United States Capitol. 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."
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.
The center of population of
Pennsylvania is located in Perry County, in the borough of
Duncannon .
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 state 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).
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.
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.
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
illtreat 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 3,802,524
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 Association of
Congregations 6,778 0.10%
- 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.
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, H.J. Heinz, and Alcoa. In all, Pennsylvania
is home to 49 Fortune 500 companies.
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.
Pennsylvania ranks 19th
overall in agricultural production, but 1st in
Mushrooms, 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 equaling 84.9% of
sales, most not only have a net farming income below the $19,806
that marks poverty for a family of four,[51] but are liable for a
12.4% self-employment tax as well. The average farmer is 53 and
getting older, [53], as young Pennsylvanians find low farming
income a tough row to hoe.
Pennsylvania draws 2.1% of the
Gross State Product from Accommodation and Food Services.
Only Connecticut, Delaware and Iowa have lower numbers, and Nevada
gets a whopping 14.2% of their GSP that way. Philadelphia draws
tourists to see the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Franklin
Institute and the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, while
The Poconos attract honeymooners, golfers and fishermen, and the
Delaware Water Gap appeals to boaters, hikers, and nature lovers.
Fourteen slots casinos, the majority of which are either in the
process of being awarded licenses from the Pennsylvania Gaming
Control Board or are under construction. The casinos are expected
to make up a good portion of tourism in the Commonwealth.
The state government launched an
extensive tourism campaign in 2003 under the direction of the
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. An
extensive website has been established to promote visits to the
state.
The Pennsylvania Dutch region in
south-central Pennsylvania is a favorite for sightseers. The
Pennsylvania Dutch, including the Old Order Amish, the Old Order
Mennonites and at least 35 other sects,[60] are common in the
rural areas around the cities of Lancaster, York, and Harrisburg,
with smaller numbers extending northeast to the Lehigh Valley and
up the Susquehanna River valley.
The term "Dutch" is an
archaic word meaning "German" or "Teutonic"
rather than "Netherlander". The Random House dictionary
says "Dutch" originated with the Old High German word
"diutisc" which referred to the daily language used by
Germans, as opposed to formal Latin.
Pennsylvania has had five
constitutions during its statehood: 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.
The state capital is Harrisburg.
The legislature meets in the new State Capitol there.
Pennsylvania has a bicameral
legislature set up by state's constitution in 1790. The original
Frame of Government of William Penn had a unicameral legislature.
The General Assembly includes 50 Senators and 203 Representatives.
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Pennsylvania is divided into 60
judicial districts, most of which (except Philadelphia and
Allegheny Counties) have magisterial district judges (formerly
called district justices and justices of the peace), who preside
mainly over minor criminal offenses and small civil claims. 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. 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. The
Commonwealth Court is limited to appeals from final orders of
certain state agencies and certain designated cases from the
Courts of Common Pleas. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the
final appellate court. All judges in Pennsylvania are elected; the
chief justice is determined by seniority.
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 state's sixty-seven counties levy a personal
property tax on stocks, bonds, and similar holdings.
Municipalities in Pennsylvania
are incorporated as cities, boroughs, or townships.
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. However, in 1975,
McCandless Township, in Allegheny County adopted a home rule
charter under the name "Town of McCandless".
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 is home to the
nation's first zoo, the Philadelphia Zoo. Other notable zoos
include Claws 'n Paws, Erie Zoo, Pittsburgh Zoo, and ZOOAMERICA.
The state boasts some of the finest museums in the country. One of
the unique museums is the Houdini Museum. The only building in the
world devoted to the legendary magician. It 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 Dorney Park & Wildwater
Kingdom, Dutch Wonderland, DelGrosso Amusement Park , Hershey
Park, Idlewild Park, Kennywood, Knoebels, Lakemont Park,
Sandcastle Waterpark, Sesame Place, and Waldameer Park.
There are also notable music
festivals that take place in PA. These include Creation Festival
and Purple Door. Creation, which has been around since 1979,
boasts that hundreds of thousands of people come each year from
all around the world; it is the nation's top Christian music
festival. Purple Door is one of the only music festivals in the
world to devote itself to nothing but Christian hard rock, and
people have traveled from as far as California to attend.
Pennsylvania, especially around Lancaster County, is one of the
best places in the United States for fans of contemporary
Christian music (CCM), with more concerts than found almost
anywhere else. Pennsylvania also has one of the nation's top CMM
radio stations, WJTL. Many bands and artists are also discovered
here. Lancaster is the place for fans of Christian music, and most
of this is because of Tim Landis; he's the one who founded Purple
Door and WJTL, books the bands for Creation, and even started the
record company that made Lancaster bands well-known throughout the
nation.
Pennsylvania is a great state for
sportsmen and sportswomen. There are nearly 1 million licensed
hunters. Whitetail deer, cottontail rabbits, squirrel, turkey, and
grouse are common game species.
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.
Penn State University football is
also very popular in Pennsylvania. The Penn State Nittany Lions
are coached by Joe Paterno. Paterno has led Penn State to two
national championships (1982 and 1986) as well as five undefeated
seasons (1968, 1969, 1973, 1986 and 1994). Penn State plays its
home games in the second largest stadium in the United States,
Beaver Stadium, that seats 107,282.
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 Harrah's Chester
Casino and Racetrack in Chester 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.
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.
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 smaller manufacturers such as Asher's near
Lansdale and Gertrude Hawk of Dunmore. 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 pierogies, cheesesteak and
the hoagie, the soft pretzel, Italian water ice, scrapple,
Tastykake, and the stromboli. 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. Scranton suburb Old Forge
is known for dozens of Italian restaurants specializing in pizza
made unique by thick, light crust and American cheese.
Ethnic cuisine is common,
especially in the Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Coal Region areas.
Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Thai,
Turkish, Persian, Pakistani, Russian, Polish and Amish cuisine can
be found not only in specialty restaurants but at hundreds of
community or church festivals.
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