Pennsylvania’s landmarks tell America’s story. From Independence Hall in Philadelphia to the Civil War battlefield at Gettysburg to the industrial center of Pittsburgh, this state is home to milestones of U.S. history.
Capital: Harrisburg
Population: Nearly 13 million people live in Pennsylvania.
Geography: From an estuary on the Atlantic Coast, Pennsylvania rises through the Appalachian Mountains and opens into the rich Ohio Valley. It is 455 kilometers wide and 255 kilometers long and encompasses 119,283 square kilometers.
Higher Education: Pennsylvania is home to more than 100 public and private colleges and universities, including the University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), Villanova University, the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University.
Major Industries are manufacturing (home to U.S. Steel, PPG Industries and H.J. Heinz), coal mining and farming.
Famous Pennsylvanians include actor Bill Cosby, biologist Rachel Carson and painter Andrew Wyeth.
International Connection: The steel industry is a common thread for Pittsburgh and its sister city of Sheffield, England.
Fun Facts:
- Of the original 13 colonies, Pennsylvania is the only state that does not border the Atlantic Ocean.
- Hershey, home of candy manufacturer Hershey’s, is considered the chocolate capital of the United States and it bills itself as “the sweetest place on Earth.”
- Every February 2, the press converges on Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, for the weather prognostications of the world-renowned groundhog Punxsutawney Phil.
Source: IIP Digital
