Have a question? Ask an IPL Librarian!

(Use our Contact Us form for questions/suggestions about our site.)

Pennsylvania

Capital	Harrisburg
Population	12,281,054 Source: U.S. Census Bureau GCT-PH1-R. Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density (geographies ranked by total population): 2000 Data Set: Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data
Governor	Ed Rendell (D, to January 2011)
Entered the Union	December 12, 1787 as the 2nd state
Motto	Virtue, liberty, and independence
Nickname	Keystone state
Flower	Mountain laurel
Bird	Ruffed grouse
Song	Pennsylvania
Professional Sports Teams (sports listing policy)	Philadelphia 76ers (Men's Basketball); Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers (Football); Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates (Baseball); Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins (Hockey)
Origin of Name	In honor of Adm. Sir. William Penn, father of William Penn. It means Penn's Woodland
Major Industries	Primary Metal Industries, Non-electrical Machinery, Chemicals
Historical Sites	The Gettysburg National Military Park, Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Valley Forge National Historical Park, the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall
Points of Interest	The Pennsylvania Dutch region, the Eisenhower farm near Gettysburg, and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Bordering States	Pennsylvania borders New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, and Ohio.
Flag

Follow these links to read articles about Pennsylvania from Encyclopedias and Almanacs:

• Encarta Concise Encyclopedia
• Columbia Encyclopedia
• Information Please Almanac

• PAPowerPort: Welcome to Pennsylvania
  http://www.state.pa.us/
  This is the official website for the State of Pennsylvania.
• Commonwealth Libraries of Pennsylvania: Bureau of State Library
  http://www.statelibrary.state.pa.us/libraries/site/default.asp
  Here is the homepage for the Pennsylvania State Library Agency.
• The Historical Society of Pennsylvania
  http://www.hsp.org/
  Here is the homepage for the Pennsylvania State Historical Society.
• The State Museum of Pennsylvania
  http://www.statemuseumpa.org/
  Here is the homepage for the Pennsylvania State Museum.
• Pennsylvania State Archives
  http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/
  Here is the homepage for the Pennsylvania State Archives.
• Welcome to Pennsylvania State Parks
  http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/index.aspx
  Here is the homepage for Pennsylvania State Parks.
• VisitPA.com
  http://www.visitpa.com/visitpa/home.do
  Here is the official state tourism website for Pennsylvania.
• Discover Pennsylvania Kids Page
  http://sites.state.pa.us/kids/?dsftns=31343
  Here is the official Pennsylvania state page for kids.

• 50states.com: Pennsylvania
  http://www.50states.com/pennsylv.htm
  The site provides a wealth of information about Pennsylvania. It includes everything from the highest point to county profile to climate.
• Things To Do in Pennsylvania
  http://www.thingstodo.com/states/PA/index.htm
  ThingsToDo.com is an online guide to information about Pennsylvania's entertainment, recreation, and travel, and includes the state's interesting facts, famous people, and special events.
• Roadside America: Pennsylvania Attractions
  http://www.roadsideamerica.com/map/pa.html
  Roadside America describes itself as an online guide to offbeat attractions. This site offers reviews of "weird sites along the highway" in Pennsylvania.
• Pennsylvania Railways
  http://www.parailways.com/parailways/
  Here is a website devoted to promoting Pennsylvania's railway heritage with a listing of local rails, a compilation of railroad history, and a railway photo gallery.
• Gettysburg National Military Park
  http://www.nps.gov/gett/home.htm
  This site provides travel planning guides, educational resources, interactive learning materiails, maps, newsletters, and other information about the famous national park.
• FedStats: MapStat: United States: Pennsylvania
  http://www.fedstats.gov/qf/states/42000.html
  Fast access to statistics from more than 100 federal agencies on "economic and population trends, crime, education, health care, aviation safety, energy use, farm production and more" in Pennsylvania.

• Philadelphia was the seat of the federal government almost continuously from 1776 to 1800; there the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776 and the U.S. Constitution drawn up in 1787.
• Pennsylvania has the largest rural population in the nation.
• One of the original 13 colonies, PA is called the "Keystone State" because of its central location among the other original colonies. There are six states above it and six states below it.
• The Pennsylvania Turnpike, which crosses the state from east to west, was the nation's first superhighway. (No, not the Internet!) It was completed in 1940.

• Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888), novelist. She wrote Little Women (1868-69).
• Bill Cosby (1937- ), actor. He was a stand-up comedian and starred in his own sit-com.
• Martha Graham (1895-1991), dancer and choreographer. She choreagraphed and danced in the ballet Appalachian Spring.
• Betsy Ross (1752-1836). She was reported to have made the first American Flag.
• Presidents from Pennsylvania with links to the IPL's POTUS (Presidents of the United States) page:
  
  • James Buchanan (1791-1868)
• Daniel Boone (1734 - 1820), pioneer and hunter.