Pennsylvania Facts
Pennsylvania Facts
Pennsylvania, one of the original thirteen colonies, is a northeastern state known for its rich history and many historical monuments.
After all, it’s the state where the Declaration of Independence was signed and the Constitution was written. But that’s not all you’ll find in Pennsylvania: It’s also home to numerous parks, museums, and even Hershey headquarters.
Quick Facts
- Capital: Harrisburg
- Population: 13 million
- Nickname: The Keystone State, Quaker State, Oil State
- Key Cities: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Erie
- Postal Abbreviation: PA
- Major Industries: Industrial machinery, fabricated metal products, food products, chemical products, printing and publishing
History
- How did Pennsylvania get its name: The founder of Pennsylvania, William Penn, named the state in honor of his father, Sir William Penn. Penn was persecuted in England for his Quaker religion, so he founded Pennsylvania as a place where people could practice freedom of religion.
- Date admitted to the Union: Wednesday, December 12, 1787
Geography
- Size: 46,055 sq. miles
- Lowest point: Delaware River at sea level
- Highest point: Davis at 3,213 ft.
- Counties: 67
- Famous locations: Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Fallingwater, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Gettysburg, Lake Erie, Hershey Park
Famous Pennsylvanians
- Taylor Swift- singer
- Kobe Bryant- basketball player
- Kevin Hart- comedian
- Will Smith- actor/rap artist
- Amanda Seyfried- actress
- Tina Fey- comedian/producer
Fun Facts
- The Crayola Factory can be found in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, where nearly 3 billion crayons are produced each year. That’s about 9 million crayons daily—enough to wrap around the Earth six times!
- Another awesome factory in Pennsylvania is the Hershey Chocolate Factory in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Hershey is considered the chocolate capital of the United States.
- The Philadelphia Zoo was the first public zoo in the United States and was founded by Benjamin Franklin.
- Pennsylvania is the only one of the original thirteen colonies that is not bordered by the Atlantic Ocean.
- Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, is the home of the famous Groundhog’s Day groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil. Every year around Groundhog’s Day (February 2), the town has a two-day celebration featuring art shows, crafts, music, and more. Thousands of people come to see Phil’s forecast each year. If he sees his shadow, the legend is that we’ll have six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, spring will come early, and the crowd goes wild! For this reason, Punxsutawney is called the weather capital of the world.
