Useful
web sites for visitors, state trivia, history and reference map
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Location:
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Pennsylvania is in
the northeast part of the
USA. To the east, Pennsylvania and New Jersey share a water
border in the form of the Delaware River. From east to west,
Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia share the southern border. West
Virginia also shares the western border from the south
to the Ohio River, where Ohio occupies the rest of the western border.
To the
northwest, the international Canadian province of Ontario and
Pennsylvania
the water border that is Lake Erie. New York occupies the
rest of the northern border and also a portion of the eastern border to
the north.
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Official Tourism Web Site:
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Pennsylvania Tourism Office
Department of Community and Economic Development
4th Floor, Commonwealth Keystone Building
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225
Toll Free: (800) VISIT-PA (847-4872)
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State
Museum:
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The State Museum of
Pennsylvania
300 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120-0024
Phone: (717) 787-4980
E-mail: hpollman@state.pa.us
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State
Parks:
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Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources
Rachel Carson State Office Building
PO Box 8767
400 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8767
Toll Free: (888) PA-PARKS (888) 727-2757
E-mail: ra-askdcnr@state.pa.us
National
Park Service Parks and Recreation
in Pennsylvania
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Traveler
and road information and advisories:
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Pennsylvania
Department of Transportation Traveler Information
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Driver
and vehicle licensing:
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Pennsylvania Department
of Transportation Driver and Vehicle Services
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State
Capital:
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Harrisburg, PA
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State
Government:
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Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Department
of Community and Economic Development
Pennsylvania
Department
of Health
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Population:
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Pennsylvania has a population
of 12,432,792 (US
Census Bureau 2007 estimate).
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Largest
City:
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Philadelphia has a population of
1,449,634 (US
Census Bureau
2007 estimate), making it the 6th largest city in the country by
population.
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Origin
of name:
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Pennsylvania was named in honor
of William Penn, the founder of the colony of Pennsylvania, and his
father, Admiral Sir William Penn. Admiral Penn had originally
wanted to name the area Sylvania, which is based on the latin word,
"silva", which means "woods" or "woodlands. King Charles II
used the name Pennsylvania when he granted the land charter to William
Penn in payment for a debt to his father. William
Penn was embarrassed by the name, as he apparently felt
himself
to be a modest person, but the King would not change the name.
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Date admitted to union:
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December 12, 1787
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Brief History:
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Before Europeans explored and
settled in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Susquehannock, Iroquois, Eries,
Shawnee, and other Native American tribes inhabited the land.
The British claimed the land
based on explorations by John Cabot in 1497 and others. The Dutch also
felt they had a claim based on explorations by Henry Hudson in 1609 and
were the first Europeans to settle the land when the Dutch West India
Company established trading posts in the area. The Dutch
Director-General, Peter Minuit, facilitated the establishment of
Swedish trading posts in the area when he had a falling out with the
directors of the Dutch West India company. The Swedish were the first
Europeans to establish permanent settlements in Pennsylvania.
Eventually the Dutch forced the Swedish to relinquish their claim to
the area. The Dutch in turn were removed by the British.
In 1681, granted the land in
Pennsylvania to William Penn to repay a debt to his father. William
Penn established the colony of Pennsylvania as a place of religious
freedom for Quakers. He established an innovative government
guaranteeing freedom of religion and free elections, among other
liberties and rights, setting an example for the rest of the New World
and what would become the United States.
Pennsylvania, and particularly,
Philadelphia, had a major part in the forming of the nation of the
United States of America. In 1774, the First Continental Congress drew
up and signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia.
Important Revolutionary Ware battles were fought in Pennsylvania. The
Constitution was written in Philadelphia. Philadelphia was chosen to be
the nation’s capital in the late 1700’s.
Pennsylvania became a major
industrial power during the mid to late 1800’s. During that time,
western Pennsylvania’s kerosene and oil industry was established and
grew to the point that it supplied most of the nation’s kerosene.
During that time, Andrew Carnegie established his steel business near
Pittsburgh, PA. His company would eventually become the world’s leading
steel producer.
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For more detailed information:
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See the Wikipedia
article about Pennsylvania.
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Reference map of Pennsylvania:
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State Flag:
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State Seal:
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State Flower:
Mountain Laurel
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State Bird:
Ruffed Grouse
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State Tree:
Eastern Hemlock
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