Pennsylvania
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- This article is about the U.S. State. For other uses, see Pennsylvania (disambiguation).
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| Official language(s) | None | ||||||||||
| Capital | Harrisburg | ||||||||||
| Largest city | Philadelphia | ||||||||||
| Area | Ranked 33rd | ||||||||||
| - Total | 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²) | ||||||||||
| - Width | 160 miles (255 km) | ||||||||||
| - Length | 280 miles (455 km) | ||||||||||
| - % water | 2.7 | ||||||||||
| - Latitude | 39°43'N to 42°N | ||||||||||
| - Longitude | 74°43'W to 80°31'W | ||||||||||
| Population | Ranked 6th | ||||||||||
| - Total (2000) | 12,281,054 | ||||||||||
| - Density | 274.02/sq mi 105.80/km² (10th) | ||||||||||
| Elevation | |||||||||||
| - Highest point | Mount Davis<ref name=usgs>Elevations and Distances in the United States. U.S Geological Survey (29 April 2005). Retrieved on November 7, 2006.</ref> 3,213 ft (979 m) | ||||||||||
| - Mean | 1,099 ft (335 m) | ||||||||||
| - Lowest point | Atlantic Ocean<ref name=usgs/> 0 ft (0 m) | ||||||||||
| Admission to Union | December 12 1787 (2nd) | ||||||||||
| Governor | Ed Rendell (D) | ||||||||||
| U.S. Senators | Arlen Specter (R) Rick Santorum (R) (Outgoing) Bob Casey, Jr. (D) (Senator Elect) | ||||||||||
| Time zone | Eastern: UTC-5/-4 | ||||||||||
| Abbreviations | PA US-PA | ||||||||||
| Web site | www.state.pa.us | ||||||||||
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (pronounced [pɛnsl̩ˈveɪnjə] or [pɛnsl̩ˈveɪniə]) is a state in the northeastern part of the United States.
Pennsylvania has been known as the Quaker State since 1776; prior to that, it was known as the Quaker Province,<ref>The Quaker Province</ref> in recognition of Quaker<ref>William Penn, Quaker</ref> William Penn's First Frame of Government<ref>Frame of Government</ref> constitution for Pennsylvania that guaranteed liberty of conscience. Penn knew of the hostility<ref>Digital History: Persecution of the Quakers</ref> Quakers faced when they opposed rituals, oaths, violence, and ostentatious frippery.<ref>The Quaker Province 1681-1776</ref>
Pennsylvania has also been known as the Keystone State since 1802,<ref name=symbols>PHMC: State Symbols</ref> based in part upon its central location among the original Thirteen Colonies forming the United States.<ref name=symbols /> It is also a keystone state economically, having both the industry common to the North, making such wares as Conestoga wagons<ref>Lowell Tribune, March 26, 2002</ref> and rifles,<ref>Lancaster rifle</ref> and the agriculture common to the South, producing feed, fiber, food, and tobacco.<ref>PHMC: Agriculture in Pennsylvania</ref>
Pennsylvania has 51 miles (82 km)<ref>National Parks Service: Our Fourth Shore</ref> of coastline along Lake Erie and 57 miles (92 km)<ref>NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resources</ref> of shoreline along the Delaware Estuary. Philadelphia is home to a major seaport and shipyards on the Delaware River.<ref>Tour Philadelphia</ref>
Contents |
[edit] Geography
- Further information: Geography of Pennsylvania
- Further information: List of Pennsylvania counties
Pennsylvania is 180 miles (290 km) north to south and 283 miles east to west.<ref name=pageo>Pennsylvania geography</ref> Of 46,055 square miles, 44817 square miles are land, 490 square miles are inland waters and 749 square miles are waters of Lake Erie.<ref name=statabs>2006 Statistical Abstract: Geography & Environment: Land and Land Use</ref> It is the 33rd largest state in the United States.<ref name=statabs /> The highest point of 3,213 feet (979 m) above sea level is at Mount Davis, the lowest point is at sea level on the Delaware River, and the approximate mean elevation is 1100 feet (336 meters).<ref>2006 Statistical Abstract: Geography & Environment:Extreme and Mean Elevations </ref>
Pennsylvania is in the Eastern time zone.<ref>Pennsylvania Time Zone</ref>
The original southern boundary of Pennsylvania was supposed to be at 40° North latitude,<ref>Penn's Charter</ref> 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<ref name=cecil>Cecil County, Maryland</ref> to 39° 43' N.<ref name=pageo /> The city of Philadelphia, at 40°0'N 75°8'W,<ref>Places Named: Philadelphia</ref> 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.<ref name=cecil/>
[edit] History
- Further information: List of Pennsylvania firsts
Before the state existed, the area was home to the Delaware (also known as Lenni Lenape), Susquehannock, Iroquois, Eriez, Shawnee, and other Native American tribes.<ref>Pennsylvania Indian tribes</ref>
In 1681, Charles II granted a land charter<ref>Charter for the Province of Pennsylvania</ref> 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.<ref name=quapoly>Quakers and the political process</ref> 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.<ref name=quapoly /> Writer Murray Rothbard in his four-volume history of the U.S., Conceived in Liberty, refers to the years of 1681–90 as "Pennsylvania's Anarchist Experiment."<ref>Pennsylvania's Anarchist Experiment</ref>
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.<ref>Library of Congress timeline 1764–1765</ref> 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.<ref>Dickinson Letters</ref>
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.<ref>Library of Congress timeline 1773–1774</ref> The First Continental Congress drew up and signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia,<ref>Library of Congress: Primary documents — The Declaration of Independence</ref> 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.<ref>Nine Capitals of the United States</ref>
Pennsylvania became the second state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on December 12, 1787,<ref>Pennsylvania ratifies the Constitution of 1787</ref> 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.<ref name=legiscap>Pennsylvania's Capitals</ref> 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,<ref name=legiscap/> and finally in 1812 to Harrisburg.<ref name=legiscap /> The legislature met in the old Dauphin County Court House until December 1821,<ref name=legiscap/> when the Redbrick Capitol was finished. It burned down in 1897, presumably due to a faulty flue.<ref name=legiscap/> The legislature met at Grace Methodist Church on State Street (still standing), until the present capitol was finished in 1907.<ref name=legiscap/>
The new state Capitol drew rave reviews.<ref name=legiscap/> Its dome was inspired by the domes of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome and the United States Capitol.<ref name=legiscap/> 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."<ref name=legiscap/>
James Buchanan, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was the only bachelor President of the United States.<ref name="jimbo">James Buchanan White House biography</ref> The Battle of Gettysburg — the major turning point of the Civil War — took place near Gettysburg.<ref>Battle of Gettyburg</ref>
[edit] Demographics
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- Further information: List of people from Pennsylvania
The center of population of Pennsylvania is located in Perry County, in the borough of Duncannon [1].
As of 2005, Pennsylvania has an estimated population of 12,429,616,which is an increase of 20,958 from the previous year, and an increase of 131,888 since the year 2000. Migration from other states resulted in an increase of 32,200, and immigration from Latin American and Asian countries resulted in an increase of 399,100. Migration of native Pennsylvanians resulted in a decrease of 100,000 people. In 2006, 5.00% of Pennsylvanians were foreign born (621,480 people). <ref>Components of Population Change</ref>
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. <ref name=paprof />
Pennsylvanian's reported population of Hispanics, especially among the Asian, Hawaiian and White races, has markedly increased in the last years.<ref name=annest>Annual Estimates of the Population</ref> It is not clear how much of this change reflects a changing population, and how much reflects increased willingness to self-identify minority status.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| <tr><td align="center"> 1790 </td><td align="right"> 434,373 </td><td align="right"> - </td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1800 </td><td align="right"> 602,365 </td><td align="right"> 38.7% </td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1810 </td><td align="right"> 810,091 </td><td align="right"> 34.5% </td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1820 </td><td align="right"> 1,049,458 </td><td align="right"> 29.5% </td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1830 </td><td align="right"> 1,348,233 </td><td align="right"> 28.5% </td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1840 </td><td align="right"> 1,724,033 </td><td align="right"> 27.9% </td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1850 </td><td align="right"> 2,311,786 </td><td align="right"> 34.1% </td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1860 </td><td align="right"> 2,906,215 </td><td align="right"> 25.7% </td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1870 </td><td align="right"> 3,521,951 </td><td align="right"> 21.2% </td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1880 </td><td align="right"> 4,282,891 </td><td align="right"> 21.6% </td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1890 </td><td align="right"> 5,258,113 </td><td align="right"> 22.8% </td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1900 </td><td align="right"> 6,302,115 </td><td align="right"> 19.9% </td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1910 </td><td align="right"> 7,665,111 </td><td align="right"> 21.6% </td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1920 </td><td align="right"> 8,720,017 </td><td align="right"> 13.8% </td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1930 </td><td align="right"> 9,631,350 </td><td align="right"> 10.5% </td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1940 </td><td align="right"> 9,900,180 </td><td align="right"> 2.8% </td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1950 </td><td align="right"> 10,498,012 </td><td align="right"> 6.0% </td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1960 </td><td align="right"> 11,319,366 </td><td align="right"> 7.8% </td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1970 </td><td align="right"> 11,793,909 </td><td align="right"> 4.2% </td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1980 </td><td align="right"> 11,863,895 </td><td align="right"> 0.6% </td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1990 </td><td align="right"> 11,881,643 </td><td align="right"> 0.1% </td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 2000 </td><td align="right"> 12,281,054 </td><td align="right"> 3.4% </td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 2005 (est.) </td><td align="right"> 12,429,616 </td><td align="right"> </td></tr> | ||
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.<ref name="censusPA">FactFinder: Census 2000 Demographic Profile Highlights</ref>
The five largest ancestry groups self-reported in Pennsylvania are: German (27.66%), Irish (17.66%), Italian (12.82%), English (8.89%) and Polish.<ref>American Community Survey 2003 Multi-Year Survey for Pennsylvania</ref>
| 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 ill–treat no person on account of religion, and to consider as brethren all those who believe in one God. - Voltaire, speaking of William Penn<ref>The Works of Voltaire, volume 19</ref> |
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.<ref>Religious diversity in Pennsylvania</ref>
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<ref name=arda>The ARDA</ref>, including percentage of all adherents, were:
- Roman Catholic – 3,877,879 – 54.49%
- 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 Universalist Association of Congregations – 6,778 – 0.10%
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – 31,032 – 0.44%
Note: These statistics are based on 7,116,348 of the estimated 8,448,193 religious adherents in Pennsylvania,<ref name=arda /> and only the largest of 115 different faiths are reported here. Data excludes most of the historically African-American denominations. Public Law 94-521 prevents the Census Bureau from collecting better data, so this information comes from the Association of religion data archives at Penn State.) Terms used to describe organizations are ARDA's, and may not be the group's own preferred name.
Pennsylvannia is also noted for having the highest concentration of an Amish population in the United States<ref>http://www.800padutch.com/amish.shtml</ref>.
[edit] Economy
Pennsylvania's 2005 total gross state product (GSP) of $430.31 billion<ref name=beaxls>Bureau of Economic Analysis</ref> 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.<ref name=beaxls /> Neighboring Delaware was tops, with $56,447, and Mississippi's $23,851 puts it last.<ref name=beaxls />
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.<ref>Appeals court races wrap up with focus on voter mobilization</ref> Philadelphia is home to 10 Fortune 500 companies,<ref name=F500>Fortune 500</ref> with more located in suburbs like King of Prussia; it's a leader in the financial<ref>Philadelphia stock exchange</ref> and insurance industry.<ref>Tragedy of 9/11 pummels insurance industry</ref> Pittsburgh is home to 6 Fortune 500 companies, including U.S. Steel, PPG Industries and H.J. Heinz.<ref name=F500 /> In all, Pennsylvania is home to 49 Fortune 500 companies.<ref name=F500>
The largest private employer in the state is Wal-Mart, followed by the University of Pennsylvania, United Parcel Service and Giant Food. The largest manufacturing employer is Merck.<ref>Largest Employers in Pennsylvania</ref>
[edit] Manufacturing
States cannot thrive by "taking in each other's laundry",<ref>Community Economic Analysis</ref> but manufacturing imports money and jobs from the rest of the world. Pennsylvania's factories and workshops manufacture 16.1% of the Gross State Product (GSP); only 10 states are more industrialized.<ref name=gsp2>Northeast-Midwest Institute calculations based on data from the BEA</ref> 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.<ref name=gsp2 /> 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.<ref name=gsp2 />
[edit] Agriculture
Pennsylvania ranks 19th overall in agricultural production,<ref name=ag>Agricultural Census 2002</ref> but 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 equalling 84.9% of sales, most not only have a net farming income below the $19,806 that marks poverty for a family of four,<ref>Poverty levels</ref> but are liable for a 12.4% self-employment tax as well.<ref>IRS: Tax Guide for farmers</ref> The average farmer is 53 and getting older, <ref>Center for Rural Pennsylvania</ref>, as young Pennsylvanians find low farming income a tough row to hoe.<ref>Mid-Atlantic Farm Policy Leadership Forum</ref>
[edit] Tourism
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.<ref name=gsp2 /> Philadelphia draws tourists<ref>Philadelphia tourism</ref> to see the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Franklin Institute and the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, while The Poconos<ref>Poconos tourism</ref> attract honeymooners, golfers and fishermen, and the Delaware Water Gap<ref>Delaware Water Gap</ref> 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. [citation needed]
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<ref>[2]</ref>has been established to promote visits to the state.
The Pennsylvania Dutch region in south-central Pennsylvania is a favorite for sightseers.<ref>AAA: Favorite vacation spots</ref> The Pennsylvania Dutch, including the Old Order Amish, the Old Order Mennonites and at least 35 other sects,<ref>Page 10, The Riddle of Amish Culture, 2001. ISBN 0-8018-6772-X</ref> 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. <ref>Definition of "dutch"</ref>
[edit] Law and government
Pennsylvania has had five constitutions during its statehood:<ref name=jenkinslaw>23 Pennsylvania Law Weekly 324 (March 27, 2000)</ref> 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.<ref name=jenkinslaw />
The state capital is Harrisburg. The legislature meets in the new State Capitol there.
The current Governor is Ed Rendell, a former head of the Democratic National Committee who began as a popular District Attorney, and mayor in Philadelphia.<ref>Official bio of Ed Rendell</ref> The other elected officials composing the executive branch are the Lieutenant Governor Catherine Baker Knoll, Attorney General Tom Corbett, Auditor General Jack Wagner, and State Treasurer Bob Casey, Jr.<ref>State Elected Officials</ref>
- See also: List of Pennsylvania state agencies
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.<ref>Pennsylvania State Archives</ref> The General Assembly includes 50 Senators<ref>Pennsylvania Senators</ref> and 203 Representatives.<ref>Pennsylvania House of Representatives</ref> Robert C. Jubelirer is currently President Pro Tempore of the State Senate,<ref>Pennsylvania Senate</ref> David J. Brightbill the Majority Leader,<ref>David Brightbill</ref> and Robert J. Mellow the Minority Leader.<ref>Robert Mellow</ref> John M. Perzel is Speaker of the House of Representatives,<ref>John Perzel</ref> with Samuel H. Smith as Majority Leader<ref>Samuel Smith</ref> and H. William DeWeese as Minority Leader.<ref>William DeWeese</ref> The Republicans control both houses of the General Assembly.
Pennsylvania is divided into 60 judicial districts<ref name=courts>Judicial districts</ref>, 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. <ref name=courts /> 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.<ref name=courts/> 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.<ref name=courts/> The Commonwealth Court is limited to appeals from final orders of certain state agencies and certain designated cases from the Courts of Common Pleas.<ref name=courts/> The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the final appellate court. All judges in Pennsylvania are elected; the chief justice is determined by seniority.<ref name=courts/>
Sales tax provides 39% of state revenue; personal income tax 34%; motor vehicle taxes about 12%, and taxes on cigarettes and alcohol beverage 5%.<ref>Revenue Department Releases August Collections (09/01/2006) http://www.revenue.state.pa.us/revenue/CWP/view.asp?Q=261929&A=208 Retrieved September 25, 2006</ref>
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.
[edit] Federal representation
Pennsylvania's two U.S. Senators are Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum. Bob Casey, Jr. will replace Santorum as the state's junior senator in January 2007.
Pennsylvania's U.S. Congressmen for the term beginning January 2007 are Robert Brady (1st), Chaka Fattah (2nd), Phil English (3rd), Jason Altmire (4th), John E. Peterson (5th), Jim Gerlach (6th), Joe Sestak (7th), Patrick Murphy (8th), Bill Shuster (9th), Chris Carney (10th), Paul E. Kanjorski (11th), John Murtha (12th), Allyson Schwartz (13th), Mike Doyle (14th), Charlie Dent (15th), Joe Pitts (16th), Tim Holden (17th), Tim Murphy (18th), and Todd Russell Platts (19th).<ref>Congressional Directory Online</ref>
[edit] Politics
In the past decade, no political party has been clearly dominant here. This, combined with Pennsylvania's rank of 6th in the country in population, has made it one of the most important swing states. Democrats are strong in urban Philadelphia, and the areas of Pittsburgh, Reading, Allentown, Erie, and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Republicans are generally dominant though in the vast rural areas that make up the balance of the state. Traditionally, they have been so in the densely populated and wealthy suburbs of Philadelphia as well.
In the 2004 Presidential Election, Senator John F. Kerry beat President George W. Bush in Pennsylvania 2,938,095 (50.92%) to 2,793,847 (48.42%).
In the Mid-Term Elections of 2006, Pennsylvania moved solidly Democratic because of the unpopularity of the war in Iraq and of President Bush. Bob Casey, Jr. handily defeated incumbent Senator Rick Santorum 59%-41%, and Governor Ed Rendell did much the same to his Republican opponent Lynn Swann 60-40%.
Democrats also defeated Republicans in many Pennsylvania Congressional Districts. The GOP lost four House seats in the Keystone State, more than in any other state.[citation needed] In the 4th District, outside Pittsburgh, Jason Altmire defeated incumbent Melissa Hart 52%-48%. In the 7th, perhaps an increasingly Democratic segment of suburban Philadelphia, Joe Sestak defeated incumbent Curt Weldon 56%-44%. In the 8th, northeast of Philadelphia, Patrick Murphy defeated incumbment Mike Fitzpatrick by only about 1,500 votes. In the 10th, in rural Northeast Pennsylvania, Chris Carney defeated incumbent Don Sherwood 53%-47%.
In the state's General Assembly, Republicans lost nine seats. In late November 2006, a tardy vote count in Chester County was eventually finalized in favor of the Democratic candidate, returning the majority to that party (102-101) after 12 years. The state Senate's balance of power for the 2007-2008 session is 29-21 for Republicans.
[edit] Important cities and municipalities
Municipalities in Pennsylvania are incorporated as cities, boroughs, or townships.
In 1870, Bloomsburg, the county seat of Columbia County, and in 1975, McCandless, Pennsylvania, in Allegheny County were incorporated as towns by special act of the legislature. <ref>Bloomsburg</ref> <ref>McCandless</ref>
Important cities in Pennsylvania<ref name=qf /> include Allentown, Altoona, Bethlehem, Chester, Easton, Erie, Harrisburg, Johnstown, Lancaster, New Castle, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Reading, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport, and York.
[edit] Recreation
Pennsylvania is home to the nation's first zoo, the Philadelphia Zoo. [3] Other notable zoos include Claws 'n Paws, Erie Zoo, Pittsburgh Zoo, and ZOOAMERICA. 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 , Hersheypark, Idlewild Park, Kennywood, Knoebels, Lakemont Park, Sandcastle Waterpark, Sesame Place, and Waldameer Park.
[edit] Sports
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.
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.
[edit] Food
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 "Philly 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 1900's. 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[citation needed], especially in the Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Coal Region areas. Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Turkish, Pakistani, Russian, Polish and Amish cuisine can be found not only in specialty restaurants but at hundreds of community or church festivals.
[edit] State symbols
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[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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- Official state government site
- Penna. Dept. of Transportation
- Pennsylvania State Facts
- Official state toursim site
[edit] References
| Image:Flag of the United States.svg | Political divisions of the United States | |
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| Capital | District of Columbia | |
