Pennsylvania (PA)

PENNSYLVANIA STATE FLAG

One of the original 13 colonies, Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn as a refuge for his fellow Quakers. Pennsylvania’s capital, Philadelphia, was the site of the First and Second Continental Congresses in 1774 and 1775, the latter of which produced the Declaration of Independence and sparked the American Revolution.

After the war, Pennsylvania became the second state, after Delaware, to ratify the U.S. Constitution. In the American Civil War (1861-1865), Pennsylvania was the site of the Battle of Gettysburg, in which Union General George Meade defeated Confederate General Robert E. Lee, ending the Union invasion of the Confederacy, as well as Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg address.

Tourists are drawn to Pennsylvania by the landmarks of America’s revolutionary history, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Famous Pennsylvanians include patriot and inventor Benjamin Franklin, frontiersman Daniel Boone, painter Mary Cassatt, inventor Robert Fulton, and comedian Bill Cosby.

Geography

Pennsylvania, a state located in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, is bordered by New York to the north, Maryland to the south, Delaware and New Jersey to the east, and Ohio and West Virginia to the west. The Appalachian Mountains run through much of Pennsylvania’s northern and western regions, with its highest peak being Mount Davis at 3,213 feet. The Appalachian Plateau stretches across most of the state’s northwestern region. Pennsylvania also has several rivers flowing through it including the Susquehanna, Delaware, Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers. These rivers have been important for transportation throughout history.

The majority of Pennsylvania is an agricultural region with rolling hills and open fields in its southern part. This area is known as the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians. There are many small towns scattered throughout this region as well as some larger cities such as Pittsburgh, Erie and Harrisburg.

The Piedmont Plateau runs through central Pennsylvania from east to west across its middle region. This area is characterized by flat land with many small hills throughout it. It is home to many cities such as Philadelphia, Lancaster and Allentown which are important cultural centers in Pennsylvania today.

In eastern Pennsylvania lies an area known as The Great Valley which consists of long ridges that run from northwest to southeast across this part of the state. This valley separates two mountain ranges: The Blue Mountains in its northern part and The Lehigh Mountains in its southern part. This area is home to a number of small towns such as Bethlehem and Easton that were once important industrial centers during America’s Industrial Revolution era.

The Susquehanna River Valley lies along much of southeastern Pennsylvania’s border with Maryland running northeastward into New York State where it forms a delta near Binghamton before emptying out into Lake Ontario near Oswego on Canada’s border with New York State. This valley provides fertile land for agriculture which makes up much of this region’s economy today along with manufacturing industries located in cities like Reading and Harrisburg.

Pennsylvania also has several lakes located within its borders including Lake Erie which forms a natural border between it and Ohio along much of their shared western boundary line . Another large lake located within Pennsylvania’s borders is Lake Wallenpaupack which is located in northeastern Pennsylvania near Scranton. Finally, there are several smaller lakes scattered throughout central Pennsylvania such as Raystown Lake near Huntingdon, Cowanesque Lake near Wellsboro, Conneaut Lake near Meadville, Pymatuning Lake near Jamestown, Shenango Reservoir near Hermitage, Nockamixon Reservoir near Quakertown, Blue Marsh Reservoir near Reading, Beltzville Reservoir near Lehighton, Prompton Reservoir near Honesdale, Tuscarora Reservoir near Carlisle, Raystown Branch Juniata River upstream from Huntingdon Valley.

Cities in Pennsylvania

Below are the top 15 cities by population in Pennsylvania. For all cities and towns in the state, please see Pennsylvania cities list.

Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania and the fifth most populous city in the United States. It is known for its rich colonial history, vibrant culture, and world-renowned institutions. The city is home to a variety of attractions including the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. There are also many parks and green spaces to enjoy, such as Fairmount Park and Valley Forge National Historical Park. The city has a vibrant nightlife with plenty of bars, restaurants, and live music venues to explore.

Pittsburgh is another major city in Pennsylvania and it is known for its steel industry history. The city has many cultural attractions such as the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and the Andy Warhol Museum. It also offers plenty of outdoor activities such as kayaking on its three rivers or hiking on Mount Washington. Pittsburgh has a thriving food scene with a variety of restaurants from all over the world as well as craft breweries to explore.

The state capital Harrisburg is located along the Susquehanna River with beautiful views of rolling hills in every direction. Home to several historic sites including Fort Hunter Mansion & Park and Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex, Harrisburg also offers plenty of outdoor activities such as biking along its waterfront trails or fishing in City Island Park. It also has several unique restaurants that offer dishes made from locally sourced ingredients that provide visitors with an authentic taste of Pennsylvania cuisine.

Finally, Allentown is located in eastern Pennsylvania near Bethlehem and Easton. This vibrant city offers visitors plenty to do from attending shows at Miller Symphony Hall or exploring downtown’s shops and restaurants to visiting Cedar Beach Park for some outdoor recreation or catching a game at Coca-Cola Park for some minor league baseball action. Allentown’s rich German heritage can be seen throughout town in its architecture, monuments, festivals, cuisine, beer gardens, and more!

Rank City Population
1 Philadelphia 1,596,865
2 Pittsburgh 303,207
3 Allentown 125,250
4 Erie 95,536
5 Reading city 94,161
6 Upper Darby 84,986
7 Scranton 75,987
8 Lower Merion 63,064
9 Bensalem 62,456
10 Abington 58,131
11 Lancaster city 58,034
12 Bethlehem city 55,816
13 Bristol township 54,309
14 Millcreek township 54,022
15 Lower Paxton 52,925

Counties in Pennsylvania

The State of Pennsylvania consists of 67 counties. They are:

  1. Adams County, Pennsylvania
  2. Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
  3. Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
  4. Beaver County, Pennsylvania
  5. Bedford County, Pennsylvania
  6. Berks County, Pennsylvania
  7. Blair County, Pennsylvania
  8. Bradford County, Pennsylvania
  9. Bucks County, Pennsylvania
  10. Butler County, Pennsylvania
  11. Cambria County, Pennsylvania
  12. Cameron County, Pennsylvania
  13. Carbon County, Pennsylvania
  14. Centre County, Pennsylvania
  15. Chester County, Pennsylvania
  16. Clarion County, Pennsylvania
  17. Clearfield County, Pennsylvania
  18. Clinton County, Pennsylvania
  19. Columbia County, Pennsylvania
  20. Crawford County, Pennsylvania
  21. Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
  22. Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
  23. Delaware County, Pennsylvania
  24. Elk County, Pennsylvania
  25. Erie County, Pennsylvania
  26. Fayette County, Pennsylvania
  27. Forest County, Pennsylvania
  28. Franklin County, Pennsylvania
  29. Fulton County, Pennsylvania
  30. Greene County, Pennsylvania
  31. Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
  32. Indiana County, Pennsylvania
  33. Jefferson County, Pennsylvania
  34. Juniata County, Pennsylvania
  35. Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
  36. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
  37. Lawrence County, Pennsylvania
  38. Lebanon County, Pennsylvania
  39. Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
  40. Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
  41. Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
  42. McKean County, Pennsylvania
  43. Mercer County, Pennsylvania
  44. Mifflin County, Pennsylvania
  45. Monroe County, Pennsylvania
  46. Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
  47. Montour County, Pennsylvania
  48. Northampton County, Pennsylvania
  49. Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
  50. Perry County, Pennsylvania
  51. Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
  52. Pike County, Pennsylvania
  53. Potter County, Pennsylvania
  54. Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
  55. Snyder County, Pennsylvania
  56. Somerset County, Pennsylvania
  57. Sullivan County, Pennsylvania
  58. Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania
  59. Tioga County, Pennsylvania
  60. Union County, Pennsylvania
  61. Venango County, Pennsylvania
  62. Warren County, Pennsylvania
  63. Washington County, Pennsylvania
  64. Wayne County, Pennsylvania
  65. Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
  66. Wyoming County, Pennsylvania
  67. York County, Pennsylvania

PENNSYLVANIA STATE FLAG