Philadelphia, Pa Facts
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Pennsylvania was acquired by England in 1681 and was granted to William Penn, a Quaker, by King Charles II.
Philadelphia is where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776 and the U.S. Constitution drawn up in 1787. Two Revolutionary War sites of battle of the Civil War are in Pennsylvania: Valley Forge and Gettysburg. The Liberty Bell is located in a glass pavilion across from Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
- The state still leads the country in the production of specialty steel.
- Pennsylvania is a leader in the production of chemicals, food, and electrical machinery and produces 10% of the nation's cement.
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Also important are brick and tiles, glass, limestone, and slate.
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Data processing is also increasingly important.
- Pennsylvania has the largest rural population in the nation.
- Pennsylvania's 9 million agricultural acres produce a wide variety of crops, and its 55,535 farms are the backbone of the state's economy.
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Leading products are milk, poultry, eggs, a variety of fruits, sweet corn, potatoes, mushrooms, cheese, beans, hay, maple syrup, and even Christmas trees.
- The state's farmers sell more than $3.3 billion in crops and livestock annually, and agribusiness and food-related industries account for another $35 billion in economic activity annually.
- Among the chief attractions are the Gettysburg National Military Park, Valley Forge National Historical Park, Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Dutch region, the Eisenhower farm near Gettysburg, and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
Capital: Harrisburg
Governor: Tom Ridge, R (to Jan. 2003)
Lieut. Governor: Mark Schweiker, R (to Jan. 2003)
Senators: Rick Santorum, R (to Jan. 2001); Arlen Specter, R (to Jan. 2005)
Acting Secy. of the Commonwealth: Kim Pizzingrilli, R (at the pleasure of the governor)
Auditor General: Robert P. Casey, Jr., D (to Jan. 2001)
Atty. General: Michael Fisher, R (to Jan. 2001)
Entered Union (rank): Dec. 12, 1787 (2)
Present constitution adopted: 1968
Motto: Virtue, liberty, and independence
State symbols: flower, mountain laurel (1933); tree, hemlock (1931); bird, ruffed grouse (1931); dog, Great Dane (1965); colors, blue and gold (1907); song, “Pennsylvania” (1990)
Nickname: Keystone State
Origin of name: In honor of Adm. Sir William Penn, father of William Penn. It means “Penn's Woodland.”
10 largest cities (1998 est.): Philadelphia, 1,436,287; Pittsburgh, 340,520; Erie, 102,640; Allentown, 100,757; Reading, 74,762; Scranton, 74,683; Bethlehem, 69,383; Lancaster, 52,951; Harrisburg, 49,502; Altoona, 49,226
Land area: 44,820 sq mi. (116,083 sq km)
Geographic center: In Centre Co., 21/2 mi. SW of Bellefonte
Number of counties: 67
Largest county (1998 pop. est.): Philadelphia, 1,436,287
State forests: over 2 mil. ac.
State parks: 116
1998 resident population est.: 12,001,451
Famous natives and residents:
- Grace
Princess of Monaco;
- Honus Wagner
baseball player;
Famous First
- Botanic garden: Established by John Bartram in Philadelphia, 1728, and is still in existence in its original location.
- Library, circulating: Philadelphia, 1731.
- Hospital: Feb. 11, 1752
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Bank established: Bank of North America, Philadelphia, 1781.
- Newspaper published daily: Pennsylvania Packet and General Advertiser, Philadelphia, Sept. 1784.
- Zoological garden: July 1, 1874
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Oil well, commercial: Titusville, Pa., 1859.
- Radio station licensed: KDKA, Pittsburgh, Pa., Oct. 27, 1920.
- Computer: 1946
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