Pennsylvania. The Keystone State. CultureGrams. 2nd State. Climate. Geography. States Edition. Established 1787

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1 States Edition 2017 The Keystone State Established nd State was the first U.S. state to put its URL (web address) on its license plates. Hershey is known by many people as the Chocolate Capital of the World. claims to be the home of the first cheesesteak factory and the first Slinky toy. Kennett Square has a mushroom museum and is known as the Mushroom Capital of the World. More than one million people every year visit the Liberty Bell, with its famous 2-foot-long crack, in Philadelphia. Philadelphia is home to the nation s first public library the Free Library of Philadelphia founded by Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia was the U.S. capital from 1790 until 1800, when the newly built city of Washington, D.C., became the capital. Each Groundhog Day you can watch to see if Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog, will see his shadow, which some believe indicates that cold winter weather will continue for six more weeks. The oldest roller coaster in the world is in s Lakemont Park. It was built in 1902 and goes about 10 miles per hour (16 kilometers per hour). In 2005, 18-year-old Christopher Seeley was elected the youngest mayor in history! The city of Reading is known as the Pretzel City. Climate has what s called a continental climate. Winds from the west make it very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter. Summer temperatures above 90 F (32 C) and winter temperatures below 0 F (-18 C) are ordinary. But the weather varies depending on where you are. Northern July temperatures average about 70 F (21 C), while down in Philadelphia the average is 77 F (25 C). In January, Philadelphia is about 34 F (1 C), while the north is a cold 26 F (-3 C). gets quite a bit of rain, with precipitation averaging around 42 inches (107 centimeters) a year. As a result, flooding rivers can sometimes be a problem. The north gets the most snow, about 7 feet (2 meters) every year. Average Seasonal High and Low Temperatures Spring: 60/40 F Summer: 82/62 F Fall: 63/45 F Winter: 39/24 F Geography 1

2 The lowest part of Colorado is still taller than the highest part of. However, hills or mountains cover all but two very small parts of the state. One is the Piedmont Plateau, a flat area at the foot of the Blue Mountains. Philadelphia is at its lowest end. The Appalachian Mountains run in a line going southwest to northeast. The Allegheny Mountains are on their west, and the Blue Mountains are on the south and east. Go northeast and you ll hit the Pocono Mountains. The land by Lake Erie is a flatter area called the Allegheny Plateau. About 60 percent of the plateaus (high, flat areas), mountains, and hills are covered with forests, and the state has more than 1,000 square miles (1,609 square kilometers) of natural and man-made lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams. Resources and Economy The Pittsburgh Steelers football team is named after the city s famous steel and iron industries. Natural resources such as coal, natural gas, oil, and limestone are also found in. The lumber industry has grown because of reforestation (when trees are planted to make up for those that were cut down). Philadelphia is the state s manufacturing center, and industries produce items ranging from communications equipment to ice cream. Apples, grapes, and cherries are grown near Lake Erie, and peaches are grown in the southeast. is one of the leading producers of mushrooms and milk products. All these products are traded easily because of the excellent waterways. Time Line Thousands of years ago, Native Americans live in what is now AD 1600 AD 1609 Henry Hudson explores the Delaware Bay for the Dutch 1664 England takes over the Dutch colony 1681 The English king gives to William Penn The Iroquois force the Native Americans to give the colonists their land in the Walking Purchase 2

3 1774 The First Continental Congress opens in Philadelphia 1775 The Second Continental Congress opens in Philadelphia; delegates elect George Washington as the Continental Army s commander in chief 1776 The Declaration of Independence is signed in Philadelphia; all men are given the right to vote, no matter their race 1777 The British occupy Philadelphia; Washington and his troops camp for the winter at Valley Forge 1780 slowly frees all slaves born in the state; slaves continue to appear on the census (population count) until The U.S. Constitution is written in Philadelphia; becomes the second state on 12 December James Buchanan, from, becomes the 15th U.S. president 1863 Almost 50,000 soldiers die in the Battle of Gettysburg; President Lincoln gives the Gettysburg Address 3

4 1873 Andrew Carnegie starts America s first major steel plant near Pittsburgh 1889 The Johnstown Flood kills more than 2,200 people Hurricane Agnes kills 55 people and causes three billion dollars in property damage 1979 The Three Mile Island nuclear disaster leads to stricter standards for nuclear power plants 1988 An oil storage tank collapses and spills about one million gallons of oil into the Monongahela and Ohio rivers Major flooding forces the evacuation of more than 200,000 homes in northeastern 2010 Casino gambling is legalized 2011 A child abuse scandal at Penn State involving an assistant football coach results in the firings of several staff, including legendary coach Joe Paterno, as well as severe penalties for the university's sports program PRESENT The Lenape The Lenape were the original inhabitants of. Their name means the original people. They lived in river valleys in the east. Their neighbors were the Susquehannock, who lived by the Susquehanna River, and the Shawnee, in western. However, by the early 1700s the Iroquois Confederacy in New York had power over all other tribes, including those in. After the Walking Purchase (when the Iroquois forced the n tribes to sell their lands to the settlers) and the French and Indian War, few Native Americans were left in. The Germans 4

5 The Quakers were some of the earliest European settlers. They were led by William Penn, who promised religious freedom in his colony. Other groups followed, including the Germans, who were commonly known as the Dutch, but who really are not Dutch at all. A long time ago, someone confused Deutsch (the German language) with Dutch. The Germans came from Germany in the early 1700s and settled in the southwest. Some of them belonged to the Mennonite and Amish religions. The Amish do not use modern technology such as cars or machines. Instead, they live in a simple manner. They make their own clothing and use horses and wagons for transportation. The Fight for Freedom Philadelphia was the center of revolutionary activity. In 1774, Philadelphia was the largest city in the colonies. Delegates from 12 of the colonies gathered there to talk about the unjust British laws. This First Continental Congress decided to draft a petition to the English king, protesting their treatment. They also organized Committees of Safety, which made sure that colonists stopped buying British products. This was the first time the colonies made an organized policy against the British. Two years later, the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence in s State House (now Independence Hall). Washington s troops stayed a winter in Valley Forge trying to regain strength. They left with renewed determination to fight for their freedom. Lincoln s Gettysburg Address Close to 50,000 people died in the Battle of Gettysburg in It was the turning point in the Civil War for the Union army. Four months later, President Lincoln gave the famous Gettysburg Address: Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal... and... that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. The war ended on 9 April 1865 when General Lee surrendered at Appomattox. Three Mile Island Disaster The country s worst nuclear disaster happened at Three Mile Island, near Harrisburg. Three Mile Island is located in the middle of the Susquehanna River and is not far from Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland. Early in the morning on 28 March 1979, a valve that was supposed to keep the nuclear core (where steam is created to generate power) from melting didn t close. The core quickly heated up, and radiation began to leak from the plant. During the week that scientists struggled to contain the problem, more than 140,000 residents fled their homes. The problem was resolved, but questions over the safety of nuclear reactors remained. 5

6 Population The Germans and Quakers were not the only religious groups to settle in the state. The French Huguenots came for religious freedom, as did the Scots-Irish Presbyterians. Others came because of the work in mines, factories, and on oil wells. Most came from Europe, but during the 1900s many African Americans moved to the industrial north from the south. Today, ns are some of the least likely people in the country to move. The majority of the population lives in urban (city) areas. Almost two-thirds live in either Philadelphia or Pittsburgh. Government Capital: Harrisburg State Abbreviation: PA Governor: Tom Wolf (Democrat) U.S. Senators: 2 Bob Casey (Democrat) Pat Toomey (Republican) U.S. Representatives: 18 Republicans: 13 Democrats: 5 State Senators: 50 State Representatives: 203 Counties: 67 Philadelphia is a city and a county all in one. There are four area divisions: counties, townships, cities, and boroughs. Boroughs are smaller than cities but can choose to be a city after the population reaches 10,000. 6

7 Famous People Tina Fey Benjamin Franklin Louisa May Alcott Author of Little Women Lloyd Alexander Author of The Chronicles of Prydain James Buchanan 15th U.S. president Rachel Carson Author, scientist, and conservationist Mary Cassatt Painter Tina Fey Comedian, writer, and actress Benjamin Franklin Statesman and inventor Milton S. Hershey Chocolate manufacturer Gene Kelly Dancer and actor Grace Kelly Academy Award winning actress Tamora Pierce Author Jonas Salk Scientist who found the cure for polio Suzie McConnell Serio WNBA player Jimmy Stewart Academy Award winning actor Taylor Swift Singer Jim Thorpe Track, football, and baseball star Andy Warhol Pop artist August Wilson Playwright Grace Kelly Andy Warhol Native America The Lenni-Lenape and Susquehannock tribes lived in what is now years before European settlers arrived. The Lenni-Lenape lived in the east along the rivers, and the Susquehannock lived along the Susquehanna River. The Lenni-Lenape belonged to the Algonquin family and were very experienced farmers. They combined their harvest with game hunting to provide enough food for their villages. The Susquehannock were related to the Iroquois but did not want to be a part of the powerful Iroquois Confederacy that ruled the area north of them. As a result, they often fought with the other Iroquois tribes. When European explorers arrived, they formed alliances with the Iroquois Confederacy. Eventually, so many Susquehannock were killed by foreign diseases and warfare that they were forced to join other tribes to the north or south in order to survive. The Lenni-Lenape were also forced off their land, moving westward to Oklahoma. Today there are no federally recognized tribes left in. 7

8 Inventors Have you heard the expression, Spring forward, fall back? Every state but Arizona and Hawaii participates in daylight saving time, an invention of n Benjamin Franklin. This famous statesman also invented bifocals and the odometer (which tells you how far you ve driven). J. D. Daugherty invented the typewriter, and the Big Mac was first made at a McDonald s in Uniontown. The first modern computer was developed at the University of in Pittsburgh is the heart of nuclear research and also organ transplant research. Dutch The Dutch are known for their food, which combines the culture of their German homeland and that of the countryside where they settled. Many of their traditional foods have spread across the state and even the country. Coleslaw, apple dumplings, and potato soup are all common Dutch dishes. One of the more unique dishes is called Amish Friendship Bread. A person receives a portion of uncooked bread dough, along with a recipe from a friend. To the dough, the person adds sugar, water, and flour. The new dough is then baked into a loaf of bread, but a small portion of uncooked dough is set aside. The leftover dough is passed on to someone else. Other popular desserts are funnel cakes and whoopie pies. Funnel cakes are made by pouring batter through a funnel, deep frying it in hot oil, and then topping it with powdered sugar or jam. Whoopie pies are made of two small round chocolate cakes filled with white cream frosting. State Symbols State Bird Ruffed grouse These reddish-brown birds are also called partridges or pheasants. State Tree Eastern hemlock The state was originally covered with hemlock, which is used to make homes and furniture and for firewood. 8

9 State Flower Mountain laurel These beautiful pinkish flowers fill the woods, but the leaves are poisonous to some animals. State Animal White-tailed deer Native Americans and the early settlers relied on deer for food and clothing. Other Symbols Beverage: Milk Dog: Great Dane Fossil: Trilobite Insect: Firefly Song: State Motto Virtue, Liberty, and Independence The state motto is shown on the commemorative state quarters. Major League Sports Teams Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) Philadelphia Eagles (NFL) Philadelphia Flyers (NHL) Philadelphia Phillies (MLB) Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL) Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB) Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) Philadelphia Union (MLS) Philadelphia Soul (AFL) For More Information See or contact the Tourism Office, Department of Community and Economic Development, Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North Street, 4th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17120; phone (800) VISIT-PA; web site ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University. It is against the law to copy, reprint, store, or transmit any part of this publication in any form by any means without strict written permission from ProQuest. 9 ProQuest 789 East Eisenhower Parkway Ann Arbor, Michigan USA Toll Free: Fax:

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