Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania, state in the Middle Atlantic region of eastern United States; bordered by Lake Erie and New York to the north; the Delaware River (with New York and New Jersey on the other side) to the east; Delaware, Maryland, and West Virginia to the south; and West Virginia and Ohio to the west.

Land and climate

Pennsylvania has seven main land regions. The Erie Lowland, in the northwest corner, is a strip of flat land along Lake Erie's coast. It abuts the Appalachian (or Allegheny) Plateau, which covers most of northern and all of western Pennsylvania, stretching south and east as well. This region is generally hilly and marked by deep, narrow valleys. The Appalachian Ridge and Valley Region has long, parallel ridges separated by narrow valleys. To its southeast lies a small extension of the New England Upland; to its southwest is a small extension of the Blue Ridge, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Piedmont is a region of rolling plains and rich farmland. The Atlantic Coastal Plain, a narrow strip in the state's southeastern corner, has low-lying, fertile land. Pennsylvania's major rivers are the Allegheny, Ohio, Monongahela, Susquehanna, Schuylkill, and Delaware. Forests cover about three-fifths of the state. Pennsylvania's climate is humid, with warm summers and cold winters. Principal cities are Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Erie.

Economy

Manufacturing is the mainstay of Pennsylvania's economy. Chief manufactured products are processed foods, chemicals, machinery, electrical equipment, fabricated metal products, and primary metals (mainly steel). Tourism and other service industries also are important. Less important are agriculture and mining. Chief livestock produce are milk and beef cattle; chief crops are corn and hay. Chief mining products are coal, natural gas, and limestone.

Government

Pennsylvania's present constitution was adopted in 1968. The governor serves a 4-year term. The state's legislature, called the General Assembly, consists of 50 senators serving 4-year terms and 203 representatives serving 2-year terms. In the U.S. Congress, Pennsylvania is represented by 2 senators and 21 representatives.

History

Algonquin and Iroquois Indians were living in the area when English explorer Henry Hudson arrived in 1609. Swedes built the first permanent European settlement in 1643, near present-day Philadelphia. The Dutch took control of the area in 1655, but lost it to the British in 1664. In 1681, it was granted to William Penn, an English Quaker. Pennsylvania became one of Britain's 13 American colonies. The French and Indian wars disrupted the peace forged between Penn's followers and the Native Americans. Pennsylvania played a vital role during the American Revolution and the founding of the nation. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed in Philadelphia, which was the nation's capital from 1790 to 1800. During the Civil War, Pennsylvania, whose many Quakers opposed slavery, supported the Union. From the Civil War's end until that of World War II, the state's prosperity grew, broken only by severe floods (1889) and the Great Depression (1930s). But during the 1950s, the economy went into a decline, and the state's aging urban areas suffered from unemployment and overpopulation. In recent years, Pennsylvania has moved toward newer technologies and service industries.