Log in Sign up
Back to Discover
🗺️

Pennsylvania

geography Maturity 7-9

Pennsylvania is a big place.

Pennsylvania-counties-map.gif
Pennsylvania-counties-map.gif
It is in the United States. Many trees grow there.
Flickr - Nicholas T - Endless Mountains Landscape (1).jpg
Flickr - Nicholas T - Endless Mountains Landscape (1).jpg
Mountains go through the land. It has big cities too.
Independence Hall.jpg
Independence Hall.jpg
Do you want to visit?

41 words

Pennsylvania is a state in the United States.

Pennsylvania-counties-map.gif
Pennsylvania-counties-map.gif
It has many big mountains.
Flickr - Nicholas T - Endless Mountains Landscape (1).jpg
Flickr - Nicholas T - Endless Mountains Landscape (1).jpg
Most of the land is covered in green trees.

Many people live in its big cities. Philadelphia is a very large city.

Independence Hall.jpg
Independence Hall.jpg
Harrisburg is the capital city.

Long ago, a man named William Penn started this place. He named it for his father.

It is a place with much history. It has many stories to tell. You can learn a lot here.

86 words

Pennsylvania is a state in the United States.

Pennsylvania-counties-map.gif
Pennsylvania-counties-map.gif
It sits in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. You can find it near New York and New Jersey. It also touches Ohio and Maryland.
Flickr - Nicholas T - Endless Mountains Landscape (1).jpg
Flickr - Nicholas T - Endless Mountains Landscape (1).jpg
The land is very diverse. Big mountains run through the center of the state. These are the Appalachian Mountains. About 60% of the state is covered in forests. While it has no ocean coast, it has water along Lake Erie.

Many people live here. Over 13 million people call it home. Philadelphia is the largest city.

Independence Hall.jpg
Independence Hall.jpg
Harrisburg is the capital city.
Flying the Pride Flag over the Capitol (50035197647).jpg
Flying the Pride Flag over the Capitol (50035197647).jpg

The state has a long history. A man named William Penn founded it in 1681. He named it to honor his father. Pennsylvania was very important during the American Revolution. Important leaders met in Philadelphia to make new laws. Later, the state saw the Battle of Gettysburg. This was a very big battle in the Civil War. In the past, the state was famous for making steel. Today, it is even known for work in medicine.

Benjamin Franklin statue in front of College Hall.JPG
Benjamin Franklin statue in front of College Hall.JPG

196 words

Pennsylvania is a large state in the United States.

Pennsylvania-counties-map.gif
Pennsylvania-counties-map.gif
It sits in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions. You can find it near New York and New Jersey. It also borders Ohio, West Virginia, and Maryland.
Flickr - Nicholas T - Endless Mountains Landscape (1).jpg
Flickr - Nicholas T - Endless Mountains Landscape (1).jpg
To the northwest, it meets the Canadian province of Ontario via Lake Erie. The state has a very diverse landscape. The Appalachian Mountains run right through the middle. The Allegheny and Pocono mountains also span the northeast. About 60% of the state is covered in green forests.
Köppen Climate Types Pennsylvania.png
Köppen Climate Types Pennsylvania.png
While it has no ocean coast, it has water along Lake Erie and the Delaware River.

Many people live in this state. As of the 2020 census, over 13 million people live in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania population density 2020.png
Pennsylvania population density 2020.png
Philadelphia is the largest and most crowded city. It is the sixth-most populous city in the whole country.
South Philly HS.JPG
South Philly HS.JPG
The capital city of the state is Harrisburg.
Flying the Pride Flag over the Capitol (50035197647).jpg
Flying the Pride Flag over the Capitol (50035197647).jpg
Another huge area is Greater Pittsburgh. This area is centered around Pittsburgh, which is the second-largest city.
Pittsburgh Steeler fans 15 Oct 2006.jpg
Pittsburgh Steeler fans 15 Oct 2006.jpg
The state is the fifth-most populous state in the nation. It is also the ninth-highest in population density.

Humans have lived in this land for a very long time. Archaeologists found signs of people living here over 10,000 years ago.

Shelter House Emmaus PA 2.JPG
Shelter House Emmaus PA 2.JPG
Long before Europeans arrived, Native American tribes lived here. The Lenape people lived in the eastern regions. They spoke an Algonquian language. The Susquehannock people lived along the Susquehanna River. They spoke an Iroquoian language. In 1681, William Penn founded the colony of Pennsylvania.
William Penn.png
William Penn.png
He named it to honor his father, Admiral Penn. The name literally means "Penn's Woods."

Pennsylvania played a huge role in making the United States. During the American Revolution, leaders met in Philadelphia.

Independence Hall.jpg
Independence Hall.jpg
They held the Continental Congress there to fight for independence. In 1787, Pennsylvania was the second state to approve the U.S. Constitution. Later, the state saw the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863.
Thure de Thulstrup - L. Prang and Co. - Battle of Gettysburg - Restoration by Adam Cuerden.jpg
Thure de Thulstrup - L. Prang and Co. - Battle of Gettysburg - Restoration by Adam Cuerden.jpg
This was a very big and sad battle during the Civil War. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the state became famous for making steel.
Bethlehem Steel.jpg
Bethlehem Steel.jpg
This industry helped build many bridges and skyscrapers across the nation.

Today, Pennsylvania is still a place of great discovery. It has changed from making steel to making medicine.

Benjamin Franklin statue in front of College Hall.JPG
Benjamin Franklin statue in front of College Hall.JPG
People now call it the "Cellicon State." This is because cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh help develop new ways to treat cancer.
Philadelphia International Airport.jpg
Philadelphia International Airport.jpg
You can see how much the state has grown by looking at its many cities. From the busy streets of Philadelphia to the mountains in the center, there is much to see. The state connects its long history to the modern world. It remains a very important part of the United States.

487 words

Pennsylvania is a prominent state located in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States.

Pennsylvania-counties-map.gif
Pennsylvania-counties-map.gif
It sits within the Appalachian and Great Lakes regions as well. The state shares borders with several different places. To the north lies New York. To the east, it is bordered by New Jersey and the Delaware River. To the southeast, it meets Delaware. To the south, Maryland forms a border. To the southwest, West Virginia is a neighbor. Ohio sits to the west. In the northwest, the state meets the Canadian province of Ontario via Lake Erie.
Flickr - Nicholas T - Endless Mountains Landscape (1).jpg
Flickr - Nicholas T - Endless Mountains Landscape (1).jpg

The geography of Pennsylvania is remarkably diverse. The Appalachian Mountains run through the very center of the state. The Allegheny and Pocono mountains span much of the Northeastern area. Forests are a major part of the landscape, covering close to 60% of the state. Although Pennsylvania has no oceanic shoreline, it does have significant waterfront. This includes the shores of Lake Erie and the tidal Delaware River. The Delaware River eventually reaches the Delaware Bay, which is a marginal bay of the Atlantic Ocean.

Köppen Climate Types Pennsylvania.png
Köppen Climate Types Pennsylvania.png

Human history in this region extends back thousands of years. Archaeologists have found signs of human activity that may date back over 10,000 years. The Meadowcroft Rockshelter in Jefferson Township contains some of the earliest known evidence of human habitation in North America. Long before European arrival, major Native American tribes lived here. The Lenape people inhabited the eastern regions, including the Lehigh and Delaware Valleys. They spoke an Algonquian language. The Susquehannock people lived along the Susquehanna River and spoke an Iroquoian language.

Shelter House Emmaus PA 2.JPG
Shelter House Emmaus PA 2.JPG

European colonization involved several different nations and complex legal claims. Between 1638 and 1655, a Swedish colony called New Sweden controlled parts of the region. Later, the Dutch and English both claimed lands along the Delaware River. In 1681, King Charles II issued a royal land grant to William Penn. This charter made Penn and his heirs the proprietors of the province. Penn named the land Pennsylvania to honor his father, Admiral William Penn. The name literally translates to "Penn's Woods."

William Penn.png
William Penn.png
Penn also introduced an innovative government system and promoted religious pluralism. He signed a peace treaty with Tamanend, a Lenape leader, which helped maintain peaceful relations.
Benjamin Franklin statue in front of College Hall.JPG
Benjamin Franklin statue in front of College Hall.JPG

Pennsylvania played a vital role in the formation of the United States. During the American Revolution, Philadelphia hosted the First and Second Continental Congress. In 1775, the Second Continental Congress formed the Continental Army under George Washington. The following year, leaders adopted the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia.

Independence Hall.jpg
Independence Hall.jpg
On December 12, 1787, Pennsylvania became the second state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. The state also experienced the American Civil War. The Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863 was the bloodiest battle of that war. It resulted in over 51,000 Union and Confederate casualties.
Thure de Thulstrup - L. Prang and Co. - Battle of Gettysburg - Restoration by Adam Cuerden.jpg
Thure de Thulstrup - L. Prang and Co. - Battle of Gettysburg - Restoration by Adam Cuerden.jpg

Economic shifts have defined the state's development over the centuries. During the late 19th and 20th centuries, Pennsylvania was a leader in steel production and manufacturing. This industry helped build the nation's early infrastructure, such as skyscrapers and bridges. This manufacturing power also supplied military hardware during World War I, World War II, and the Cold War.

Bethlehem Steel.jpg
Bethlehem Steel.jpg
Today, the economy has transformed again. In the 21st century, the state has earned the nickname "Cellicon State." This refers to the central role of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in developing immunotherapies to treat cancer.

Population and urban centers are major features of modern Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the state has over 13 million residents. This makes it the fifth-most populous state in the country. Philadelphia is the most populous city and the sixth-most populous in the U.S. The Philadelphia metropolitan area, also called the Delaware Valley, is the state's largest metropolitan area.

South Philly HS.JPG
South Philly HS.JPG
The state capital is Harrisburg.
Flying the Pride Flag over the Capitol (50035197647).jpg
Flying the Pride Flag over the Capitol (50035197647).jpg
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city and serves as the center for the Greater Pittsburgh metropolitan area.
Pittsburgh Steeler fans 15 Oct 2006.jpg
Pittsburgh Steeler fans 15 Oct 2006.jpg
These cities continue to drive the state's importance in science and industry.

690 words
🖼️ Images & Media (32)
"Pennsylvania" - Regional anthem of...
File:William_Penn.png
William_Penn.png
File:Shelter_House_Emmaus_PA_2.JPG
Shelter_House_Emmaus_PA_2.JPG
File:Independence_Hall.jpg
Independence_Hall.jpg
File:Thure_de_Thulstrup_-_L._Prang_and_Co._-_Battle_of_Gettysburg_-_Restoration_by_Adam_Cuerden.jpg
Thure_de_Thulstrup_-_L._Prang_and_Co._-_Ba...
File:Lincolnatgettysburg.jpg
Lincolnatgettysburg.jpg
File:Bethlehem_Steel.jpg
Bethlehem_Steel.jpg
File:Flight93Crash.jpg
Flight93Crash.jpg
File:Köppen Climate Types Pennsylvania.png
Köppen Climate Types Pennsylvania.png
File:Flickr - Nicholas T - Endless Mountains Landscape (1).jpg
Flickr - Nicholas T - Endless Mountains...
File:Pennsylvania population density 2020.png
Pennsylvania population density 2020.png
Pennsylvania population pyramid.webp

+ 20 more

Up Next
🗺️
Philadelphia
Geography
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.