Nickname: Keystone State (During colonial times Pennsylvania
was the middle colony of the original 13 colonies. There are six
states above it and six states below it.)
Origin of Name: It means Penn's Woodland. Named in honor of
Admiral Sir. William Penn, father of
.
Four major Indian groups occupied Pennsylvania at the time of
European arrival: the
,
the Susquehanna, the Shawnee, and various segments of the Iroquois
Confederacy. Swedes (1643), Dutch (1647), and others were the first
European settlers. The English seized control of the region in 1664,
and in 1681 King Charles II of England signed a charter giving the
region to
. Under Penn's guidance a Quaker colony was established in
1682, based on government by popular will and religious tolerance.
Philadelphia was the seat of the federal government almost
continuously from 1776 to 1800; there the Declaration of Independence
was signed in 1776 and the U.S. Constitution drawn up in 1787.
This site offers information on every type of tree found in Pennsylvania.
are made in Easton, PA.
home to the Hershey Company.
Manufacturer of the # 1 selling candy in the USA, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Makers of Hershey Kisses and many other candies.
Major Rivers: Allegheny River, Susquehanna River, Delaware River, Ohio River.
FamousPennsylvanians
(1832-1888), novelist. She wrote Little Women.
(1752-1836). She was reported to have made the first American Flag.
(1733-1804). He was called the "Father of Modern
Chemistry."
(1791-1868), the 15th president of the United States.
provides you with photos
and personal information.
