Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is a large northeastern US state central to the nation's founding and industrial history. Its capital is Harrisburg, while Philadelphia is the largest city and Pittsburgh anchors the west. Nicknamed the Keystone State, it was where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed.

Pennsylvania ranges from the Atlantic coastal plain near Philadelphia across the ridges and valleys of the Appalachian Mountains to the Allegheny Plateau and a Lake Erie shore in the northwest. It is rich in forests, rivers and coal. The climate is humid continental.

Pennsylvania blends the historic urban culture of Philadelphia, the industrial heritage of Pittsburgh, and rural traditions including the Pennsylvania Dutch and Amish communities. Cheesesteaks, sports devotion and revolutionary history are central.

Founded by William Penn as a haven of religious tolerance, Pennsylvania was one of the original Thirteen Colonies and the 2nd state in 1787. Philadelphia served as the early national capital, and the state later became a powerhouse of steel and coal. The Battle of Gettysburg was fought here in 1863.

This overview is AI-assisted and grounded with available atlas facts and reference material. Treat linked primary data as authoritative. Read the methodology.