Pennsylvania Facts for Kids
Pennsylvania, one of the original thirteen colonies, is a northeastern state known for its rich history and many historical monuments.
After all, it’s the state where the Declaration of Independence was signed and the Constitution was written.
But that’s not all you’ll find in Pennsylvania: It’s also home to numerous parks, museums, and even the Hershey headquarters.
Yum, chocolate!
Quick Facts
- Capital: Harrisburg
- Population: 13 million
- Nickname: The Keystone State, Quaker State, Oil State
- Key Cities: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Erie
- Postal Abbreviation: PA
- Major Industries: Industrial machinery, fabricated metal products, food products, chemical products, printing and publishing
Quick Pennsylvania Facts
- More than 75% of the oil produced worldwide in 1881 was produced in Pennsylvania.
- Pennsylvania’s Kennett Square region is where half of the nation’s mushrooms are cultivated.
- The oldest state house still standing in the US is the State House of Pennsylvania.
- Pennsylvania became a state that forbade slavery in 1871.
- In terms of precipitation (rain and snow), Pennsylvania is the 22nd wettest state in the union.
- The Keystone State and the Quaker State are other names for Pennsylvania.
- Virtue, Liberty, and Independence serve as the state motto of Pennsylvania in the United States.
History
How did Pennsylvania get its name: The founder of Pennsylvania, William Penn, named the state in honor of his father, Sir William Penn.
Penn was persecuted in England for his Quaker religion, so he founded Pennsylvania as a place where people could practice freedom of religion.
Date admitted to the Union: Wednesday, December 12, 1787
Geography
Size: 46,055 sq. miles
Lowest point: Delaware River at sea level
Highest point: Davis at 3,213 ft.
Counties: 67
Famous locations: Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Fallingwater, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Gettysburg, Lake Erie, Hershey Park
Famous Pennsylvanians
Taylor Swift- singer
Kobe Bryant- basketball player
Kevin Hart- comedian
Will Smith- actor/rap artist
Amanda Seyfried- actress
Tina Fey- comedian/producer
Fun Facts
The Crayola Factory can be found in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, where nearly 3 billion crayons are produced each year.
That’s about 9 million crayons daily—enough to wrap around the Earth six times!
Another awesome factory in Pennsylvania is the Hershey Chocolate Factory in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Hershey is considered the chocolate capital of the United States.
The Philadelphia Zoo was the first public zoo in the United States and was founded by Benjamin Franklin.
Pennsylvania is the only one of the original thirteen colonies that is not bordered by the Atlantic Ocean.
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, is the home of the famous Groundhog’s Day groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil.
Every year around Groundhog’s Day (February 2), the town has a two-day celebration featuring art shows, crafts, music, and more.
Thousands of people come to see Phil’s forecast each year. If he sees his shadow, the legend is that we’ll have six more weeks of winter.
If he doesn’t, spring will come early, and the crowd goes wild!
Because of this, Punxsutawney is called the weather capital of the world.
