Pennsylvania is known as the "Keystone State" because of its geographic location in the thirteen original British colonies and also "The State of Independence" because of the state's participation in the American Revolutionary War and the drafting the Declaration of Independence and the Unites States Constitution.[1] Pennsylvania is the 33rd largest state in the United States and contains 44,742.27 square miles. Its estimated population in 2023 was 12,961, 683.[2] Pennsylvania’s economy ranks 6th in size among states and Washington, DC.[3] Pennsylvania is known for its rich history and diverse attractions. Some of the top attractions include the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Independence Hall, and the city of Hershey, known as “The Sweetest Place on Earth” and home to Hersheypark and Hershey’s Chocolate World. Other notable attractions include the historic Gettysburg National Military Park and the beautiful Pocono Mountains.[4]
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History of Pennsylvania
In 1681, Pennsylvania became and English colony when William Penn received a royal deed from King Charles II of England. William Penn, a Quaker, established the colony as a refuge from the Quaker's religious persecution in England. In 1682, under the direction of William Penn, the first three counties were created.[5]
There was a major influx of German language speaking immigrants to Pennsylvania beginning in 1683 with the founding of Germantown and continuing into the 19th Century. These immigrants are commonly referred to as the Pennsylvania Germans or the Pennsylvania Dutch.[6] The Pennsylvania Dutch are made up of Amish, Mennonite, Lutheran, German Reformed, Moravian, and other groups. Today, most Pennsylvania Dutch speak a variation of their original German language, as well as English.[7]
Philadelphia, the capital of Pennsylvania, was the site of the first and second Continental Congresses formed for drafting the U.S. Constitution. in 1776, Philadelphia was also the site for drafting of the Declaration of Independence, sparking the American Revolution. During the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865, Pennsylvania was the site of several battles including the the Battle of Gettysburg, where Union General George Meade defeated Confederate General Robert E. Lee.[5]
After the Great Depression of the 1930s and World War II in the 1940s, Pennsylvania moved towards the service and financial industries economically and became a swing state politically.[8] Pennsylvania’s economy ranks 6th in size among states and Washington, DC.[3]
Demographics of Pennsylvania
The demographic distribution of Pennsylvania is as follows:[9]
- White: 78.28%
- Black or African American: 10.99%
- Asian: 3.55%
- Two or more races: 4.28%
- Other race: 2.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.16%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.03%
Most common surnames in Pennsylvania
According to the Forebears.io website, the ten most common names in Pennsylvania are:
| Surname | Incidence | Frquency |
| Brown | 61,830 | 1:170 |
| Williams | 61,051 | 1:172 |
| Johnson | 55,603 | 1:189 |
| Jones | 50,270 | 1:209 |
| Davis | 42,507 | 1:247 |
| Wilson | 30,621 | 1:343 |
| Snyder | 30,193 | 1:348 |
| Anderson | 26,328 | 1:399 |
| Taylor | 25,568 | 1:411 |
| Clark | 25,046 | 1:420 |
Researching Family History in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has some of most outstanding collections of valuable genealogical records in the United States. Philadelphia is home to the National Archives at Philadelphia,with both onsite and online genealogy resources available on the Genealogy and Historical Research at Philadelphia website. The Philadelphia City Archives preserves historical City records and provides access to the public. Another collection of both online and onsite records is available from the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania. Other resources include the German Society of Philadelphia, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania State Archives.
Pennsylvania county list
| Allegheny | Armstrong | Beaver | Berks |
| Bradford | Bucks | Butler | Cambria |
| Centre | Chester | Clarion | Clearfield |
| Clinton | Columbia | Crawford | Cumberland |
| Dauphin | Delaware | Elk | Erie |
| Fayette | Forest | Franklin | Greene |
| Huntingdon | Indiana | Jefferson | Juniata |
| Lawrence | Lebanon | Lehigh | Luzerne |
| Lycoming | Mercer | Mifflin | Monroe |
| Montgomery | Montour | Northampton | Northunberland |
| Perry | Phladelphia | Potter | Schuylkill |
| Snyder | Somerset | Sullivan | Susquehanna |
| Tioga | Union | Venango | Washington |
| Wayne | Westmoreland | Wyoming | York |
See also
Explore more about Pennsylvania
MyHeritage.com has 258 collections of records from Pennsylvania including 41 collections of records from Philadelphia. Important Pennsylvania collections include, Pennsylvania Marriages, Pennsylvania Newspapers, the Pennsylvania Death index, 1906-1964, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Passenger Lists, 1883-1945 and many others.
References
- ↑ 77 Interesting Facts About Pennsylvania
- ↑ “U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Pennsylvania.”
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Economy of Pennsylvania Statistics and Data Trends: GDP ranking, unemployment rate, and economic growth
- ↑ The 12 Best Places to Visit in Pennsylvania.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 History of Pennsylvania
- ↑ Who are the Pennsylvania Dutch?
- ↑ Pennsylvania Dutch History and Way of Life
- ↑ ExplorePAHistory.com - Stories from PA History
- ↑ Pennsylvania Population by Race & Ethnicity - 2023 | Neilsberg