Pennsylvania is one of the original 13 colonies; it hosted the Continental Congress in 1776 and the Constitutional Convention in 1787. On 12 December 1787, it became the second state to enter the union. Its nickname is the Keystone State; a keystone is the central stone in an arch that holds all others in place. Today Pennsylvania has 19 US Representatives. It is considered a swing state in Presidential elections. It has the largest rural population of any state in the nation and is the third largest state east of the Mississippi River.
Introduction
The 2006 population was 12.4 million. Pennsylvania is not as multicultural as the nation on average: it is 85.7% white (80.1% nationally) and 10.7% black (12.8% nationally). It is bookended with two large cities: Philadelphia in the east (1.5 million) and Pittsburgh in the west (325,000). Both are culturally very different from the interior. In 2000, the rural population was 3.39 million (27%).
Registered Voters: Republican, 47&; Democratic, 43%; Independent, 7%.
Registered Voters: Republican, 47&; Democratic, 43%; Independent, 7%.
Presidential Politics
For the past 70 years, Pennsylvania has been a swing state. It tends to be culturally conservative and economically liberal. It's April primary has not played a crucial role in selecting the nominee for President since 1976, when Jimmy Carter cinched the nomination here by defeating Henry (Scoop) Jackson and Morris Udall.Pennsylvania has 21 electoral votes.
- 2004 : Kerry (D) 51%, Bush (R) 48%
- 2004 D Primary: Kerry (74%), Dean (10%), Edwards (10%), Kucinich (4%)
- 2000 : Gore (D) 51%, Bush (R) 46%, Nader (I) 2%
- 1996 : Clinton (D) 49%, Dole (R) 40%, Perot (I) 10%
Federal Representation
- Sen. Arlen Specter (R, 1980)
- Sen. Bob Casey (D, 2006)
State Government
Governor Ed Rendell (D) was elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2006 (60%-40% over Republican football player-turned politician Lynn Swann). His term expires in January 2011. He is the first Philadelphian to hold the office since 1914.The capitol is Harrsiburg, located in central Pennsylvania (just north of Gettysburg, made famous during the Civil War).
Economy
In 2001, Pennsylvania's gross state product was $408.4 billion, the 6th largest in the nation. Pennsylvania's economy is, like most the nation's, predominantly white collar (59.5% versus 25.2% blue collar and 15.3% grey collar). The top five agricultural products are dairy products (36.4% cash receipts), cattle and calves (9.5%), chicken eggs (7%), broilers (6.7%) and hogs (5%). Its other primary natural resources product is coal: its is the only state mining anthracite. It is a leading processed foods state and is known as a snack capitol. The second second most important source of service income in the state is finance, insurance and real estate.Background
In 1681, King Charles II granted William Penn, a Quaker, a large tract of land in the Mid-Atlantic that includes modern-day Pennsylvania. It became known as a place of tolerance and was soon settled by Mennonites and Amish, in addition to Quakers. >The "Pennsylvania Dutch" still reside in Lancaster County (west of Philadelphia, southeast of Harrisburg), eschewing motorized vehicles (except for "black bumper Amish") for the horse-and-buggy.
At the turn of the 20th century, Pennsylvania produced 60% of the nation's steel. In 1920, it was the nation's leading energy producer, a function of oil (Quaker State Motor Oil) and coal.
At the turn of the 20th century, Pennsylvania produced 60% of the nation's steel. In 1920, it was the nation's leading energy producer, a function of oil (Quaker State Motor Oil) and coal.
