While just about 15-20% of Pennsylvania’s residents reside in Philadelphia or its outlying areas, the Quaker State has a pretty consistent population density across its relatively modest 46,055 square miles. Home to 67 counties, Pennsylvania is only the 33rd largest state in land mass within the United States. The majority of counties are well populated but not overcrowded, making for one of the most balanced living situations among the most populous states in the Union.
If you’re heading to Pennsylvania and looking for work, there’s plenty of industries for you to choose from. Pennsylvania remains the national leader when it comes to the production of steel for specialty uses, yet the Keystone State has also diversified in recent years and added a wealth of jobs in the retail, service industry, and manufacturing sectors. If manufacturing is the way you’re looking to go, there are usually jobs available in the production of electronics, food products, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. While the service industry and retail leaves a huge imprint on Philadelphia proper, manufacturing gigs can be found throughout the state.
The real key to Pennsylvania’s economy, however, is the 63,200 different farms within the state’s borders. According to a recent estimate, these farms take up nearly 8 million acres of space and produce a wide variety of goods such as corn, beef, dairy products, poultry, eggs, fruits, mushrooms, sweet corn, maple syrup, and potatoes. And if you didn’t know, Pennsylvania is among the national leaders when it comes to the production of Christmas trees!
In total, Pennsylvania has a Gross State Product of $803 billion which places it 6th in the nation overall. That’s impressive in and of itself, but the Quaker State would also qualify as the 19th
largest economy in the world if it was as standalone country. That’s due to a variety of different industries including the aforementioned agriculture and manufacturing, as well as other moneymakers such as a legal gambling industry. Back in 2004, casino gambling was legalized in the state of Philadelphia. It brings billions of dollars of profits to Pennsylvania and serves as a major entertainment outlet for the state’s inhabitants.
Another industry which brings billions of dollars to the Keystone State is tourism. The state is home to many different historical sites which are of unique interest including Gettysburg National Military Park, Valley Forge National Historical Park, Independence National Historical Park, the Pennsylvania Dutch region, and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. It’s also home to former President Eisenhower’s farm near Gettysburg. For those looking to immerse themselves in the history of American both before and after the Revolution, there are very few states which have the history that Pennsylvania has to offer.
This has a lot to do with the fact that Philadelphia served as the primary seat of the American Government from 1776 to 1800. In fact, it was in Philadelphia where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776 and where the U.S. Constitution was penned in 1787. There’s also perhaps Philadelphia’s most famous tourist attraction, the Liberty Bell, which is currently housed in a glass pavilion near Independence Hall. Philadelphia is a city that remains on the cutting edge in many ways, but it’s the history of the city which brings in tourists from all over the world.
Are you a sports fan? Pennsylvania is definitely the place for you! It’s home to seven professional sports teams across the four major American sports, a bevy of different semi-professional and professional squads in other sports, and South Williamsport has even played host to the Little League World Series each summer since 1959. If you’re a baseball history buff, you probably already know that the first ever World Series was played in Pittsburgh back in 1903. For sports fans and sports history buffs alike, there isn’t another state which has the unique and rich history of Pennsylvania.
And what goes better with watching sports than snack foods? Known in some circles as the “Snack Food Capital of the World,” Pennsylvania is the number one state in the Union in regards to the manufacturing of potato chips and pretzels. It’s also home to Hershey – the noted center of the United States chocolate industry. Big-name companies such as Mars and Godiva have manufacturing plants in the area along with a host of other candy companies.
If you don’t have a sweet tooth or aren’t looking to gorge yourself on snack foods in general, Pennsylvania still has a rich food culture for you to enjoy. If you’ve never had a Philadelphia cheese steak in Philly proper, you owe it to yourself to do so. There’s also a huge Irish and Italian population in Pennsylvania which means there’s a ton of different restaurants serving up traditional and modernized takes on foods from those regions.
Looking for something that’s fun for the entire family? The Philadelphia Zoo was the nation’s first zoo and is worth the trip for the historical significance alone. Pennsylvania also has 121 different state parks which are also of free of charge for admission. And if you’re the type of family which digs museums, some of the most beloved museums in the United States are within Pennsylvania’s borders. This includes the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Carnegie Museums in Pittsburgh, and the Houdini Museum in Scranton.
All of that is just scratching the surface when it comes to the entertainment options that Pennsylvania has to offer. It has one of the widest selection of amusement parks in the nation, plays host to several different music festivals, and is even home to one of the biggest sport hunting communities in the United States. According to recent estimates, there are about one million licensed hunters currently residing in Pennsylvania. If you’re looking to hunt for sport or for food, the Quaker State is definitely a must-go for tourists and transplants alike.
Now if you’re outside Pennsylvania reading this article, you’re probably already pretty close to deciding on the Gemstone State as your next state of residence. With that being said, why not learn a little bit of trivia about Pennsylvania before making the move? Below is a list of the various living and inanimate symbols of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:
- State Amphibian – Eastern Hellbender
- State Bird – Ruffed Grouse
- State Flower – Mountain Laurel
- State Mammal – White-Tailed Deer
- State Tree – Eastern Hemlock
- State Food – Chocolate Chip Cookie
Another really cute bit of trivia about the state of Pennsylvania has to do with the most famous resident of the town of Punxsutawney – Punxsutawney Phil. Punxsutawney Phil is better known as a groundhog who is coaxed out of his home by residents on Groundhog’s Day to determine whether there will be six more weeks of winter or an early and temperate spring. While this is more of a superstition and a ceremony than anything else, it’s become a true part of general culture and even helped to inspired the aptly-titled Groundhog’s Day – a Hollywood blockbuster from the 1980s starring Bill Murray.
From cute groundhogs to landmarks of true historical significance, Pennsylvania is often overshadowed by its proximity to New York and the sprawling metropolis of New York City. However, it’s central location in the Northeast makes it the perfect hub for residents who want to travel and see places like New York City, Boston, and Washington DC. In fact, there are plenty of public transportation options to get you to those places along with plenty of options to get you around cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
However, having your own car or truck shipped to you will open a wealth of different exploration options across the state of Philadelphia. Whether you want to sample chocolate in Hershey or ride some roller coasters at one of the state’s many theme parks, your family vehicle is your ticket to everything that the Keystone State has to offer. And to be honest, that’s a whole lot.
