Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Prowler

Hershey, PA is Pure Sweetness

Just about everyone loves chocolate, right? Well, if you’re planning a trip to Pennsylvania, make sure that visiting the town of Hershey is on your list of things to do. The city is home to the Hershey Company, founded in 1894 by Milton Hershey, and you’ll find the name Hershey on just about everything. Who wouldn’t want to visit? For the chocolate lover in your family, Hershey, Pennsylvania could be considered heaven.

The Hershey Chocolate is a big one at two million square feet, making it the largest chocolate factory anywhere in the world. As you expect, the plant produces nearly all of the chocolate bought and sold for Valentine’s Day each year. Visiting the plant in the few months before this holiday can be interesting, as you’ll get to see everything that goes into the creation of the Valentine’s Day candy.

Hersheypark Amusement Park is one of the most popular amusement parks on the east coast. The park is open from May to September and draws large crowds over the summer months. Hersheypark has wooden rollercoasters, as well as newer steel coasters. Visitors can play a multitude of carnival games, ride smaller carnival rides, and sample a variety of foods.

Hotel Hershey is one of the most popular hotels in Pennsylvania. The building has 278 rooms of different sizes and sits on a hill just outside of town. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to see most, if not all, of Hershey from your room!

While Hershey, Pa is most famous just for the chocolate it produces, the city bears many other interesting attractions. If you’re ever in town, take in as much as possible. You won’t be disappointed!

Filed Under: Entertainment Tagged With: Hersheypark, Pennsylvania

Towering Pennsylvania Attractions

The eastern state of Pennsylvania offers some wonderful and interesting tourist attractions, such as Gettysburg, the Liberty Bell, and many buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, among many others. Some of the most popular attractions in Pennsylvania are the numerous towers throughout the state’s countryside. If you’re planning a trip to Pennsylvania, visiting a few of these towers can be fun, educational, and will provide some great photo opportunities.

In Washington Crossing Historic Park, you’ll find the Bowman’s Hill Tower. Constructed in 1931, this tower stands at 125 feet. A trip to the top provides one of the most beautiful views of the surrounding area, including the Delaware river.

The Bicentennial Tower in Erie, Pennsylvania was built in 1995 in honor of Erie’s 200^th anniversary. The structure is 138 feet tall and allows visitors an elevator ride to the top observation deck for a great view of the countryside. Erie is also home to the Tom Ridge Environmental Center Tower located on Peninsula Drive. Opened just a few years ago in 2006, the facility includes a 75-foot tower that affords gorgeous views of Lake Erie.

Pittsburgh, the city of industry, is home to the entirely stone Cathedral of Learning Tower. Located on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh, this tower is one of the tallest in the world and is built in the Gothic style of architecture.

In Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, a city full of history, the National Patriot’s Bell Tower stands as part of the Washington Memorial Chapel. The tower is one of the most popular in the state and was partly constructed by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

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Important facts on Pennsylvania

: Image by veni markovski via Flickr

A United Sates Commonwealth State, Pennsylvania is located in the North-eastern region of the US and occupies the Middle Atlantic regions. Harrisburg is its state capital located on the Susquehanna River. To its south lie the States of Maryland and Delaware, while New York and Ontario (Canada) lie to the north of it. To its east is New Jersey while Ohio lies to its west and West Virginia in the southeast. Among the topmost populous States of Pennsylvania are Pittsburgh, Erie, Philadelphia and Allentown. The coastline of Pennsylvania is 82 square kilometers along Lake Erie while the shore line extent along the estuary of Delaware is 92 square kilometers. The north-south extension of Pennsylvania is 274 km while the east-west extension is 283 km. the total area of this Commonwealth State is 119,282 square kilometers. Mason-Dixon Line and the Delaware River are among the bounds of the State. In terms of area it ranks 33rd in the United States.

Pennsylvania is the only one State to not border the Atlantic Ocean from among the original Thirteen Colonies. The other important cities of Pennsylvania are Reading, Lancaster, Bethlehem, Easton, Hazleton, Wilkes-Barre and Williamsport. Pennsylvania is characterized by a diverse topography and it is the reason for its variation in climate. Majority of regions in Pennsylvania experience a humid continental climate barring the south-eastern corner. There is a considerable trace of humid subtropical climate in Greater Philadelphia that includes parts of Maryland and Delaware to the south. There is marked change in the climate as one enters towards the interior parts of the State that is mountainous. Here, it is colder and characterized by more number of cloudy days and snowfall also increases. The precipitation level is uniform and plenty all over the State all throughout the year. There is high snowfall in the western areas.

Filed Under: News, Travel Tagged With: Atlantic Ocean, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, United States

A Historic Look on the Legendary State of Pennsylvania

The earliest inhabitants of the State of Pennsylvania were the Europeans. Both the English and the Dutch asserted their demand for the land on either sides of the Delaware River, claiming it as part of their regal lands in America. The first possession was taken over by the Dutch and that led to a profound impact on the history and culture in Pennsylvania. Then, Sweden established its supremacy partly in certain regions of the land and it led to the settlement of a few Swedish colonies, mostly in the lower part of the Delaware River region. In 1664, the Duke of York, James was given a Grant by the King of England, Charles II that comprised lands of the Grant given to Virginia Company of Plymouth as well as some other parts. This came in conflict with the claims of the Dutch for New Netherland that comprised parts of present Pennsylvania.

During the later part of 1664, part of the Grant that is present day New Jersey was sold to George Carteret and John Berkeley by the Duke of York. The conquest of New Netherland by the English was started with the coercion of New Amsterdam to surrender in New York Harbor. This conquest was completed in about two months after the capture of Fort Casimir or the present day New Castle, Delaware. The Peace of Breda that was finalized between France, England and the Netherlands asserted the successful English conquest in 1667, in spite of temporary reversions.

In 1672, the Dutch were able to re-conquer New York Colony during the Third Anglo-Dutch War. This led to the establishment of the three County Courts that later became real counties in the present day States of Delaware and Pennsylvania. It was only later that one of them – Upland was transferred to Pennsylvania. After the Treaty of Westminster, the situation was partially reversed and with the end of the Third Anglo-Dutch War, the English kept hold of the Dutch Counties and also retained the Dutch names. Sometime later, New York regained control over the remote colonies that included Upland and even later the names also began to alter into English names.

Filed Under: Government, News Tagged With: George Carteret, Pennsylvania, Third Anglo-Dutch War

Pennsylvania – From the Lenses of a Historian

With the end of the Third Anglo-Dutch War fought over the claim of the respective sides on the colonies in Pennsylvania, the Treaty of Westminster was signed and it led the English to gradually exercise control on the far-flung colonies as well as Upland, the terribly disputed zone. It was in 1674 that Upland was partitioned and it produced the broad outline of the present border shared between Delaware and Pennsylvania. In 1681, William Penn was granted a land contract by the King of England, Charles II. This was for repayment of a debt by the King which he had owed to Admiral Penn, the father of William Penn. History has it that this was one of the largest ever land grants given to any individual. In honor of Admiral Penn, the land was called Pennsylvania that means “Penn”s Woods. However, William Penn had an intention of naming the province as “Sylvania” to avoid misunderstanding of any egotistical claims on his part by the people but the King was steady regarding the original name. Later, Penn set up a government with two improvements that were imitated to a large extent in the New World: the liberty of religious conviction and the county commission. The Upland portion of Pennsylvania was replaced by the name Chester County after Pennsylvania founded their colonial governments in 1681.

Between 1730 and 1764, in order to accommodate for the acute shortage of real silver and gold, Pennsylvania Colony produced its indigenous paper money. It was called as Colonial Scrip. Pennsylvania issued “bills of credit” that were at par with silver and gold coins due to their authorized tender status. It was an interest-free scheme as it was issued not by any banking institution but by the government itself. It helped in defraying taxation from the people and also the expenses of the government. It also led to the promotion of employment and prosperity as the currency was not inflated too much.

Filed Under: Government, News Tagged With: Delaware, Pennsylvania, Third Anglo-Dutch War, William Penn

Demographics of Pennsylvania

The center point that describes the status of the overall population in the State of Pennsylvania is situated in Perry County. It is in the region of Duncannon. The census of 2006 places the population of Pennsylvania at 12,440,621. Net migration to Pennsylvania stands at 98,289 since 2000. There was a visible decrease of 100,000 in the native population owing to migration. 621,480 people in the population were found to be foreign born. The estimated poverty rate is 11.9%. The proportion of elderly (65+) population is considerably high in Pennsylvania.

The foreign born citizens of Pennsylvania are mainly from Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and Oceania, the first three groups comprising the maximum density. The stated population of Hispanics in Pennsylvania, particularly among the Hawaiian, White races and the Asians has seen a marked increases in the recent years. The population of these Hispanics is greatest in Lancaster, Reading, Allentown, Hazleton and Philadelphia where their population is over 20%. In a more recent survey of 2010, it has been reported that approximately 85% of the Hispanics in Pennsylvania reside within a radius of 150 miles around Philadelphia and around 20% of them live within the city premises. It is however inconclusive about the changing ways of the Hispanics or their participation in the mainstream society and efforts to self-identify their minority status. The under-18 population was found to be 23.8% of the total population and that of the under-5 age group was 5.9%. As has been stated earlier, the elderly population comprises a large portion of the total population and this fact has been reflecting itself as a minor hindrance in the economy of the State. German, Irish and Italian ancestry groups constitute the larger percentage of people. Other prominent groups in Pennsylvania are the African Americans, English, Polish and French.

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Hispanic, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Population

Fact File on Pennsylvania

Because of its central location among other original Thirteen Colonies that formed the United States and also due to the signing of several key American documents (including the Declaration of Independence) in the State, Pennsylvania is referred to as the Keystone State from 1802. Economically too, the State has had a lot of importance in terms of agriculture and industry initiatives producing from fiber, feed, tobacco and food to rifles and Conestoga wagons. The other famous nickname of Pennsylvania is the “Quaker State”.

Even during the colonial times, the State was officially known as the Quaker Province. It was mainly due to the recognition of Quakers by the First Draft of the Constitution for the government of Pennsylvania by William Penn that led to guaranteeing of the liberty of conscience. He was aware of the hostilities faced by the Quakers on their opposition to the rigid religious rituals, violence and wars and what was referred by them as brazen frippery. During various times, other nicknames like”The Oil State”, “The Steel State”, “The Chocolate State” and “The Coal State” also came up. The more recent one that has caught the imagination is “The State of Independence” that is seen on a number of road signs on entering Pennsylvania.

Virtue, liberty and independence are the State motto of Pennsylvania and the State capital is Harrisburg. The White-tailed deer is the State animal while Ruffed Grouse is the State bird of Pennsylvania. Hemlock is the recognized State tree while the State flower is the Mountain Laurel. The State dance is the famous Polka and the State soil is Hazleton. The State beverage is milk and the State fish is Brook Trout. The Crown vetch is the State Beautification Plant. Great Dane is the State dog and the Pennsylvania firefly is the State insect.

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All You Need to Know About Pennsylvania

The State of Pennsylvania owes its subsistence to the Quakers as well as many older trappings of Commonwealth that are rooted in the wisdom of the officially recognized Religious Society of Friends. However, the practicing Quakers are only a small minority in the State today. Pennsylvania has a fair amount of Amish population but the largest Amish population on earth exists in Holmes County, Ohio. When one uses the term “Dutch”, it refers to the Pennsylvanian Dutch that means “Teutonic”or “German”, not”Netherlander”. Actually, Germans call themselves as “Deutsch” in their own language that in English misleadingly became “Dutch”. The language, Pennsylvanian Dutch is in fact a descendent of the German language belonging to the dialect family of West Central German. Some Mennonites and Old Order Amish citizens still use it as a first language especially in the area around Lancaster County. Otherwise, the Pennsylvanian language is almost close to extinct as a local language among the non-religious people in Pennsylvania. However, a few words from Pennsylvanian Dutch language have migrated into the English language too.

Pennsylvania’s Gross State Product or GSP in 2008 accounted to $553.3 billion. In fact it ranks sixth in the entire United States. Had Pennsylvania been an independent country, its economy would have ranked as the eighteenth largest one in the world. The per-capita GSP of Pennsylvania is $35,641 and it ranks twenty-sixth among the other 50 States in the United States. Much of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is rural though. The result of this dichotomy is the negative impact on State politics and the State economy as well. There are six Fortune 500 companies in Philadelphia. Many more important and reputed ones are located in the suburbs like the King of Prussia which also happens to be a leader in the insurance and financial industry.

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Banking and Industry Status of Pennsylvania

There are a large number of urban manufacturing centers in and around the State of Pennsylvania. The prominent ones are in Pittsburg, Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Scranton-Wilkes-Barre and Erie. However a disadvantage lies in the fact that much of the State of Pennsylvania is rural and this has resulted in a dichotomy that has affected the State politics and the economy of Pennsylvania as well. There are six Fortune 500 companies based in Pennsylvania too and there is huge potential in the region as has been witnessed throughout history. In Pittsburgh, there is PPG Industries, H.J. Heinz and U.S. Steel while Erie has within its fold the GE Transportation Systems that happens to be the largest train locomotives producer in the entire United States of America. As is common to most other States of America as well as in the US itself, Wal-Mart is the largest private job provider in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that is followed in terms of employment by the University of Pennsylvania. The most recent survey in of January 2010 placed Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate at 8.8%.

The bank of North America, the first nationally chartered bank of the United States was established in Philadelphia in 1781. Following a series of mergers, this Banks is now part of Wachovia that employs national charted 1. However after the acquisition of Wachovia by Well Fargo, the immediate fate of the Bank of North America remains uncertain. Under the National Banking Act of 1863, the first nationally chartered bank also came up at Pennsylvania. It was in that year that the Savings and Trust Company of Pittsburgh obtained a national charter and was renamed as the First National Bank in Pittsburgh as an integral part of the National Banking Act. Even today, this Bank exists by the name, PNC Financial Services and that too in Pittsburgh.

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Pennsylvania – Come, Let Your Hair Down

The State of Pennsylvania has made a lot of contribution to the economy of the United States. Pittsburgh is known as the iron capital of the world and there are a number of heavy industries contributing to the huge number of exports undertaken by the United States. Had Pennsylvania been an independent country, things would have been a lot different as it plays a major role in the industry sector contribution in the global economy. Nevertheless, the GSP it generates and the job opportunities it provides are more than enough as indicators of a booming economy in the State.

Pennsylvania ranks 19th in overall agricultural production and first in production of mushrooms. In terms of Christmas trees and layer chickens production, it ranks third and eighth in winemaking. In milk, corn for grapes, silage and horses production, it comes fourth and also it ranks fourth in nursery and sod production. In 2004, Casino gambling was legalized in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Presently, there are nine working casinos in the State while three are in the pipeline. Only slot machines, horse racing and electronic table games were made legal in Pennsylvania and a Bill for the legalization of table games was under discussion. In the month of January, 2010 poker, black jack, roulette and dice were also legalized by the State Legislature and it was duly signed by the Governor on 7th January, 2010. Sports betting is however still illegal. The Governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell was considering the legalization of video poker machines in private clubs and bars as according to estimates, there are some 17,000 illegal operations of such video poker machines in the State of Pennsylvania. As per the plan, any institution having a liquor license shall be allowed up to a maximum of 5 video poker machines.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Travel Tagged With: Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, United States