Pennsylvania is a big place. 


Pennsylvania is a state in the United States. 

Many people live in its big cities. Philadelphia is a very large city. 
Long ago, a man named William Penn started this place. He named it for his father.
It is a place with much history. It has many stories to tell. You can learn a lot here.
Pennsylvania is a state in the United States. 

Many people live here. Over 13 million people call it home. Philadelphia is the largest city. 

The state has a long history. A man named William Penn founded it in 1681. He named it to honor his father. Pennsylvania was very important during the American Revolution. Important leaders met in Philadelphia to make new laws. Later, the state saw the Battle of Gettysburg. This was a very big battle in the Civil War. In the past, the state was famous for making steel. Today, it is even known for work in medicine.
Pennsylvania is a large state in the United States. 


Many people live in this state. As of the 2020 census, over 13 million people live in Pennsylvania. 


Humans have lived in this land for a very long time. Archaeologists found signs of people living here over 10,000 years ago. 
Pennsylvania played a huge role in making the United States. During the American Revolution, leaders met in Philadelphia. 


Today, Pennsylvania is still a place of great discovery. It has changed from making steel to making medicine. 
Pennsylvania is a prominent state located in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. 

The geography of Pennsylvania is remarkably diverse. The Appalachian Mountains run through the very center of the state. The Allegheny and Pocono mountains span much of the Northeastern area. Forests are a major part of the landscape, covering close to 60% of the state. Although Pennsylvania has no oceanic shoreline, it does have significant waterfront. This includes the shores of Lake Erie and the tidal Delaware River. The Delaware River eventually reaches the Delaware Bay, which is a marginal bay of the Atlantic Ocean. 
Human history in this region extends back thousands of years. Archaeologists have found signs of human activity that may date back over 10,000 years. The Meadowcroft Rockshelter in Jefferson Township contains some of the earliest known evidence of human habitation in North America. Long before European arrival, major Native American tribes lived here. The Lenape people inhabited the eastern regions, including the Lehigh and Delaware Valleys. They spoke an Algonquian language. The Susquehannock people lived along the Susquehanna River and spoke an Iroquoian language.
European colonization involved several different nations and complex legal claims. Between 1638 and 1655, a Swedish colony called New Sweden controlled parts of the region. Later, the Dutch and English both claimed lands along the Delaware River. In 1681, King Charles II issued a royal land grant to William Penn. This charter made Penn and his heirs the proprietors of the province. Penn named the land Pennsylvania to honor his father, Admiral William Penn. The name literally translates to "Penn's Woods." 
Pennsylvania played a vital role in the formation of the United States. During the American Revolution, Philadelphia hosted the First and Second Continental Congress. In 1775, the Second Continental Congress formed the Continental Army under George Washington. The following year, leaders adopted the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. 

Economic shifts have defined the state's development over the centuries. During the late 19th and 20th centuries, Pennsylvania was a leader in steel production and manufacturing. This industry helped build the nation's early infrastructure, such as skyscrapers and bridges. This manufacturing power also supplied military hardware during World War I, World War II, and the Cold War. 
Population and urban centers are major features of modern Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the state has over 13 million residents. This makes it the fifth-most populous state in the country. Philadelphia is the most populous city and the sixth-most populous in the U.S. The Philadelphia metropolitan area, also called the Delaware Valley, is the state's largest metropolitan area. 

🖼️ Images & Media (32)
+ 20 more
More to explore
✨ What else?
Related topics you might enjoy
🔬 Go deeper
More advanced topics to explore
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.