Pennsylvania : An Overview

Quaker, William Penn founded his colony in 1681 as one that respected religious sentiments, and liberal ideas. However, it did not take long for settlers from Europe to dislodge these communities and make Pennsylvania one of the richest colonies of the British. Post WWII saw the decline of the state which finally saw a boost with the renewal of programs and growth of high-tech industries.

Pennsylvania is located in the northeastern US and is bordered the North by New York; on the East by New York and New Jersey; on the SouthEast by Delaware; on the South by Maryland and West Virginia; on the West by West Virginia and Ohio; and on the NorthWest by Lake Erie. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is the 2nd largest of the three Middle Atlantic states and ranks 33rd in size among the 50 states covering a total area of 45,308 sq mi (117,348 sq km), of which land occupies 44,888 sq mi (116,260 sq km) and inland water 420 sq mi (1,088 sq km).

Pennsylvania is shaped like a rectangle which is 309 miles long and 38 miles larger than Rhode Island.