State Symbols of Pennsylvania

By | Updated on January 22, 2023

Reviewed by Rittika

Pennsylvania, officially known as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a constituent state of the United States of America. Pennsylvania is the only state named after its founder, William Penn, who intended to title it “Sylvania” (Latin for “woods”) because of its widespread forest lands. Being the middle colony of the original thirteen colonies and playing a significant role in the social, political, and economic growth of the United States, Pennsylvania earned the nickname The Keystone State. The center wedge-shaped stone in an arch, that supports all the other stones, is known as the “keystone” in architecture.

It is bordered to the southeast by Delaware, to the south by Maryland, to the southwest by West Virginia, to the west by Ohio, to the northwest by Lake Erie and the Canadian province of Ontario, to the north by New York, and to the east by the Delaware River and New Jersey.

The state capital is Harrisburg, and the largest city is Philadelphia. 

The colors of the Pennsylvania state flag are blue and golden and the state flag was officially adopted in 1907. Pennsylvania declared blue and golden as the official state colors.

William Penn, an Englishman and a member of a Christian group called the Quakers, established the British colony of Pennsylvania in 1681. Penn’s colony provided religious freedom, which drew people from different denominations. During the French and Indian War, 1754 – 1763, the English and French fought for control of the land. The Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia by the first and second Continental Congresses in 1776. After the conflict, on December 12, 1787, Pennsylvania became the 2nd U.S. state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

With a total area of 46,054 sq mi (119,280 sq km), Pennsylvania is the thirty-third largest state. The state’s total population, according to the census 2020, is 13,002,700 making it the fifth most populous state.

The fun fact about the state is its famous Hershey’s Chocolate World located at Hershey which is east of Harrisburg. Chocolate had not yet been invented when Isaac Hershey purchased four chunks of land in what is now known as Dauphin County. However, in just a few decades, his great-grandson, Milton Hershey, launched the Hershey Chocolate Corporation and popularized chocolate throughout most of the world. Milton Hershey established his famous chocolate company in Hershey, Pennsylvania, in 1905. Today, the location is known as Hershey, The Sweetest Place on Earth. The first Hershey’s Chocolate World is located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, off Hersheypark Drive, and is part of an entertainment complex that also includes Hersheypark, Hersheypark Stadium, Hersheypark Arena, Hershey Museum, and Giant Center.

In 1933, Pennsylvania made the Mountain laurel its official state flower. The Ruffed grouse was named the official bird in 1931.

Pennsylvania’s state motto is “Virtue, Liberty, and Independence”.

State Information

State seal

Motto of Pennsylvania

Virtue, Liberty and Independence

State symbols of Pennsylvania 👇

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  State capital
  Harrisburg
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  State bird
  Ruffed grouse
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  State flower
  Mountain laurel
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  State tree
  Eastern hemlock
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  State insect
  Pennsylvania firefly
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  State animal
  White-tailed deer
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  State fish
  Brook trout

State location

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