Whether you’re looking to live in a big city or a small town, there are plenty of options to choose from in Pennsylvania. From the seventh-largest metropolitan area in the country to the home of eight major league professional sports teams, there are plenty of reasons to live in Pennsylvania.
Pittsburgh is the second-largest inland port in the United States
Located in southwestern Pennsylvania, the Port of Pittsburgh is one of the largest inland ports in the United States. It serves markets in 24 states and is connected to more than 10,000 miles of waterways in the country. It is one of the largest inland ports in terms of tonnage handled and cargo transported annually.
The Port of Pittsburgh District covers twelve counties and covers more than 300 kilometers of commercially navigable waterways. It supports more than 200 terminals and service suppliers. In 2007, the Port of Pittsburgh handled 38 million tons of cargo. This included 2.2 million tons of primary manufactured goods and 5.8 million tons of non-fuel crude materials.
Philadelphia is the seventh-largest metropolitan area in the country
Located in the eastern United States, Philadelphia is the second largest city on the east coast of the country. It is also the urban core of the seventh largest metropolitan area in the nation. Philadelphia is located in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, just 46 miles from New York City.
It is home to the first International Style skyscraper in the United States. This skyscraper, known as the PSFS Building, was designed by George Howe and William Lescaze. It is considered the most important skyscraper in the first half of the twentieth century.
Coal mining was a leading Pennsylvania industry throughout the 19th and early and mid-20th century
During the 19th century, Pennsylvania was the largest producer of anthracite coal in the United States. This coal was used to fuel the American Industrial Revolution and to fuel locomotives. It was also used for household uses. Anthracite coal from Pennsylvania was clean and of high quality.
Pennsylvania’s anthracite industry was controlled by a few large railroad corporations. The Pennsylvania Railroad proved that coal could be used successfully as locomotive fuel. However, the sulfur content of coal made it less desirable.
During the early twentieth century, Pennsylvania’s coal output began to decline. The state’s bituminous industry began to grow in size, increasing the number of mines. By 1900, the state’s bituminous mines surpassed anthracite mines in output. This led to a crisis in the industry.
Native American tribes inhabited Pennsylvania
Throughout Pennsylvania’s long history, several tribes have called the state home. Some remained for centuries while others migrated to other regions. However, most of the Native American population left the state during the 1700s.
In the early 1600s, the Susquehannock tribe lived along the Susquehanna River. The tribe grew to a peak in the mid-17th century as a confederacy of several dozen tribes. However, European disease and other diseases eventually caused the population to decline.
In the mid-18th century, only a few hundred Susquehannock remained. The rest of the tribe became absorbed into other tribes. The Susquehannock’s western territory was abandoned and the tribe’s members were scattered across central and western Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia is home to eight major league professional sports teams
Whether it’s football, basketball, or hockey, Philadelphia has been a city with a lot of sports teams. With a plethora of professional and amateur sports teams, Philadelphia is one of the most competitive cities in the nation. It has also won several championships in its various sports. In fact, Philadelphia has a championship in each of the four major sports, and ranks seventh among North American cities with total championships.
There are many notable athletes who grew up in Philadelphia. A few names that stand out include Ellie Daniel, Ted Meredith, and John B. Kelly Sr. Several of these athletes have made it to the Olympics. Some of them have also played for Philadelphia professional teams. Other notable athletes include Kobe Bryant, Earl Monroe, and Dawn Staley.
Hispanics and Latino Americans in Pennsylvania live within a 150-mile (240 km) radius of Philadelphia
Despite their small proportion of the population, Hispanics and Latino Americans in Pennsylvania are growing fast. In fact, between 2000 and 2010, the Hispanic or Latino population in Pennsylvania grew by 82.6%. This is one of the largest increases in the Hispanic or Latino population in the nation.
Most Hispanics or Latinos live in the Lehigh Valley and the Philadelphia region. However, there are many counties where the proportion of Hispanic or Latino residents has grown. In fact, some counties have seen more than 10% of their population identifying as Hispanic or Latino.
Politics in Pennsylvania
Several forms of municipal governments exist in Pennsylvania. These include incorporated cities, unincorporated communities, and home-rule charters. These different types of municipalities can be governed under various statutes and laws. The Pennsylvania General Assembly provides rules for local government.
The General Assembly consists of the Senate and House of Representatives. The Senate has 50 members, and the House has 203 members. The governor is elected for a four-year term and has a line-item veto over appropriations bills passed in the legislature. The governor can also withdraw bills from the Assembly and return them to the Senate for reconsideration.