Higher Education  

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education includes 14 universities: Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania; California University of Pennsylvania; Cheyney University of Pennsylvania; Clarion University of Pennsylvania; East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania; Edinboro University of Pennsylvania; Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Kutztown University of Pennsylvania; Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania; Mansfield University of Pennsylvania; Millersville University of Pennsylvania; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania; Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania; and West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania State University, the state’s largest public institution, has its main campus at University Park, with a total of 24 campuses throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Other public universities are Temple University, in Philadelphia; and the University of Pittsburgh, with campuses in Bradford, Greensburg, Johnstown, and Titusville. Private colleges and universities include Bryn Mawr College, in Bryn Mawr; Haverford College, in Haverford; Swarthmore College, in Swarthmore; Villanova University, in Villanova; the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel, La Salle, and St. Joseph's, all in Philadelphia; Carnegie-Mellon and Duquesne University, both in Pittsburgh; Bucknell University, in Lewisburg; Dickinson University, in Carlisle; Franklin & Marshall College, in Lancaster; Lehigh University and Moravian College, both in Bethlehem; Lafayette College, in Easton; and Gettysburg College, in Gettysburg. Pennsylvania also has 17 two-year community colleges and technical schools.

Geography

Pennsylvania covers an area of 117,332 square kilometers. The state's can be divided into seven main regions: the Atlantic Coastal Plain, the Piedmont, the New England Upland, the Blue Ridge, the Appalachian Ridge and Valley Region, the Appalachian Plateau, and the Erie Lowland. The Atlantic Coastal Plain is a low, level area in the extreme southeastern tip of the state. A fertile belt of land extending inland 96 to 161 km, the Piedmont is northwest of Philadelphia. The New England Upland is a narrow ridge north of the Piedmont. A portion of the Blue Ridge Mountain range, known as South Mountain, is in south-central Pennsylvania. The Appalachian Ridge and Valley Region extends from the east-central to the south central border of the state. Known locally as the Allegheny Plateau, the Appalachian Plateau is a rugged and heavily forested area that covers most of northern and western Pennsylvania. In the northwest corner of the state, the Erie Lowland is a narrow, flat region bordering Lake Erie. Important rivers include the Ohio, the Susquehanna, and the Delaware. The state's major cities include Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Erie, Allentown, Scranton, Reading, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Harrisburg (capital). Pennsylvania's population is over 12.6 million.

Climate

Pennsylvania has a temperate climate, with warm, humid summers and cold winters. Temperatures vary across the state, but the southern and eastern regions are generally warmer than the northern and western regions. Located in the southeast, Philadelphia has an average January temperature of 1.1° C and an average July temperature of 25° C. Pittsburgh, in the southwest, averages -2.2° C in January and 23.9° C in July. Statewide, annual rainfall averages 107 cm. Annual snowfall ranges from an average of 51 cm at Philadelphia to more than 229 cm at Erie.

Cultural Profile

Philadelphia's museums include the Philadelphia Museum of Art; the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts; the Art Alliance; the Barnes Museum; and the Museum of the University of Pennsylvania. Other museums include the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Frick Museum of Art, and the Fort Pitt Museum, all in Pittsburgh; the State Museum and the Museum of Scientific Discovery, both in Harrisburg; the Pennsylvania Farm Museum, near Lancaster; the Pennsylvania Military Museum, near Boalsburg; and the Canal Museum, at Easton.

Among the performing arts organizations based in Philadelphia are the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Philly Pops, the Opera Company of Philadelphia, and the Pennsylvania Ballet. Noted groups in Pittsburgh are the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, the Pittsburgh Opera Company, and the Civic Light Opera. In addition, Harrisburg is home to a symphony orchestra and two choral groups.

Recreation

Pennsylvania has over one hundred state parks, several national historic sites and national historical parks, as well as one national forest, the Allegheny National Forest. Popular outdoor activities include hiking, biking, skiing, snowmobiling, and water sports. Among the state's many interesting attractions are the Gettysburg National Battlefield; Pennsbury Manor, in Bucks County; Valley Forge, near King of Prussia; Hersheypark, in Hershey; Pennsylvania Dutch Country; the Poconos; and the Little League International Museum, at Williamsport.

Interesting Facts

On July 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence, which declared the American colonies to be free from British rule, was adopted in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia mint issues more than 6 billion coins each year. Famous Pennsylvanians include Rachel Carson (marine biologist), Mary Cassatt (artist), Bill Cosby (entertainer), Stephen Foster (songwriter), Robert Fulton (inventor), Martha Graham (dancer and choreographer), Shirley Jones (singer and actress), Gene Kelly (dancer, singer, and actor), Grace Kelly (actress/Princess of Monaco), George Marshall (army officer and diplomat), Margaret Mead (anthropologist), Gertrude Stein (author), James Stewart (film actor), and Andrew Wyeth (artist).