Located in the northeastern United States, Pennsylvania's neighbors are New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Ohio, West Virginia, and Lake Erie.
The state's name literally means "Penn's woods," after its founder William Penn. Penn was a Quaker who established Pennsylvania in 1682 as a British colony. His purpose was to create a government of religious tolerance for members of his and other minority religions.
Pennsylvania's capital city is Harrisburg, and its largest city is Philadelphia. Its nickname is the Keystone State.
Outside the cities, the eastern and central portions of the state are highly agricultural; some of this agriculture is done in traditional fashion by the Amish, who really have their work cut out for them since the area is quite hilly. The west of the state is part of the heavily industrialized and polluted rust belt, although Pittsburgh has been getting better in recent years.
The liquor laws are draconian.