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State Facts for Students

Pennsylvania Flag Pennsylvania

Population
  2000 2009
Population 12,281,054 12,604,767
State Rank 6 6
Median Age 38
Total 8 year-olds 169,631 151,769
Boys 86,784 77,263
Girls 82,847 74,506
Total 9 year-olds 175,048 149,493
Boys 89,919 76,099
Girls 85,129 73,394
Total 10 year-olds 177,560 148,849
Boys 91,013 76,123
Girls 86,547 72,726
Total 11 year-olds 172,961 149,891
Boys 88,871 76,913
Girls 84,090 72,978
Total 12 year-olds 171,825 151,789
Boys 88,047 77,461
Girls 83,778 74,328
 
How People Get to Work:
Drive Alone 77% 77%
Car Pool 10% 9%
Public Transportation 5% 5%

Geography
Capital Harrisburg
Largest City Philadelphia
Second Largest City Pittsburgh
Persons per square mile 274

Business
  2000 2008
Dentist Offices 5,352 5,227
Amusement Parks 37 29
FastFood Restaurants 8,430 10,535
Toy Stores 509 407
Video/Disc Rental Stores 733 503
Zoos & Botanical Gardens 19 30
Candy & Nut Stores 240 209
Pet & Pet Supply Stores 375 382
Ice Cream & Frozen Dessert Makers 32 15

Note: As is the case with all surveys, statistics from sample surveys are subject to sampling and nonsampling error.

A value of NA indicates that data are not available for the indicated time period, or is not applicable for the current region.

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History

  • Date of Statehood: December 12, 1787
  • Population 1800: 602,365
  • Population 1860: 2,311,786
  • Population 1900: 6,302,115
  • Population 1950: 10,498,012

I never knew that! *

  • Nickname: Keystone State
  • Flower: Mountain Laurel
  • Tree: Hemlock
  • Bird: Ruffed Grouse
  • Dance: Polka
  • Insect: Firefly
  • Dog: Great Dane

Teachers: Download the Picture Your State lesson plan. [pdf]

Who told you this stuff?

The U.S. Census Bureau takes a census of the population every 10 years, and censuses of economic activity and governments every five years. And every year, the Census Bureau conducts more than 100 other surveys. Data on this page come from Population Estimates, the Census of Population and Housing, the American Community Survey, and County Business Patterns.

How are these data collected?

The U.S. Census Bureau sends questionnaires in the mail or contacts businesses and households to participate in its surveys.

* State symbol information was obtained from various non-Census Bureau resources including state web sites, educational web sites, and commercial entities.

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