Area: 119,283 km2 

Population: 12.79 million 

Capital: Harrisburg 

Overview 

Pennsylvania is located in the North and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States and the Great Lakes region. The Appalachian Mountains run through its middle. The state borders Delaware to the southeast, Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, Lake Erie and Ontario, Canada to the northwest, New York to the north, and New Jersey to the east. It is one of the 13 original founding states of the United States; it was originally founded in 1681 as a result of a royal land grant to William Penn, the son of the state's namesake. It was the second state to ratify the United States Constitution on December 12, 1787.  

Economy 

Pennsylvania's 2013 total GSP of $644 billion ranks the state 6th in the nation. Its per capita GSP of $47,274 ranks 26th among the 50 states. Pennsylvania is one of the nation’s most important producers of natural resources including coal, petroleum, and natural gas. It is home to a large number of manufacturing companies that produce metal products, chemicals, transportation equipment, machinery, glass and plastic products, and food. 

Total Pennsylvania goods and services exports in 2013-14 were worth US$ 40.2 billion, while total goods and services imports were US$ 83.1 billion. Exports accounted for 2.5 per cent and imports accounted for 3.5 per cent of US trade. 

China was Pennsylvania’s 3rd largest export destination (US$2.38 billion) and top import source (US$18.1 billion). Pennsylvania’s major exports include chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, computer and electronic products, primary metal manufacturing. Major imports include crude oil, medicaments, phones for cellular networks, passenger vehicles, and vaccine for human medicine.  

Sister Relationship 

On 23 October 2009, Mr. Liu Dezhang, Vice Chairman of Fujian Provincial People’s Congress and the Hon. Keith McCall, Speaker of the House of Pennsylvania, signed the Agreement to establish the Sister Province Relationship. 

Links:  

http://www.pa.gov/