Pennsylvania came about as a way of paying off a debt. It seems that William Penn’s late father, Admiral Sir Penn, used his own money to buy uniforms and food for the British navy. King Charles II, as leader of Britain, owed the older Penn 16,000 pounds, which was part of Penn’s estate when he died and transferred to his son, William. At the time, William happened to be looking for land to establish a colony where Quakers and other religious groups could worship freely.

William approached the King and offered to forgive the debt in exchange for a piece of land in America, which he planned to name “Sylvan” due to its lush forests. Concerned that people would think he named the colony after himself, Penn resisted using his surname in the state’s name. That was a dealbreaker for the king, however, so the state became Pennsylvania.

Ironically, generations of Pennsylvania school children learn about William Penn, but not a whisper about his father. William would be dismayed to know that so many citizens grew up believing he named the colony after himself.

Philadelphia became the state capital, and due to the state’s location in the middle of the 13 colonies (there’s that keystone again), and being the largest city in the New World, it also became the capital of the new America.

The First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in 1774 to discuss various situations in the colonies. The Congress met again the following year for the Second Continental Congress, where the Declaration of Independence was written.

Pennsylvania figured prominently in the American Revolution, although not all of its citizens agreed with the war. Many volunteered to fight for their new nation, farmers regularly gave food to the army, and women made ammunition out of their homes. However, while wealthy citizens financed the army, Quakers and other pacifists refused to do anything that could be viewed as supporting the army of either side.

The state also had its own internal conflict of wanting to replace the Penn family as its leaders in favor of democratically elected representatives. Since many people thought they might need Britain’s cooperation in this effort, Pennsylvania at first stepped lightly when talking about independence. 

In the end, though, Pennsylvania not only proclaimed its independence from Britain, they adopted the most radical constitution of all the colonies. When Governor John Penn (William’s son) declined to appoint representatives to the First Continental Congress, the radical and moderate factions in Philadelphia joined forces to appoint representatives themselves. They organized into Committees of Correspondence and advised people throughout the state to do the same.

The new Pennsylvania constitution eliminated the rule that men had to be land owners in order to vote, and instead gave voting rights to all men over 21 who paid taxes. They also became the first state to take steps to end slavery.

Pennsylvanians have a history of being a tough lot. Not eager to go to war, they nonetheless joined forces and marched into battle when it became necessary for the state’s continued progress. When you decide to move to Pennsylvania, you become part of the state’s history of proud people standing up for what’s right for everyone.

Pennsylvania’s 13 million residents are a true melting pot of ancestry. While the state may be known for its large Pennsylvania Dutch areas, it is also home to Black, African American, Asian, Hispanic, Latino and mixed heritage, as well as the original Scottish, Irish, Scots-Irish, German and other Europeans who originally settled here. Wherever your ancestors hail from, you will find welcoming people in Pennsylvania.

The state is also one of the most affordable eastern states to live in. The median home value was $192,600 in 2019, with over 5.7 million housing units. Median household income in 2019 was $63,463. 

Philadelphia is Pennsylvania’s largest city, with a population of 1,585,480 as of 2020, making it the 7th largest city in the U.S. The City of Brotherly Love displays the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, as well as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, with its 72 famous steps Rocky Balboa trained on. Check out Love Park, too, with its photo op in front of the red LOVE sculpture.

Among the many activities to do in Philadelphia, don’t forget to check out the food. Sampling cheesesteaks is a must, and that means several so you can join the endless debate over who makes the best ones, onions or no onions, and what kind of cheese to put on it. The city is also famous for its soft pretzels, which can be found on nearly every corner. For a one-stop food experience, you’ll be dazzled by Reading Terminal Market offering up sandwich fare (and not only cheesesteaks!) and fresh produce, along with Pennsylvania Dutch specialties and non-food items as well.

Educational opportunities abound in the Philadelphia area. Widely acclaimed, the University of Pennsylvania is in the city, as are nationally known Drexel and Temple universities. 

Philadelphia is known for its neighborhoods: older, well known ones like Chestnut Hill and Mainline, and newly hip ones like Fishtown, with its bistros, beer and art galleries. The city’s median home value is $325,000, though you can expect that to be higher in upscale Chestnut Hill and lower in more affordable South Philly.

You’ll find diversity of many kinds in Philadelphia, from its people to where to live and what to do. Whatever point you are in your life, whether you’re just starting out, looking to move up or in need of a change, it’s waiting for you in Philadelphia.

On the western side of the state is Pittsburgh, a city of around 300,000 city dwellers as estimated in 2022, and over 2.3 million in the surrounding metro area. Once known as The Steel City due to their numerous steel mills, the city’s self-proclaimed renaissance began in the late-1980s when the mills shut down. 

Taking advantage of its breathtaking geography where the Ohio, Allegheny and Monongahela rivers meet, the city reinvented itself with gorgeous Point Park, riverboats offering dinner, tours and parties, and renovated shopping/dining areas. The waterfront property occupied by the mills was prime real estate that the city put to good use.

The area has received numerous accolades, from America’s Most Livable City to one of the 100 Top Places to Live. Planners combined the best of the old and the new for a beautiful, vibrant place to live. The old Duquesne and Monongahela inclines, often seen in photos of the city, used to carry workers up the steep side of the mountain, and are still in use today by workers and curious tourists. 

Mount Washington, a venerable neighborhood overlooking the city, is home to a variety of upscale restaurants. THroughout the city, areas abandoned by steel mill workers were turned into havens for art and museums, including the Roberto Clemente Museum named after the famous Pittsburgh baseball player. 

The Pittsburgh area has a median home value of $225K as of February 2022, but homes for sale ranged from $100,000 to $4.9M. With a median household income of $50,536, it’s no wonder Pittsburgh lands on the lists of best places to live. 

That would be Canton Avenue, in the Beechwood neighborhood. 

Pennsylvania is more than two very different cities with farmland and the quaint Pennsylvania Dutch in between them. Harrisburg, the state capital, is easily accessible from all parts of the state, and just 15 miles from Hershey Park, with its family-fun rides and chocolate filled aromas. Lake Erie makes Erie, PA and Presque Isle State Park favorite tourist spots for swimming, fishing and water sports. Whatever you like to do, whether you want to call the city or countryside home, Pennsylvania has it for you. Best of all, its web of state highways makes it easy to live in one and visit all the others.