The State of Pennsylvania is located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering the States of New York to north and northeast, New Jersey to the southeast, Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia to the south, Ohio to the east, and with Lake Erie in the extreme northwest. The word Pennsylvania means "Penn Forest"; William Penn was the founder of the British colony of Pennsylvania.
The region of the State had been colonized by Swedes and Dutch, having passed to British control later. Pennsylvania was one of thirteen colonies that rebelled in the US War of Independence, and, in fact, has a great historical importance for the country, since the Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution were created in its ground.
A well-known nickname for the state is The Keystone State, a reference to its geographic location. Indeed, Pennsylvania is situated in a strategic region. The State is the only one among the former thirteen colonies that does not have a coastline. Allegheny, Monongahela, Ohio and Delaware are its main rivers. The predominant climate in Pennsylvania is temperate, with average temperatures of 21°C in summer and -2.8°C in winter.
Until the 70s, the state's economy was entirely based on the steel industry. Although it is still the largest steelmaking hub in the United States, Pennsylvania began to diversify its economy after a major economic recession that occurred between the 70s and 80s. Currently, the greatest sources of wealth for the State are the trade and production of processed foods, chemicals and electronics.
