Pennsylvania - The Keystone State
Motto: Virtue, Liberty, and Independence
Capital City: Harrisburg
Largest City: Philadelphia
Leaders
Governor Ed Rendell (D)
Senator Bob Casey (D)
Senator Arlen Spector (R)
1. Robert A. Brady (D)
2. Chaka Fattah (D)
3. Philip S. English (R)
4. Jason Altmire (D)
5. John E. Peterson (R)
6. Jim Gerlach (R)
7. Joe Sestak (D)
8. Patrick Murphy (D)
9. Bill Shuster (R)
10. Christopher Carney (D)
11. Paul E. Kanjorski (D)
12. John P. Murtha (D)
13. Allyson Y. Schwartz (D)
14. Mike Doyle (D)
15. Charles W. Dent (R)
16. Joseph R. Pitts (R)
17. Tim Holden (D)
18. Timothy F. Murphy (R)
19. Todd R. Platts (R)
2. Chaka Fattah (D)
3. Philip S. English (R)
4. Jason Altmire (D)
5. John E. Peterson (R)
6. Jim Gerlach (R)
7. Joe Sestak (D)
8. Patrick Murphy (D)
9. Bill Shuster (R)
10. Christopher Carney (D)
11. Paul E. Kanjorski (D)
12. John P. Murtha (D)
13. Allyson Y. Schwartz (D)
14. Mike Doyle (D)
15. Charles W. Dent (R)
16. Joseph R. Pitts (R)
17. Tim Holden (D)
18. Timothy F. Murphy (R)
19. Todd R. Platts (R)
Prayer Points
*Declare that revival comes to Pennsylvania.
*Declare that divine strategies come to Christian leaders to evangelize Pennsylvania.
*Declare that Christians will get out and vote and choose leaders who will lead in accordance with Biblical principles.
*Declare Christian media expands in Pennsylvania.
*Declare that signs and wonders follow the preaching of the Word in Pennsylvania.
*Declare that the economy in Pennsylvania is strong and prosperous.
*Declare protection over the people of Pennsylvania.
*Declare protection over the National Guard and military personnel from Pennsylvania.
*Declare that legislation in Pennsylvania is in accordance with the Word of God.
*Declare an accurate accounting of the vote in Pennsylvania and that any fraud is exposed.
*Declare that the leaders of Pennsylvania walk in wisdom and the fear of the Lord.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is affectionately known to the locals as PA. Pennsylvania has been known as the Keystone State since 1802 due to its central location among the thirteen original colonies and it is a keystone state economically as well.
Another one of Pennsylvania's nicknames is the Quaker State; in colonial times, it was known officially as the Quaker Province, in recognition of Quaker William Penn"s First Frame of Government constitution for Pennsylvania that guaranteed liberty of conscience. He knew of the hostility Quakers faced when they opposed religious ritual, taking oaths, violence, war and military service, and what they viewed as ostentatious frippery. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania)
Pennsylvania's largest city, Philadelphia was the seat of the federal government almost continuously from 1776 to 1800; there the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776 and the U.S. Constitution drawn up in 1787. Valley Forge, of Revolutionary War fame, and Gettysburg, site of the pivotal battle of the Civil War, are both in Pennsylvania. The Liberty Bell is located in a glass pavilion across from Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
The nation's first oil well was dug at Titusville in 1859, and the mining of iron ore and coal led to the development of the state's steel industry. More recently Pennsylvania's industry has diversified, although the state still leads the country in the production of specialty steel. The service, retail trade, and manufacturing sectors provide the most jobs; Pennsylvania is a leader in the production of chemicals and pharmaceuticals, food products, and electronic equipment.
Pennsylvania's 58,000 farms (occupying nearly 8 million acres) are the backbone of the state's economy, producing a wide variety of crops. Leading commodities are dairy products, cattle and calves, mushrooms, greenhouse and nursery products, poultry and eggs, a variety of fruits, sweet corn, potatoes, maple syrup, and Christmas trees.
Pennsylvania's rich heritage draws billions of tourist dollars annually. Among the chief attractions are the Gettysburg National Military Park, Valley Forge National Historical Park, Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Dutch region, the Eisenhower farm near Gettysburg, and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
The nation's first oil well was dug at Titusville in 1859, and the mining of iron ore and coal led to the development of the state's steel industry. More recently Pennsylvania's industry has diversified, although the state still leads the country in the production of specialty steel. The service, retail trade, and manufacturing sectors provide the most jobs; Pennsylvania is a leader in the production of chemicals and pharmaceuticals, food products, and electronic equipment.
Pennsylvania's 58,000 farms (occupying nearly 8 million acres) are the backbone of the state's economy, producing a wide variety of crops. Leading commodities are dairy products, cattle and calves, mushrooms, greenhouse and nursery products, poultry and eggs, a variety of fruits, sweet corn, potatoes, maple syrup, and Christmas trees.
Pennsylvania's rich heritage draws billions of tourist dollars annually. Among the chief attractions are the Gettysburg National Military Park, Valley Forge National Historical Park, Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Dutch region, the Eisenhower farm near Gettysburg, and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
Politics
The Keystone State may once again live up to its name by being the "key" or deciding state in this year's Presidential election. Pennsylvania is a key swing state and as such must be continually bathed in prayer.
In the past decade, no political party has been clearly dominant in Pennsylvania. This, combined with Pennsylvania's rank of 6th in the country in population, has made it one of the most important swing states. Democrats are strong in urban Philadelphia and the areas of Pittsburgh, Reading, Allentown, Erie, Johnstown, State College and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Republicans are generally dominant in the vast rural areas that make up the balance of the Commonwealth. Traditionally, Republicans have also fared well in the densely populated and wealthy suburbs of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, but in the 1990s and 2000s many of these suburbs began to associate more with the Democratic Party.
Since 1992, Pennsylvania has been trending Democratic in Presidential elections, voting for Bill Clinton twice by large margins, and slightly closer in 2000 for Al Gore. Most recently, in the 2004 Presidential Election, Senator John F. Kerry beat President George W. Bush in Pennsylvania 2,938,095 (50.92%) to 2,793,847 (48.42%). (
Since 1992, Pennsylvania has been trending Democratic in Presidential elections, voting for Bill Clinton twice by large margins, and slightly closer in 2000 for Al Gore. Most recently, in the 2004 Presidential Election, Senator John F. Kerry beat President George W. Bush in Pennsylvania 2,938,095 (50.92%) to 2,793,847 (48.42%). (
Religion
Of all the colonies, only in Rhode Island was religious freedom as secure as in Pennsylvania - and one result was an incredible religious diversity, one which continues to this day.
Pennsylvania's population in 2000 was 12,281,054. Of these, 8,448,193 were estimated to belong to some sort of organized religion. According to the Association of religion data archives at Pennsylvania State University, reliable data exists for 7,116,348 religious adherents in Pennsylvania in 2000, following 115 different faiths. Their affiliations, including percentage of all adherents, were:
Roman Catholic: 3,802,524 (53.43%)
Orthodox: 75,354 (1.06%)
Mainline Protestant: 2,140,682 (30%)
United Methodist Church: 659,350 (9.27%)
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: 611,913 (8.60%)
Presbyterian Church: 324,714 (4.56%)
United Church of Christ: 241,844 (3.40%)
American Baptist Churches in the USA: 132,858 (1.87%)
Episcopal Church: 116,511 (1.64%)
Evangelical Protestant: 704,204 (10%)
Assemblies of God: 84,153 (1.18%)
Church of the Brethren: 52,684 (0.74%)
Mennonite Church USA: 48,215 (0.68%)
Christian and Missionary Alliance: 45,926 (0.65%)
Southern Baptist Convention: 44,432 (0.62%)
Independent Non-charismatic churches: 42,992 (0.60%)
Other theology: 393,584 (5.53%)
Jewish estimate: 283,000 (3.98%)
Muslim estimate: 71,190 (1.00%)
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations: 6,778 (0.10%)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: 31,032 (0.44%)
Pennsylvania is also noted for having the highest concentration of an Amish population in the United States. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania)
Pennsylvania's population in 2000 was 12,281,054. Of these, 8,448,193 were estimated to belong to some sort of organized religion. According to the Association of religion data archives at Pennsylvania State University, reliable data exists for 7,116,348 religious adherents in Pennsylvania in 2000, following 115 different faiths. Their affiliations, including percentage of all adherents, were:
Roman Catholic: 3,802,524 (53.43%)
Orthodox: 75,354 (1.06%)
Mainline Protestant: 2,140,682 (30%)
United Methodist Church: 659,350 (9.27%)
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: 611,913 (8.60%)
Presbyterian Church: 324,714 (4.56%)
United Church of Christ: 241,844 (3.40%)
American Baptist Churches in the USA: 132,858 (1.87%)
Episcopal Church: 116,511 (1.64%)
Evangelical Protestant: 704,204 (10%)
Assemblies of God: 84,153 (1.18%)
Church of the Brethren: 52,684 (0.74%)
Mennonite Church USA: 48,215 (0.68%)
Christian and Missionary Alliance: 45,926 (0.65%)
Southern Baptist Convention: 44,432 (0.62%)
Independent Non-charismatic churches: 42,992 (0.60%)
Other theology: 393,584 (5.53%)
Jewish estimate: 283,000 (3.98%)
Muslim estimate: 71,190 (1.00%)
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations: 6,778 (0.10%)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: 31,032 (0.44%)
Pennsylvania is also noted for having the highest concentration of an Amish population in the United States. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania)
Pennsylvania Food
In his book Yo Mama Cooks Like a Yankee, author Sharon Hernes Silverman calls Pennsylvania the snack food capital of the world. It leads all other states in the manufacture of pretzels and potato chips. The Sturgis Pretzel House introduced the pretzel to America, and companies like Anderson Bakery Company, Intercourse Pretzel Factory, and Snyder's of Hanover are leading manufacturers in the Commonwealth. The three companies that define the U.S. potato chip industry are Utz Quality Foods, Inc., which started making chips in Hanover, Pennsylvania in 1921, Wise Snack Foods which started making chips in Berwick in 1921, and Lay's Potato Chips, a Texas company. Other companies such as Herr Foods, Martin's Potato Chips, Snyder's of Berlin (not associated with Snyder's of Hanover) and Troyer Farms Potato Products are popular chip manufacturers. The U.S. chocolate industry is centered in Hershey, Pennsylvania, with Mars and Wilbur Chocolate Company nearby, and smaller manufacturers such as Asher's near Lansdale and Gertrude Hawk of Dunmore. Other notable companies include Just Born in Bethlehem, PA, makers of Hot Tamales, Mike and Ikes, and the Easter favorite marshmallow Peeps, Benzel's Pretzels and Boyer Candies of Altoona, PA, which is well known for its Mallow Cups. Auntie Anne's Pretzels originated in Gap, but their corporate headquarters is now located in Lancaster, PA. Traditional Pennsylvania Dutch foods include chicken potpie, schnitz un knepp (dried apples, hame, and dumplings), fasnachts (raised doughnuts), scrapple, pretzels, bologna, and chochow. Shoofly is another traditional Pennsylvanian Dutch food. Yuengling Brewery, America's Oldest Brewery, has been brewing beer in Pottsville, PA since 1829.
Among the regional foods associated with Pennsylvania are the pierogies, cheesesteak and the hoagie, the soft pretzel, the liver on a stick, Italian water ice, scrapple, Tastykake, and the stromboli. In Pittsburgh, tomato ketchup was improved by Henry John Heinz from 1876 to the early 1900s. Famous to a lesser extent than Heinz ketchup are the Pittsburgh's Primani Brothers Restaurant sandwiches. Outside the city of Scranton, in the Borough of Old Forge there are dozens of Italian restaurants specializing in pizza made unique by thick, light crust and American cheese. Sauerkraut along with pork and mashed potatoes is a common meal on New Year's Day in Pennsylvania. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania)
Among the regional foods associated with Pennsylvania are the pierogies, cheesesteak and the hoagie, the soft pretzel, the liver on a stick, Italian water ice, scrapple, Tastykake, and the stromboli. In Pittsburgh, tomato ketchup was improved by Henry John Heinz from 1876 to the early 1900s. Famous to a lesser extent than Heinz ketchup are the Pittsburgh's Primani Brothers Restaurant sandwiches. Outside the city of Scranton, in the Borough of Old Forge there are dozens of Italian restaurants specializing in pizza made unique by thick, light crust and American cheese. Sauerkraut along with pork and mashed potatoes is a common meal on New Year's Day in Pennsylvania. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania)
Silly Pennsylvania Laws
It is contrary to Pennsylvania law to discharge a gun, cannon, revolver or other explosive weapon at a wedding.
It is illegal to have over 16 women live in a house together because that constitutes a brothel.
It it illegal to sleep on top of a refrigerator outdoors.
Any motorist driving along a country road at night must stop every mile and send up a rocket signal, wait 10 minutes for the road to be cleared of livestock, and continue.
A special cleaning ordinance bans housewives from hiding dirt and dust under a rug in a dwelling.
You may not sing in the bathtub.
Fireworks stores may not sell fireworks to Pennsylvania residents.
A person is not eligible to become Governor if he/she has participated in a duel.
Any motorist who sights a team of horses coming toward him must pull well off the road, cover his car with a blanket or canvas that blends with the countryside, and let the horses pass.
Ministers are forbidden from performing marriages when either the bride or groom is drunk.
You may not catch a fish with your hands.
You may not catch a fish by any body part except the mouth.
Dynamite is not to be used to catch fish.
It is illegal to have over 16 women live in a house together because that constitutes a brothel.
It it illegal to sleep on top of a refrigerator outdoors.
Any motorist driving along a country road at night must stop every mile and send up a rocket signal, wait 10 minutes for the road to be cleared of livestock, and continue.
A special cleaning ordinance bans housewives from hiding dirt and dust under a rug in a dwelling.
You may not sing in the bathtub.
Fireworks stores may not sell fireworks to Pennsylvania residents.
A person is not eligible to become Governor if he/she has participated in a duel.
Any motorist who sights a team of horses coming toward him must pull well off the road, cover his car with a blanket or canvas that blends with the countryside, and let the horses pass.
Ministers are forbidden from performing marriages when either the bride or groom is drunk.
You may not catch a fish with your hands.
You may not catch a fish by any body part except the mouth.
Dynamite is not to be used to catch fish.
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