In the year 1820, the state was divided into fifty-one counties, according to the following table: whereof the first eleven only were founded in the time of the late pro vince, and the last forty were erected in the time of the Commonwealth. The counties are constantly divided into townships, as fast as the lands are settled, under a very ancient stipulation.
The advance of population in this state, has been ge nerally steady; about the middle of the last century, it contained about 220,000 ; at the commencement of the revolutionary war, upwards of 350,000 ; in 1790, 434,373; in 1800, 602,545; in 1810, 810,091 ; and in 1820, as shewn in the table above.
The following table exhibits the state of arms and mili tia of the state, as extracted from the Journal of the House of Representatives, in : The number of post-towns or post offices in the state at the present time, 1824, is about five hundred.
The principal rivers in the state are, the Delaware, which separates it from New Jersey. The western branch of this river, which is called the Lehigh, rises principally in the mountains of Luzerne and Northampton counties.
After it through the Broad and Blue Moun tains, t enters a rich and more level country, and passing by Allentown and Bethlehem, joins the Delaware at Eas ton. The Schuylkill rises north-west of the Kittatinny mountains, through which it breaks into a fine champaign country, and taking a south-east direction, empties into the Delaware opposite Mud Island, about seven miles be low Philadelphia.
The Susquehannah is formed by two considerable streams, which unite at the town of Northumberland, about 120 miles north-west from Philadelphia. The east branch rises in the state of New-York ; and, aftcr wind ing, in a western direction, along the border of that state, enters Pennsylvania in the latitude of 42° north. The west branch has its principal spring in Clearfield county. After the union of the two branches, the river flows in a southern direction, through Pennsylvania, to Maryland ; and after running a few miles in that state, enters the Che sapeake Bay not far from Havre de Grace.
The Juniata, which is a branch of the Susquehannah, r15es in the Allegany Ridge, and after passing through a mountaln.,us country, joins the latter river about twelve miles above Harrisburg.
The Ohio, which flows on the western side of the Al legany mountains, is formed by the united waters of the Allegany and Monongahela. The former rises principally
in the state of New-York ; and after running near the southern boundary of that state, enters Warren county, in Pennsylvania, and pursues a southern course to its junc tion at the city of Pittsburg. The Monongahela has its chief sources in the Laurel mountain, and flowing north ward, joins the Allegany at Pittsburg as above stated.
The several branches of Yoliiogany river rise on the western side of the Allegany mountains. After running a short distance they unite, and form a large beautiful river, which in passing some of the most western ridges of the mountains precipitates itself over a level ridge of rocks, lying nearly at right angles to the course of the river. These falls, called the Ohiopyle falls, arc about 20 feet in perpendicular height. The river at this place runs to the south-west, but presently winds round to the north west, and continuing this course 30 or 40 miles, unites with the :Monongahela.
Minerals.—Iron ore is distributed in considerable quan tities through many parts of the state ; and copper, zinc, and lead, are also found in some places. There are also nume rous limestone quarries and various kinds of marble ; and inexhaustible bodies of coal are found near the sources of the Lehigh and Schuylkill, and in many other parts of the state.
The soil of Pennsylvania is of various kinds; in some little part, it is barren ; but a great proportion of the state is good land. This state includes most of the kinds of trees, shrubs and plants which grow within the United States. Oaks of various kinds form the chief bulk of the woods. Chesnut, birch, sugar•maple, ash, black walnut, elm, hickory, white ash, butternut, locust, and various kinds of magnolia, abound in the western parts of this state.
Among the useful quadrupeds in the unsettled districts, are deer, in great numbers, beaver6, otters, and raccoons. Buffaloes rarely cross the Ohio, and elks seldom advance from the north. Panthers. wild cats, bears, foxes and wolves are becoming rare. The fur and skins of all are valuable. Rabbits and squirrels are common. In the marshes are minks, muskrats, and opossums. Partridges areyet numerous, though hard winters and sportsmen, united, have destroyed many. There are numbers of wild tur keys in the new settlements ; pheasants and grouse are become scarce. Pidgeons, ducks, and wild geese, are ge nerally found in plenty in their proper seasons.