PENNSYLVANIA, one of the most populous and wealthy of the United States of North America, lies between 39° 43' and 42° N. lat., and 74° 40' and 80' MY W. long. It Is bounded E. by the state of New Jersey; N.E. and N. by that of New York; N.W. for 40 miles by Lake Erie ; W. by the state of Ohio ; S.1V. by Virginia ; S. by Maryland; and S.E. by Delftware. Its form is that of a parallelogram, with a length from cast to west of 305 miles, and at width of 155 miles. The area is about 47,000 equate miles. The population in 1850 was 2,311,788 (of whom 53,026 were frco coloured persona), or 49.19 to the isquare mile. The inhabitants being all free, the federal repro sentarvo population is the same as the entire population In 1850; this, according to the present ratio of representation, entitles the state to send 25 representatives to Congress. To the Senate, like each of the other states. Pennsylvania sends 2 representatives.
Surface, Soil, Climate, Productions.—The Allegheny or Appalachian Mountains cover more than one-half of the surface of this state. The ridges of which the mountain system consists run in the general direction of the whole system, aouth-south-west and north-north-east; and along the southern boundary-line of the state their width hardly falls short of 100 miles. But north of 40° N. lat. the eastern ridges turn to the east-north-east, while the western ranges continue in a north-north-east course, and thus-between 41° and 42° N. lat. the two outer ridges of the mountains are 200 miles apart. This mountain region occupies the middle and above half of the state, and to the south-east and north-west of it extend two hilly regions exhibiting different natural features.
I. The South-Eastern Region extends along the Delaware River as far north as 41° N. lat., and along the boundary of Maryland as far west as 78° W. long. Its north-western border is formed by the eastern ridge of the Blue Mountains. This region forms a portion of the Atlantic slope ; the surface, while generally undulating or hilly, rising gradually from the south-east to the north-west, and near the foot of the Blue /fountains attaining an elevation of between 200 and 300 feet above the sea. About 15 miles from the Blue Mountains is the con
tinuous ridge called the South Mountains, which rises to a considerable height near the southern boundary, but farther east exhibits frequent depresaions. This ridge terminates on the banks of the Delaware at the mouth of the Lehigh River. Along the Delaware the soil is a sandy loam, not distinguished by fertility, but well cultivated on account of the ready market afforded by the navigable river and the city of Philadelphia. Farther inland the soil improves considerably in fertility. The climate of this region resembles that of England, except that the changes are more sudden and greater, and the summers hotter and the winters colder, than in England. The mean annual temperature varies between 54° and 50° according to the elevation of the country. Sudden changes of temperature, extending to 20 or 80 degrees, are not uncommon at any season. During the winter months there is a good deal of frost and snow. Rain is abundant all the year round. The mean annual fall 6 8S inches. The greatest quantity falls in the summer months, from June to September. In this region are cultivated the grains of England, with maize and much buckwheat. Hemp, flax, tobacco, and esculent plants thrive very well The orchards chiefly produce apples, peaches, and cherries; the other fruits are less cultivated. In some sheltered places there are extensive vineyards.
2. The Mountain Region south of 41* N. ht consists of a succession of steep ridge. and narrow valleys; but north of that line it extends in an elevated table-laod, the greater portion of the surface being occupied by large tracts of level or hilly ground, while the mountain ridges are far distant from each other, and cover a comparatively small part of the surface.