Rich in historic lore, Pennsylvania territory was disputed in the early 1600s among the Dutch, the Swedes, and the English. England acquired the region in 1664 with the capture of New York, and in 1681 Pennsylvania was granted to William Penn, a Quaker, by King Charles II. 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 59,000 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 state leads the country in steel and is a leader in the production of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food products and electronic equipment. Most jobs are provided by the service, retail trade and manufacturing. However, the backbone of the economy is provided by the variety of crops produced by the farms. The second largest industry in the state is tourism which employs 400,000 people and brings in $25 billion. If moving to Pennsylvania there are a variety of homes or apartmental rentals to choose that would meet your lifestyle.

Pennsylvania has a rich history and was one of the original thirteen colonies. Philadelphia is where the Declaration of Independence was signed, the U.S. Constitution was drawn up, and the Liberty Bell is located across from Independence Hall. Important battles occurred at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War and at Gettysburg during the Civil War. To experience the treasures of Pennsylvania look into Pennsylvania apartment rentals.

Pennsylvania has several teams for sports fans to enjoy. These include the Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Pittsburgh Penguins. Several historical sites include Valley Forge, the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Other points of interest include the Pennsylvania Dutch region and the Eisenhower farm near Gettysburg. Deer, pheasants, rabbits, ducks, and turkeys are popular with hunters. State and federal agencies keep streams and ponds well stocked, and trout, salmon and, walleyed pike are caught in large numbers. Hershey Chocolate World and the Crayola Factory are wonderful family attractions. Enjoy the charm of Pennsylvania by looking into Pennsylvania apartments to rent.

Among some of the many universities and colleges in Pennsylvania are Bryn Mawr College, Bucknell Univ., Carnegie-Mellon Univ., the Univ. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania State Univ., and 14 universities in the state system. Also there are Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, and Lancaster Theological Seminary. Wilson College is a private Presbyterian related college and beginning in 1990 allowed single mothers to attend college bringing their children with them. With the abundant universities and colleges from which to choose, there are also an abundant supply of apartments to rent in Pennsylvania.