How Wide Is Pennsylvania? Total Distance from East to West

Pennsylvania is in the Northeastern region of the United States. Its official nickname is the Keystone State because it is near the center of the original 13 Colonies, which run north to south along the Atlantic coast. While it is not very large in area, the state’s historical importance in the United States is massive.

The maximum width of Pennsylvania is 283 miles. How does it compare to the width of other U.S. states? Hawaii is the widest state, with its 137 islands together measuring 1,522 miles wide. That’s over five times wider than Pennsylvania. In contrast, the smallest state by width is Rhode Island, which is only 20 miles wide. That means Pennsylvania is over 14 times wider than Rhode Island.

Let’s explore more of what makes Pennsylvania unique, including its history, geography, and wildlife.

Becoming Part of the United States

Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn, an influential British Quaker, in 1681. It was an important British colony until the American Revolution of 1765-1783, in which the Thirteen Colonies won their independence from the British Crown. During the revolution, Pennsylvania was the site of the First and Second Continental Congress. It was the second state to ratify the United States Constitution in 1787, after Delaware. Pennsylvania also played an important role in the American Civil War. The historic Battle of Gettysburg, the deadliest battle in the Civil War, was in Pennsylvania. This three-day-long battle ended in a crucial victory for the Union.

Geography of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is in several overlapping regions of the Northeastern United States, including the Mid-Atlantic, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions. It borders six U.S. states and one Canadian province. These are New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, and Ontario. Additionally, Pennsylvania borders Lake Erie to the northwest and the Delaware River to the east.

Pennsylvania’s diverse geography includes the Appalachian, Allegheny, and Pocono Mountains. Its northwest features 77 miles of shoreline on Lake Erie. The mighty Delaware River forms the eastern border of Pennsylvania before emptying into the Delaware Bay.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Pennsylvania is over 60% forest! The total area of forest land in the state is a whopping 16.6 million acres.

Overall Size of Pennsylvania

How big is Pennsylvania? With a total area of 46,055 square miles, Pennsylvania is the 33rd-largest state in the U.S. Although it is a relatively small state in terms of area, many people still call the Keystone State home. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pennsylvania has a population of 12,972,008. It is the fifth-most populous U.S. state.

Pennsylvania is 283 miles wide at its widest point and 252 miles wide at its narrowest point. Additionally, it is 170 miles long.

Wildlife in Pennsylvania

With its lush forests and mighty rivers, Pennsylvania is a haven for wildlife. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania is home to 436 species of wild birds and 66 species of wild mammals.

Pennsylvania has 7 official state animals. The state mammal is the white-tailed deer. A few other common mammals are the North American black bear, eastern coyote, and North American river otter.

Additionally, Pennsylvania is home to a diverse array of birds including perching birds, birds of prey, and shorebirds. This long list of bird species includes some rare and endangered birds such as the piping plover, which lives on the shoreline of Lake Erie.

The bald eagle has an incredible story of conservation in Pennsylvania. Bald eagles nearly went extinct in the United States in the late 20th century due to habitat loss, illegal shooting, and contamination by the insecticide DDT. In 1980, there were only three known nesting pairs left in the state. The impact of DDT on bald eagles and other species sparked a public outcry, and the insecticide was banned for agricultural use in 1972. Since then, the bald eagle population has steadily recovered. Today, Pennsylvania has over 300 nesting pairs of bald eagles.

Final Thoughts

Although Pennsylvania isn’t a large state, it holds an important place in American history, is one of the most populous states, and has an incredibly diverse geography. From the bustling city of Philadelphia to the lush hardwood forests of the north, Pennsylvania is an incredible state.