FIVE FUN FACTS about Pennsylvania

Weird and Unusual facts about the Keystone State

By Zack Webster, Editor in Chief|September 29, 2015

The Keystone State, the Tyrone Eagle Eye’s home state, and the 11th most densely forested state in the US. Oh hey, Fact #0. Regardless of how much foliage our state has to offer, it still has some pretty interesting things going on inside it. So, here are FIVE FUN FACTS about our home state of Pennsylvania

1. The Presidency

There has only been one president from PA, James Buchanan. He was the 15th president of the United States. And some historians have ranked him as among the WORST Presidents in US history.  He died on June 1st 1868.

2. Pittsburgh

Some quirky things happen in the city of steel, so here are some facts just about Pittsburgh:

  • It is the city with the most bridges on the US, and the third most bridges in the world, only to be beaten out by Hamburg, in Germany, and Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. Pittsburgh boasts a staggering 446 bridges! However, a study conducted by Transportation of America deemed 30 of them deficient,
  • Despite the city’s national high for deficient bridges, tourism has been booming for the city of bridges  Over 3.9 million tourists flock to the city annually, and the summer of 2015 was particularly busy.  The Pittsburgh marathon had 22,391 runners and countless other family and friends of the registered competitors from around the globe.
  • American Ninja Warrior chose Pittsburgh to be one of 7 qualifying cities for season seven, running 100+ athletes and holding their friends, families, and even Ninja Warrior Students (Yes, there are schools for ANW) in Pittsburgh.
  • Oh, and the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh flows north.

3. Centralia

If you’ve been reading the Eagle Eye’s facts articles for a while you may recognize that name our Top 10 Creepiest Places From Around The Globe, a coal mine fire has been steadily burning there for decades and studies show it isn’t going to stop for another 250 years. a 2010 census revealed that only 10 people live within the city limits.   The fire was set by accident in 1962.

4. The Liberty Bell

Philly is famous for their cheese-steaks and the Liberty Bell, but did you know that for a period of time the Liberty Bell wasn’t in Philly? During the Revolutionary War, it was hidden underneath the Zion Reformed Church in Allentown in order to protect it from the British.

5.  Bonus Fun Facts

Just a few Fun Facts to annoy your loved ones:

  • PA was the first US state to list its website’s URL on its licence plate.
  • PA is the only original colony to not border the Atlantic.
  • Kennett Square in PA is the mushroom capital of the world.
  • PA has the the largest Amish population of any of the 50 states.