Statehood 1776

Pennsylvania

The area of present-day Pennsylvania was first claimed by both the Dutch and the Swedes in the early 17th century, with Dutch presence limited to Fort Beversreede and Swedish colonists establishing settlements within New Sweden. In 1655 the Swedes surrendered to New Netherland, and in 1664 the Dutch surrendered New Netherland to the British. Pennsylvania became a formal British colony in 1681 when William Penn received a royal deed from King Charles II of England, establishing it as a Quaker-influenced colony based on religious tolerance. Philadelphia grew to become the largest city in British North America and served as a center for the planning of the American Revolution against King George III and the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Statehood
1776
Historic sites
3,625
Military engagements
476

Pre-contact era

Before European colonization, the area of present-day Pennsylvania was inhabited by indigenous peoples including the Lenape, Susquehannocks, Haudenosaunee, Erie, Massawomeck, and Shawnee, among other American Indian tribes. The Delaware and Susquehanna valleys were particularly inhabited by the Lenape and Susquehannock people. Most of the native peoples tribes were driven off or reduced to remnants as a result of diseases such as smallpox following European contact.

Colonial history

Dutch presence was limited to Fort Beversreede, a trading post; the area was simultaneously claimed by the Swedes in the early 17th century.

Swedish colonists founded Upland in 1644 as a tobacco plantation within New Sweden before its eventual fall to Dutch forces and annexation to New Netherland.

The former Swedish settlement of Upland was annexed to New Netherland following the Swedish surrender in 1655.

The colony was formally chartered in 1681 via a grant from Charles II of England to William Penn. Penn established the colony based on religious tolerance, intended as a 'Holy experiment' with the guidance of the Christian Society of Friends (Quakers). The colony incorporated the former Dutch/Swedish settlements along the Delaware.

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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
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Explore Pennsylvania records

3,625
National Register historic sites
National Register listings ›
476
Military engagements
Military history records ›
7
Civil War regiments
Union, Confederate, USCT ›
3
Indigenous groups
Heritage records ›
51
Notable figures
Born in Pennsylvania ›
31
Colonial-era events
1492 to early statehood ›
Pennsylvania counties
Census population history ›
Sources

State history content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Historic sites data: National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

About Pennsylvania

When did Pennsylvania become a state?
Pennsylvania was admitted to the Union in 1776.
What European powers colonized Pennsylvania?
The territory that became Pennsylvania passed through several colonial periods. Dutch presence was limited to Fort Beversreede, a trading post; the area was simultaneously claimed by the Swedes in the early 17th century. Swedish colonists founded Upland in 1644 as a tobacco plantation within New Sweden before its eventual fall to Dutch forces and annexation to New Netherland. The former Swedish settlement of Upland was annexed to New Netherland following the Swedish surrender
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