The Biggest Industries In Pennsylvania
- Agriculture. Agriculture has been a significant part of Pennsylvania's economy since 1682, when the state was established.
- Manufacturing. The manufacturing industry accounted for 11.89% of the total output in Pennsylvania in 2018 and employed over 9.47% of the total labor force.
- Mining.
- Tourism.
- Service.
At different times throughout its history, Pennsylvania has been the nation's principal producer of ships, iron, chemicals, lumber, oil, textiles, glass, coal, and steel. Although it is still a major manufacturing center, Pennsylvania's industrial leadership has diminished steadily during this century.
Pennsylvania, one of the original 13 colonies of the United States, is
known for many things, from its forests to its major cities to its chocolate factories.
What is Pennsylvania Known For?
- Original Colony.
- Liberty Bell.
- Cheesesteak Sandwich.
- Chocolate Capital of USA.
- Amish America.
- Declaration of Independence.
The Pennsylvania Colony exported iron ore and manufactured iron products to England, including tools, plows, kettles, nails and other items. Major agriculture in the Pennsylvania Colony included livestock, wheat, corn, and dairy. Manufacturing in the Pennsylvania Colony included shipbuilding, textiles, and papermaking.
Here's a quick look at the top ten highest paying jobs in Pennsylvania:
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
- Psychiatrists.
- Chief Executives.
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
- Family and General Practitioners.
- Internists, General.
- Physicians and Surgeons, All Other.
- Nurse Anesthetists.
Pennsylvania Top 10 Cash Crops
| Rank | Crop | Production (000) Units |
|---|
| 1 | Hay, All | 3,767 |
| 2 | Corn for Grain | 97,515 |
| 3 | Apples, All Commercial | 475,000 |
| 4 | Soybeans for Beans | 14,235 |
The soils of the Midwest are highly productive, largely because they were grasslands for many centuries before they were farmed. Pennsylvania may once have had some grasslands, but in re- cent times it has been mostly forested.
York is also known as the White Rose City, named after the symbol of the House of York. Called “America's first fair,” The York Fair was originally held in York City in 1765, 11 years before the nation was founded. For nine months, from late 1777 until mid-1778, York served as the Capital of the United States.
Port Erie's Great Lakes Connection
The City of Erie is home to Port Erie, Pennsylvania's only link to the Great Lakes-St. The commercial and recreational port is positioned along a bay on Lake Erie's southeast coast. Located between New York and Chicago, the port is attractive for commercial shipping operations.Why It Matters: It's even more proof that Philadelphia has a wide-ranging, growing economy. Key merchandise export categories included chemicals, computer and electronic products, transportation equipment, petroleum and coal products, and machinery.
The state of Pennsylvania is bordered by six states: West Virginia, Delaware, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, and Maryland. Pennsylvania is also bordered by Lake Erie and the Canadian province of Ontario.
Trade in the Pennsylvania Colony used the natural resources and raw materials available to develop trade in corn and wheat and livestock including beef and pork. Other industries included the production of iron ore, lumber, coal, bricks, apples, beer and wine, textiles, rope, furs and shipbuilding.
In Colonial Times: From England, textiles, rum and manufactured goods were shipped to Africa. From Africa, slaves were shipped to the Americas. From the Americas, sugar, tobacco, and cotton were shipped to England.
Massachusetts - Third American Colony founded in 1630.
The original
13 colonies were divided into the New England, Middle and Southern regions.
Trade in the Colonies.
| Region | Economy, Industries and Trade in the Colonies |
|---|
| New England Colonies | Fish, whale products, ships, timber products, furs, maple syrup, copper, livestock products, horses, rum, whiskey and beer |
The first colonial legislature was the Virginia House of Burgesses, established in 1619. The colonies along the eastern coast of North America were formed under different types of charter, but most developed representative democratic governments to rule their territories.
Colonial Trade Routes and Goods. The colonial economy depended on international trade. American ships carried products such as lumber, tobacco, rice, and dried fish to Britain. In turn, the mother country sent textiles, and manufactured goods back to America.
Trade in the Colonies
| Region | Economy, Industries and Trade in the Colonies |
|---|
| Middle Colonies | Corn and wheat and livestock including beef and pork. Other industries included the production of iron ore, lumber, coal, textiles, furs and shipbuilding |
New Hampshire Colony
| New Hampshire Colony Fact File |
|---|
| Facts | Subject | Facts about the New Hampshire Colony |
|---|
| Fact 13 | History | 1641 Massachusetts Colony gained control of New Hampshire |
| Fact 14 | History | In 1679 England forms New Hampshire as a separate royal colony |
| Fact 15 | Trade / Exports | Fish, timber, furs, ships and livestock |
Southern Agriculture
The Southern Colonies had an agricultural economy. The climate was good for growing crops. Planters used enslaved Africans to do the hard work needed to grow tobacco and rice. In Virginia and Maryland, tobacco was the most important crop.These are the top US exports
- Top U.S. goods exports.
- Food, beverage and feed: $133 billion.
- Crude oil, fuel and other petroleum products: $109 billion.
- Civilian aircraft and aircraft engines: $99 billion.
- Auto parts, engines and car tires: $86 billion.
- Industrial machines: $57 billion.
- Passenger cars: $53 billion.
- Pharmaceuticals: $51 billion.
What Are the Major U.S. Imports?
- Machinery (including computers and hardware) – $386.4 billion.
- Electrical machinery – $367.1 billion.
- Vehicles and automobiles – $306.7 billion.
- Minerals, fuels, and oil – $241.4 billion.
- Pharmaceuticals – $116.3 billion.
- Medical equipment and supplies – $93.4 billion.
List of the largest trading partners of the United States
| Rank | Country/District | Exports |
|---|
| - | World | 1,546,273 |
| - | European Union | 283,269 |
| 1 | China | 129,894 |
| 2 | Canada | 282,265 |
America's Top 10 Exports
- Spacecraft and aircraft – $131 billion.
- Cars – $127 billion.
- Petroleum – $106 billion.
- Medical equipment – $83 billion.
- Plastics – $60 billion.
- Gems, precious metals, and coins – $58 billion.
- Pharmaceuticals – $47 billion.
- Organic chemicals – $39 billion.
China's top exports are broadcasting equipment ($231B), computers ($146B), office machine parts ($90.8B), integrated circuits ($80.1B) and telephones ($62B), according to 2017 data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology-linked trade tracker.
List of the largest trading partners of the United States
| Rank | Country/District | Exports |
|---|
| - | European Union | 283,269 |
| 1 | China | 129,894 |
| 2 | Canada | 282,265 |
| 3 | Mexico | 243,314 |
California produces the most food (by value) in the United States followed by Iowa and Nebraska.
| United States | |
|---|
| Rank | Commodity | Percent |
| 1 | California | 11.30% |
| 2 | Iowa | 8.10% |
| 3 | Nebraska | 6.20% |
America's Top 10 Exports
- Machinery – $206 billion.
- Electronic equipment (including computers) – $170 billion.
- Spacecraft and aircraft – $131 billion.
- Cars – $127 billion.
- Petroleum – $106 billion.
- Medical equipment – $83 billion.
- Plastics – $60 billion.
- Gems, precious metals, and coins – $58 billion.
The U.S. imported a record $539.5 billion in goods from China in 2018. The U.S. is a net importer from China in most market segments such as consumer electronics, apparel, furniture and industrial supplies. The one major exception: agriculture.
