Pennsylvania League of Cities & Municipalities

Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs

Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors

Abington Township - Official Web Site

Allegheny Township - Official Web Site

Allentown - Official Web Site

Allentown - Lehigh Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau

Altoona - Official Web Site

Altoona - Guide - Altoona.com

Arnold - Official Web Site

Aston Township - Official Web Site

Avondale - Official Web Site

Baldwin - Official Web Site

Bally - Official Web Site

Bath - Official Web Site

Bedminster - Pennridge Chamber of Commerce

Bellefonte - Official Web Site

Bellefonte - Bellefonte Intervalley Area Chamber of Commerce

Bellevue - Official Web Site

Bethel Township - Official Web Site

Bethlehem - Official Web Site

Bethlehem - Chamber of Commerce

Bethlehem - Lehigh Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau

Bethlehem - Tourism Authority

Bethlehem - Guide - BethlehemPAOnline.com

Bethlehem Township - Official Web Site

Birchrunville - Guide - birchrunville.com

Blacklick Township - Guide - Nanty Glo Home Page

Bloomsburg - Official Web Site

Bloomsburg - Bloomsburg Area Chamber of Commerce

Bloomsburg - Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau

Bloomsburg - Guide - Bloomsburg Area Free-Net

Blossburg - Guide - www.blossburg.org

Bradford - Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce

Bradford - Guide - AroundBradford.com

Bradford - Guide - Bradford On-Line

Bradford - Guide - Bradford, Pennsylvania

Brentwood Borough - Official Web Site

Bridgeville - Greater Bridgeville Area Chamber of Commerce

Brighton Township - Official Web Site

Bristol Township - Official Web Site

Brookhaven - Official Web Site

Brookville - Brookville Area Chamber of Commerce

Brookville - Magic Forests Visitors Bureau

Caernarvon Township - Official Web Site

Camp Hill - Official Web Site

Carbondale - Official Web Site

Carbondale - Public Schools

Carlisle - Official Web Site

Carlisle - Greater Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce

Carlisle - Downtown Carlisle Association

Carlisle - Harrisburg-Hershey-Carlisle Tourism & Convention Bureau

Carlisle - Guide - Central Pennsylvania

Carlisle - Guide - Cumberland County Historical Society

Carroll Valley - Official Web Site

Carrolltown - Official Web Site

Castle Shannon - Official Web Site

Chalfont - Official Web Site

Chambersburg - Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce

Champion - Mountain Laurel Chamber of Commerce

Charleroi - Greater Charleroi Chamber of Commerce

Charlestown Township - Guide - Charlestown Township

Cheltenham Township - Official Web Site

Chester - Official Web Site

Chestnuthill Township - Official Web Site

Clarion - Clarion Area Chamber of Business & Industry

Clarks Summit Borough - Guide - ClarksSummitBorough.com

College Township - Official Web Site

College Township - Centre Region Parks & Recreation

Collegeville - Official Web Site

Concord Township - Official Web Site

Conemaugh Township - Official Web Site - Cambria County

Connellsville - Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce

Conshohocken - Official Web Site

Corry - Corry Area Chamber of Commerce

Courtdale - Official Web Site

Covington Township - Official Web Site

Cranberry Township - Official Web Site

Cranberry Township - Cranberry Area Chamber of Commerce

Cumru Township - Official Web Site

Pennsylvania shares with Virginia, Kentucky and Massachusetts the designation "Commonwealth." The word is of English derivation and refers to the common "weal" or well-being of the public. The State Seal of Pennsylvania does not use the term, but it is a traditional, official designation used in referring to the state, and legal processes are in the name of the Commonwealth. In 1776, our first state constitution referred to Pennsylvania as both "Commonwealth" and "State," a pattern of usage that was perpetuated in the constitutions of 1790, 1838, 1874, and 1968. Today, "State" and "Commonwealth" are correctly used interchangeably. The distinction between them has been held to have no legal significance.

The word "keystone" comes from architecture and refers to the central, wedge-shaped stone in an arch, which holds all the other stones in place. The application of the term "Keystone State" to Pennsylvania cannot be traced to any single source. It was commonly accepted soon after 1800.

At a Jefferson Republican victory rally in October 1802, Pennsylvania was toasted as "the keystone in the federal union," and in the newspaper Aurora the following year the state was referred to as "the keystone in the democratic arch." The modern persistence of this designation is justified in view of the key position of Pennsylvania in the economic, social, and political development of the United States.

Danville - Danville Area Chamber of Commerce

Downingtown - Official Web Site

Doylestown Township - Official Web Site

Dublin - Pennridge Chamber of Commerce

DuBois - DuBois Area Chamber of Commerce

East Brandywine Township - Official Web Site

East Caln Township - Official Web Site

East Goshen Township - Official Web Site

East Goshen Township - Westtown-East Goshen Police Department

East Rock Hill - Pennridge Chamber of Commerce

Easton - Official Web Site

Easton - Bureau of Water

Easton - Two Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce

Easton - Lehigh Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau

Easttown Township - Official Web Site

Eddystone - Official Web Site

Edgewood - Official Web Site

Edinboro - Official Web Site

Elizabethtown - Official Web Site

Elizabethtown - Chamber of Commerce

Elverson - Official Web Site

Emlenton - Official Web Site

Ephrata - Ephrata Area Chamber of Commerce

Erie - Erie Area Chamber of Commerce

Erie - Convention & Visitors Bureau

Exeter Township - Official Web Site

Fairview Township - Official Web Site - Erie County

Fairview Township - Official Web Site - York County

Falls Township - Official Web Site

Ferguson Township - Official Web Site

Ferguson Township - Centre Region Parks & Recreation

Franklin - Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce

Franklin Township - Official Web Site - York County

Franklintown - Official Web Site

Gettysburg - Gettysburg-Adams County Area Chamber of Commerce

Gettysburg - Convention & Visitors Bureau

Girard - Girard-Lake City Chamber of Commerce

Gladwyne - Guide - Gladwyne.com

Green Township - Official Web Site

Greentree - Official Web Site

Grove City - Official Web Site

Grove City - Chamber of Commerce

Hampden Township - Official Web Site

Hanover - Official Web Site

Hanover - Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce

Hanover - Allied Veterans Council Of Hanover Memorial Grounds Committee

Hanover - Guide - helloHanover.com

Harborcreek Township - Official Web Site

Harris Township - Centre Region Parks & Recreation

Harrisburg - Harrisburg-Hershey-Carlisle Tourism & Convention Bureau

Hatboro - Greater Hatboro Chamber of Commerce

Hatfield Township - Official Web Site

Hazleton - Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce

Hazleton - Greater Hazleton Economic & Industrial Development

Hermitage - Official Web Site

Hershey - Harrisburg-Hershey-Carlisle Tourism & Convention Bureau

Hershey - Guide - Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company

Hilltown Township - Official Web Site

Hilltown Township - Pennridge Chamber of Commerce

Hollidaysburg - Official Web Site

Hollidaysburg - Hollidaysburg Community Partnership

Homer City - Official Web Site

Horsham Township - Chamber of Commerce

Huntingdon - Greater Huntingdon Chamber of Commerce

State Seal

The State Seal is the symbol used by the Commonwealth to authenticate certain documents. It is impressed upon the document by an instrument known as a seal-press or stamp. The State Seal has two faces: the obverse, which is the more familiar face and the one most often referred to as the "State Seal," and the reverse, or counter-seal, which is used less frequently. The State Seal is in the custody of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. When Pennsylvania was still a province of England, its seals were those of William Penn and his descendants. The transition from this provincial seal to a state seal began when the State Constitutional Convention of 1776 directed that "all commissions shall be . . . sealed with the State Seal," and appointed a committee to prepare such a seal for future use. By 1778, there was in use a seal similar to the present one. The seal received legal recognition from the General Assembly in 1791, when it was designated the official State Seal.

The obverse of the seal contains a shield upon which are emblazoned a sailing ship, a plough, and three sheaves of wheat. To the left of the shield is a stalk of Indian corn; to the right, an olive branch. The shield's crest is an eagle, and the entire design is encircled by the inscription "Seal of the State of Pennsylvania." These three symbols, the plough, ship, and sheaves of wheat, have despite minor changes through the years remained the traditional emblems of Pennsylvania's State Seal.  They were first found in the individual seals of several colonial Pennsylvania counties which mounted their own identifying crests above the existing Penn Coat of Arms. Chester County's crest was a plough; Philadelphia County's crest was a ship under full sail; Sussex County, Delaware (then a part of provincial Pennsylvania) used a sheaf of wheat as its crest. The shield of the City of Philadelphia contained both a sheaf of wheat and a ship under sail. It was a combination of these sources that provided the three emblems now forming the obverse of the State Seal. The reverse of this first seal shows a woman who represents liberty. Her left hand holds a wand topped by a liberty cap, a French symbol of liberty. In her right hand is a drawn sword. She is trampling upon Tyranny, represented by a lion. The entire design is encircled by the legend "Both Can't Survive."

Irwin - Norwin Chamber of Commerce

Ivyland - Official Web Site

Jefferson Hills - Official Web Site

Jenkintown - Official Web Site

Johnstown - Greater Johnstown-Cambria County Chamber of Commerce

Johnstown - Greater Johnstown-Cambria Cty. Convention & Visitors Bureau

Jones Township - Official Web Site

Jonestown - Official Web Site

Kane - Kane Area Chamber of Commerce

Kane - Guide - Kane's First Historical Web Site

Kennett Square - Official Web Site

Kennett Square - Guide - Kennett.net

King of Prussia - Chamber of Commerce

King of Prussia - Guide - KingofPrussia.com

Laceyville - Guide - Laceyville.com

Lackawaxen Township - Official Web Site

Lake City - Girard-Lake City Chamber of Commerce

Lancaster - Official Web Site

Lancaster - Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Lancaster - Guide - Lancaster PA Net

Lancaster Township - Official Web Site

Landenberg - Guide - Landenberg.com

Lansdale - Official Web Site

Lansdale - North Penn Chamber of Commerce

Ligonier - Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce

Lititz - Guide - Lititz, Pennsylvania

Lititz - Guide - Lititz Springs Park

Lock Haven - Official Web Site

London Grove Township - Official Web Site

Lower Allen Township - Official Web Site

Lower Burrell - Official Web Site

Lower Makefield Township - Official Web Site

Lower Merion Township - Official Web Site

Lower Merion Township - Public Library

Lower Paxton Township - Official Web Site

Lower Pottsgrove Township - Official Web Site

Malvern - Official Web Site

Manheim - Manheim Area Chamber of Commerce

Manor Township - Official Web Site

Mansfield - Greater Mansfield Area Chamber of Commerce

Marietta - Official Web Site

Marple Township - Official Web Site

Marple Township - Guide - Marple Net Online

Meadville - Guide - GREMLAN: Greater Meadville Area Local Access Network

Media - Official Web Site

Mercer - Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce

Mercersburg - Mercersburg Area Chamber of Commerce

Mercersburg - Guide - www.mercersburg.com

Middlesex Township - Official Web Site

Milton - Milton Area Chamber of Commerce

Monroe Township - Official Web Site

Monroeville - Official Web Site

Monroeville - Monroeville Area Chamber of Commerce

Moon Township - Official Web Site

Mount Joy - Official Web Site

Mt. Lebanon - Official Web Site

Mount Pleasant - Guide - Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania

Mountaintop - Guide - Mountaintop, PA

Munhall - Official Web Site

Murrysville - Official Web Site

Nanty Glo - Guide - Nanty Glo Home Page

Narberth - Official Web Site

Nazareth - Nazareth Area Chamber of Commerce

New Albany - Guide - New Albany "On The Net"

New Britain Township - Official Web Site

New Castle - Official Web Site

New Hanover Township - Official Web Site

New Kensington - Official Web Site

New Kensington - New Kensington Area Chamber of Commerce

New Kensington - Municipal Authority of New Kensington

New Kensington - Guide - New Kensington Community Calendar

New London Township - Official Web Site

Newtown Township - Official Web Site

Newville - Guide - Newville, PA 17241

Norristown - Official Web Site

North East - Official Web Site

North East - North East Area Chamber of Commerce

Northampton Township - Official Web Site

Northampton Township - Northampton Area Chamber of Commerce

Northampton Township - Guide - Northampton Pennsylvania

O'Hara Township - Official Web Site

Oil City - Oil City Area Chamber of Commerce

Oil City - Oil Heritage Region Tourist Promotion Agency

Oil City - Guide - Oil City Area On Line

State Flag

Pennsylvania's State Flag is composed of a blue field on which is embroidered theState Coat of Arms. The flag is flown from all state buildings, and further display on any public building within the Commonwealth is provided for by law. The first State Flag bearing the StateCoat of Arms was authorized by the General Assembly in 1799. During the Civil War, many Pennsylvania regiments carried flags modeled after the U.S. Flag, but substituted Pennsylvania's Coat of Arms for the field of stars. An act of the General Assembly of June 13, 1907, standardized the flag and required that the blue field match the blue of Old Glory.

The Whitetail Deer is the official state animal, as enacted by the General Assembly on October 2, 1959.

The Ruffed Grouse is the state game bird, as enacted by the General Assembly on June 22, 1931. The Pennsylvania ruffed grouse, sometimes called the partridge, is distinguished by its plump body, feathered legs, and mottled reddish-brown color. This protective coloring makes it possible for the ruffed grouse to conceal itself in the wilds.

The Great Dane is the state dog, as enacted by the General Assembly on August 15, 1965.

Palmerton - Official Web Site

Palmyra - Guide - Welcome to Palmyra, PA!

Parkesburg - Guide - Parkesburg.net

Patterson Township - Official Web Site

Patton Township - Official Web Site

Patton Township - Centre Region Parks & Recreation

Pen Argyl - Official Web Site

Penn Township - Official Web Site

Pennsbury Township - Official Web Site

Perkasie - Official Web Site

Perkasie - Pennridge Chamber of Commerce

Peters Township - Chamber of Commerce

Philadelphia - Official Web Site

Philadelphia - Center City District

Philadelphia - Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce

Philadelphia - West Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce

Philadelphia - Philadelphia International Airport

Philadelphia - Convention & Visitors Bureau

Philadelphia - Spring Hill Community Association

Philadelphia - Guide - BaltimoreAvenue.com

Philadelphia - Guide - GreaterPhilly.com

Philadelphia - Guide - LibertyNet

Philadelphia - Guide - philly.com

Philadelphia - Guide - phillyfriend.com

Philadelphia - Guide - University City Historical Society

Phoenixville - Official Web Site

Phoenixville - Public Schools

Pine Township - Official Web Site

Pittsburgh - Official Web Site

Pittsburgh - Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce

Pittsburgh - North Side Chamber of Commerce

Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce

Pittsburgh - South Hills Chamber of Commerce

Pittsburgh - Greater Pittsburgh Convention & Visitors Bureau

Pittsburgh - Port Authority

Pittsburgh - Port of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh - Sports & Exhibition Authority

Pittsburgh - Travel & Tourism

Pittsburgh - Guide - greenpittsburgh.net

Pittsburgh - Guide - Pittsburgh.Net

Pittston - Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce

Pleasant Hills - Official Web Site

Plum - Official Web Site

Plymouth Township - Official Web Site

Pottsville - Guide - Pottsville Pennsylvania

Punxsutawney - Punxsutawney Area Chamber of Commerce

Punxsutawney - Guide - Punxsutawney.com

Radnor Township - Official Web Site

Rapho Township - Official Web Site

Reading - Official Web Site

Reading - Reading & Berks County Visitors Bureau

Reading - Greater Berks Development Fund

Reynoldsville - Official Web Site

Rice Township - Official Web Site

Ridgeway - Ridgeway-Elk County Chamber of Commerce

Roaring Spring - Official Web Site

Ross Township - Official Web Site

St. Marys - Official Web Site

St. Marys - St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce

Schuylkill Township - Official Web Site

Schwenksville - Official Web Site

Scottdale - Official Web Site

Scranton - Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce

Scranton - Guide - Pocono Scranton Fun Guide

Sellersville - Official Web Site

Sellersville - Pennridge Chamber of Commerce

Seven Fields - Official Web Site

Sharpsville - Official Web Site

Shippensburg - Official Web Site

Shippensburg - Shippensburg Area Chamber of Commerce

Shrewsbury Township - Official Web Site

Silverdale - Pennridge Chamber of Commerce

Skippack Township - Skippack Village Business Association

Slippery Rock - Guide - Slippery-Rock.com

Somerset - Official Web Site

South Coventry Township - Official Web Site

South Middleton Township - Official Web Site

Springettsbury Township - Official Web Site

Springfield Township - Official Web Site

State College - Official Web Site

State College - Centre Region Parks & Recreation

State College - Guide - State College Pennsylvania

State College - Guide - StateCollege.com

Steelton - Official Web Site

Stewartstown - Guide - Stewartstown.com

Stroud Township - Official Web Site

Stroudsburg - Official Web Site

Swarthmore - Official Web Site

Thornbury Township - Official Web Site

Thornbury Township - Westtown-East Goshen Police Department

Titusville - Official Web Site

Titusville - Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce

Titusville - Community Development Agencies

Tobyhanna Township - Official Web Site

Towamencin Township - Official Web Site

Tredyffrin Township - Official Web Site

Tunkhannock Township - Official Web Site

Upper Dublin Township - Official Web Site

Upper Macungie Township - Official Web Site

Upper Makefield Township - Official Web Site

Upper Merion Township - Official Web Site

Upper Pottsgrove Township - Official Web Site

Upper St. Clair Township - Official Web Site

Upper Southampton Township - Official Web Site

Uwchlan Township - Official Web Site

Valley Forge - Convention & Visitors Bureau

Wallace Township - Official Web Site

Warwick Township - Official Web Site

Wayne - Official Web Site

Wayne - Main Line Chamber of Commerce

Waynesboro - Greater Waynesboro Area Chamber of Commerce

Waynesboro - Guide - Waynesboro

Wellsboro - Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce

Wernersville - Guide - Wernersville Online

West Bradford Township - Official Web Site

West Brandywine Township - Official Web Site

West Chester - Official Web Site

West Chester - Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce

West Chester - Public Schools

West Chester - Guide - WChester.net

West Chester - Guide - West Chester Online

West Chester - Guide - WestChester.LocalLife.com

West Goshen Township - Official Web Site

West Hanover Township - Official Web Site

West Mifflin - Guide - 15122.com

West Rockhill - Pennridge Chamber of Commerce

West Vincent Township - Official Web Site

West Whiteland Township - Official Web Site

Westtown Township - Official Web Site

Westtown Township - Westtown-East Goshen Police Department

White Haven - Greater White Haven Chamber of Commerce

White Oak - Official Web Site

Whitemarsh Township - Official Web Site

Wilcox - Official Web Site

Wilkes-Barre - Chamber of Commerce, Business & Industry

Wilkes-Barre - Guide - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Wilkinsburg - Official Web Site

Williamsport - Official Web Site

Williamsport - Williamsport-Lycoming County Chamber of Commerce

Willistown Township - Official Web Site

Wilson - Official Web Site

Wormleysburg - Official Web Site

York - Official Web Site

York - Guide - downtownyork.org

Youngwood - Official Web Site

Zelienople - Official Web Site