2000 resident census population (rank): 12,281,054 (6). Male: 5,929,663 (48.3%); Female: 6,351,391 (51.7%). White: 10,484,203 (85.4%); Black: 1,224,612 (10.0%); American Indian: 18,348 (0.1%); Asian: 219,813 (1.8%); Other race: 188,437 (1.5%); Two or more races: 142,224 (1.2%); Hispanic/Latino: 394,088 (3.2%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 76.2; 65 and over: 15.6; median age: 38.0.
Rich in historic lore, Pennsylvania territory was disputed in the early 1600s among the Dutch, the Swedes, and the English. England acquired the region in 1664 with the capture of New York, and in 1681 Pennsylvania was granted to William Penn, a Quaker, by King Charles II.
The nation's first oil well was dug at Titusville in 1859, and the mining of iron ore and coal led to the development of the state's steel industry. More recently Pennsylvania's industry has diversified, although the state still leads the country in the production of specialty steel. The service, retail trade, and manufacturing sectors provide the most jobs; Pennsylvania is a leader in the production of chemicals and pharmaceuticals, food products, and electronic equipment.
Pennsylvania's 58,000 farms (occupying nearly 8 million acres) are the backbone of the state's economy, producing a wide variety of crops. Leading commodities are dairy products, cattle and calves, mushrooms, greenhouse and nursery products, poultry and eggs, a variety of fruits, sweet corn, potatoes, maple syrup, and Christmas trees.
