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Spotlight on Pennsylvania

The current governor of Pennsylvania said it best about his state:  “No matter where you live in America that you call home, there is a part of Pennsylvania that is yours forever – our heritage. “  From Independence Hall to the battle at Gettysburg, this couldn’t be more true.  The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were both written in Philadelphia and Betsy Ross made the 1^st current form American flag there.

The state is known as the Keystone State based in part upon being centrally located among the original 13 states and also for being keystone economically due to its combination of industry and agriculture.  The state is named after the father of William Penn.  In 1681, Charles II granted a land charter to William to repay a debt of $20,000 owed to Penn’s father.  It was the largest land grant to an individual in history.  In honor of his father, the state was named Pennsylvania, meaning “Penn’s Woods”. 

The state’s economy is ranked 6^th in the nation.  If it were an independent country, its economy would rank as the 17^th largest in the world, ahead of Belgium.  Their economy is still much as it has been historically and is based largely in industrial output and agriculture.  The industrial output is comprised mostly of food processing, chemical products, machinery and electric equipment.  Agriculturally, it ranks 19^th among the states in production, but 1^st in mushrooms, 3^rd in Christmas trees, and 4^th in milk.   It is also 8^th in the nation in wine production.  Overall, the state is home to 50 Fortune 500 companies including U.S. Steel and H. J. Heinz.  Interestingly, despite the Liberty Bell, the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and other historical attractions, the state ranks 4^th from the bottom nationally in tourism in contribution to a state’s economy.  The introduction of casinos is expected to change that.

Pennsylvania’s diverse geography produces a variety of climates.  The southeastern corner of the state has the warmest climate and is considered humid continental.  Toward the mountains in the interior of the state, the climate is colder and the snowfall amounts are greater.  Western areas of the state can receive over 100 inches of snow per year.  The entire state receives plentiful amounts of rain.

The southwest and southeast corners of the state are urban manufacturing centers.  The remainder of the state is much more rural.  This difference affects not only the economy, but also their politics.  Democrats are strong in the urban areas and Republicans are strong in the rural areas.  With a population ranked as 6^th in the nation, it makes the state an important swing vote.  Since 1992, the state on a national level has been largely Democratic, having voted for Clinton twice by large margins.  The current governor is also a Democrat.

Pennsylvania’s personal income tax system consists of a flat tax of 3.07% on all personal income.  It ranks 42^nd highest among states that levy an individual income tax. While that is low, many taxpayers also pay a local tax on earned income from 1-1.5%.  Retirement income, with some restrictions, is not taxed after the age of 59-1/2.  The corporate tax structure consists of a flat 9.9% on all corporate income, which is the 2^nd highest nationally.  The state levies a sales tax of 6%.  It also collects a property tax at both state and local levels, with the local level collecting the most.  In per capita property tax collection, the state ranks 24^th nationally.

The state is also known for its firm stance on freedom of religion.  Their past position to consider as brethren all those who believe in God continues to this day.  Their ancestry is 27% German, 17% Irish, 9% English and 7% Polish.  The religion make-up is 54% Catholic and 30% Protestant.  The state also has the largest concentration of Amish persons in the nation.

Recreationally, the state is highly diverse.  There are over one million licensed hunters in the state.  Common game includes whitetail deer, turkey and grouse.  Sport hunting contributes over nine billion to the state annually.  Many professional sport teams reside in the state and college football and basketball are also very popular.  Other sports that draw a crowd are horse racing and motorsports.  Mario Andretti is from Nazareth.  If sports aren’t your thing, you can always visit the nation’s first zoo, the Philadelphia Zoo, attend one of the many notable music festivals or visit some of the finest museums in the country.  To round out your recreation experience, the state has over 100 parks, all with free admission.

Some consider the state to be the snack food capital of the world.  It leads all states in the production of pretzels and potato chips and the U.S. chocolate industry is centered in Hershey.  Other foods associated with the state are pierogies, cheesesteak and liver on a stick. 

It’s a great time of year to visit Pennsylvania and take in all the sites and the coming of fall.  Peruse our website at www.activeadultliving.com for active adult communities in the state. 

Look next month for a look into Southern California.  As always, I welcome your article suggestions and comments.

Dee Chandler
Editor

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Our Preview of  Active Lifestyle Communities by Lifestyle

Active Lifestyle/Age Targeted Communities

State:  New Hampshire
City:  Bedford
Community Name:  Riverwalk at Bedford
Age Restriction:  55+
Type of Home:  Single Family
Home Square Footage:  1180-2342 sq. ft.
Priced from:  Low $200's - Higher $300's
Number of Homes:  90
Web Site
Amenities:  Walking paths, fitness, billiards, movie theater, library, computer area

State:  New Jersey (Future community)
City: Brick
Community Name:  Regency at Brick
Age Restriction:  Active Adult
Type of Home:  Condominiums
Home Square Footage:  1183-1858 sq. ft.
Prices coming soon
Web Site - not yet
Amenities:  Clubhouse, pool, bocce, 2 acres preserved woodlands

State:  New Jersey
City:  Monroe
Community Name:  The Ponds at Clearbrook
Age Restriction:  55+
Type of Home:  Resale Single Family
Home Square Footage:  1600-2150 sq. ft.
Priced from:  Higher $200's - Low $400's
Number of Homes:  600
Amenities:  Clubhouse, fitness center, billiards, putting green, pool, tennis

State:  South Carolina (Future community)
City:  New Riverside
Community Name:  The Haven at New Riverside by Del Webb
Age Restriction:  Active Adult
Type of Home:  Resale Single Family
Home Square Footage:  1590-2500 sq. ft.
Prices coming soon
Number of Homes:  500
No web site yet
Amenities: Clubhouse, fitness, recreational facility
 

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