Pennsylvania Trivia...?

Question

why isn't philadelphia the state's capital instead of harrisburg? i mean philly was only the place where the declaration of independence was signed and just seems to have a greater significance than harrisburg does...anyone know the answer?

Answer 1

well at one point Philly was the capital of the nation

causing it to already to be a capital

making them choose harrisburg but when the national capital moved they never moved PA to philly

Answer 2

Most states on the Atlantic coast originally had coastal cities as capitals in 1776 (for example, New York was the capital of New York, Philadelphia was the capital of Pennsylvania, Savannah was the capital of Georgia).  As population expanded to the west, many states moved their capitals farther inland.  This may have also been influenced by the fact that during the Revolutionary War, many states had their capitals occupied at least for a while by the British.

Across the country, the general trend is that capitals will be located either a) in the biggest city, b) near the geographical center, or c) halfway between these two points.  Harrisburg meets the second criterion.  This particularly makes sense for Pennsylvania since there are two major cities in that state, one at each end.

Answer 3

Because the land to build the capitol was free, along with that disease idea.  Pretty uneventful, eh?  See below where I looked up the answer:

From 1790 to 1800, when Philadelphia was the nation's Capital, the state and national legislatures both met in the building. By 1799, the State Assembly, citing reasons ranging from disease to population growth, moved westward to Lancaster, and a year later Congress convened in Washington, D.C.

Lancaster County Court House  

The Capitol's existence in Lancaster was short lived. In 1785, John Harris, Jr. donated four acres of land along the Susquehanna and recommended this as the site for a new state capitol. In 1812, the Assembly used Harris' donated land, combined with more than 10 acres purchased from William Maclay, to build two state office buildings. Local architect Stephen Hills was chosen to construct the buildings, and in 1812, the Legislature moved to Harrisburg. Until 1822, they met in the old Dauphin County Court House, which was modified for the state to use.

Answer 4

Probably due to its location on the coast or as a major seaport