The eastern hellbender is the state's largest salamander and breathes through its skin.

The ruffed grouse is the Pennsylvania state bird.

Population: 12.96 million

Capital: Harrisburg

Location: 40.276N, 076.884W

Statehood: Dec. 12, 1787

Total area: 46,055 square miles

Land area: 44,743 square miles

Water area: 1,312 square miles

Governor: Josh Shapiro

State animal: White-tailed deer

State beverage: Milk

State dog: Great Dane

State fish: Brook trout

State flagship: U.S. Brig Niagara

State flower: Mountain laurel

State tree: Eastern hemlock

State bird: Ruffed grouse

State amphibian: Eastern hellbender

State motto: Virtue, liberty and independence

Origin of state name: State founder William Penn named the state in honor of his father, Admiral William Penn.

Nickname: Keystone State. Keystones are wedge-shaped stones in the center of arches that hold all the other stones in place. Pennsylvania served as a keystone in the economic, social and political development of the United States.

Famous for: Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Liberty Bell and Independence Hall

Famous Pennsylvanians: Louisa May Alcott, Mary Roberts Rinehart, John Updike (novelists), Samuel Barber, Stephen Foster (composers), Daniel Boone (frontiersman), James Buchanan (president), Gene Kelly, James Stewart (actors), Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey (bandleaders), W.C. Fields (comedian), Robert Fulton (inventor), Grace Kelly (actress, princess of Monaco), Reggie Jackson (baseball player), George McClellan (general), Andrew Mellon (financier), Arnold Palmer (golfer), Robert Peary (explorer), Betsy Ross (flag maker) and Andrew Wyeth (painter).

Mountain laurel is the Pennsylvania state flower.