Pennsylvania Genealogy
Guide to Ancestry and Family Tree Records

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State Genealogy Guides

The State of Pennsylvania has a rich history, especially from the time that it was a territory, not a state. In the beginning of the 1600s Swedes, English, and Dutch people regularly had disputes in what is now the state of Pennsylvania.

In 1664 New York was captured by the English, allowing them to acquire the area that is now Pennsylvania. Then, in 1681, King Charles II granted Pennsylvania to a Quaker named William Penn. The the Pennsylvania Colony, aka Province of Pennsylvania, was founded on March 4, 1681.

From 1776 to 1800, the federal government was based almost entirely out of Pennsylvania. In 1776 the Declaration of Independence was enacted there. Then, in 1787, the U.S. Constitution was drafted there. Pennsylvania is also home to both Gettysburg battlefield and Valley Forge. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is home to Independence Hall and a glass pavilion across from it, which is where the Liberty Bell is located.

The State of Pennsylvania was created as the 2nd state on December 12, 1787. It has 67 Counties. Select a Pennsylvania county to view information & records pertaining to each County

Adams – Allegheny – Armstrong – Beaver – Bedford – Berks – Blair – Bradford – Bucks – Butler – Carbon – Cambria – Centre – Chester – Clarion – Clearfield – Clinton – Columbia – Crawford – Cameron – Cumberland – Dauphin – Delaware – Elk – Erie – Fayette – Forest – Franklin – Fulton – Greene – Huntingdon – Indiana – Jefferson – Juniata – Lackawanna – Lancaster – Lawrence – Lebanon – Lehigh – Luzerne – Lycoming – McKean – Mercer – Mifflin – Monroe – Montour – Montgomery – Northampton – Northumberland – Perry – Philadelphia – Pike – Potter – Schuylkill – Snyder – Somerset – Sullivan – Susquehanna – Tioga – Union – Venango – Warren – Washington – Wayne – Westmoreland – Wyoming – York

Pennsylvania Genealogy Record Guides

Pennsylvania Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies
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Pennsylvania Archives & Societies
Pennsylvania Atlases & Maps
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Pennsylvania Atlases & Maps
Pennsylvania Census Records