Pennsylvania (1983: Doomsday)

Pennsylvania was one of the founding states of the United States of America. The former British colonly joined the union in 1787 as the second colony to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

On Doomsday its two largest cities - Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, along with towns and suburbs in their vicinities - were destroyed by Soviet nuclear strikes. Also destroyed by direct hits were the state capital of Harrisburg, and the cities of Erie, Scranton, and Wilkes-Barre.

It has been believed for years that no life survived in the state, as it was located in the heavily-targeted northeastern section of the U.S. However, civilian explorers from Vermont and Delmarva, and a military expedition from the Virginian Republic, have independently confirmed the existence of survivors not only around the cities of Allentown, Bethlehem and Reading, but also the campus of Penn State University in State College, and the towns of Altoona, Punxsuwaney, and Franklin. There were large groups of survivors centered in the Allegheny National Forest and Elk State and Susquehannock State Forests.

Conversations with leaders in Reading and State College indicate a state government centered in State College exists (the Delmarva explorers were not able to meet the governor), but that each region has a large degree of self-autonomy.

Virginia and Vermont explorers confirmed the existence of State College as the new state capitol with leaders of the communities based in and around the forests. However, the explorers were told that the forest communities consider State College to have only the "barest" authority over their affairs and hold St. Mary's - halfway between Allegheny National Forest and the two state forests - as their capital.

Explorers reported both regions as having a "steady, functioning, early 20th-century society" with people eager to hear what had happened to the rest of the country, and of the world.

Delmarvan explorers found a "less structured, more lawless" situation in the Allentown region. For years there was no real government, with numerous gangs and warlords fighting for control of the region with surviving police and civic leaders and even pastors of large churches. Even with the Allentown city government having finally gained control over the region in 2002, it still has to deal with gang leaders who control parts of Allentown, Reading and Bethlehem and warlords who make trade between the three cities a hassle and ongoing trade and contact with State College next to impossible.

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