

The term “commonwealth” is originally an English word and represents one of the marks left over by the United States’ former British rule.

What does this mean for Pennsylvania and the other states that aren’t commonwealths, though? Its official title is “The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” giving it an extra designation that most states don’t have. Pennsylvania: Both a State and a Commonwealth Why is Pennsylvania a commonwealth? How many other states are? We’ll explain everything you could ever want to know about commonwealths below. That might have helped you understand Pennsylvania’s status a little better, but you probably have even more questions now. Pennsylvania is also a state it just gets the extra title of commonwealth as well. “Commonwealth” is basically a more traditional word for a state that is focused on taking care of all its residents, and Pennsylvania is an example of one. Pennsylvania, in particular, is often associated with commonwealths, and it isn’t always clear why or if it is one. Living in some areas of the U.S., you might hear the term “commonwealth” get thrown around now and again, sometimes interchangeably with the more common word “state.” Those of us who haven’t been in a high school classroom for many years might see this word and scratch our heads, wondering what it means.
