"Hershey" redirects here. For other uses, see Hershey (disambiguation).
Hershey
—  CDP  â€”
Downtown Hershey at the intersection of Chocolate Ave and Cocoa Ave, with the signature Hershey Kiss lights and the Hershey Chocolate Factory in the background
Nickname(s): Chocolate Town, USA
Motto: The Sweetest Place on Earth
Hershey is located in Pennsylvania
Hershey
Location within Pennsylvania
Coordinates: 40°16′42″N 76°39′4″W / 40.27833°N 76.65111°W / 40.27833; -76.65111Coordinates: 40°16′42″N 76°39′4″W / 40.27833°N 76.65111°W / 40.27833; -76.65111
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Dauphin
Area
 - Total 14.4 sq mi (37.4 km2)
 - Land 14.4 sq mi (37.3 km2)
 - Water 0 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Population (2000)
 - Total 12,569
 - Density 870.4/sq mi (336.1/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
FIPS code 34-71385[1]
Hershey Pennsylvania 1.JPG

Hershey is a census-designated place (CDP) in Derry Township, Dauphin County in the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The community is located 14 miles east of Harrisburg and is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Hershey has no legal status as an incorporated municipality and all municipal services are provided by Derry Township. The population was 12,771 at the 2000 census.

Hershey was originally named Derry Church, Pennsylvania, for schools, and official purposes it is known as Derry Township. It was renamed Hershey in 1906 after the growing popularity of Hershey's Chocolate. It is popularly called "Chocolatetown, USA." Hershey is also referred to as "The Sweetest Place on Earth."

Contents

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 12,771 people, 5,451 households, and 3,297 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 886.5 people per square mile (342.2/km²). There were 5,887 housing units at an average density of 408.7/sq mi (157.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.07% White, 2.12% African American, 0.06% Native American, 4.87% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.55% of the population.

There were 5,451 households out of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 20.3% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $45,098, and the median income for a family was $63,385. Males had a median income CDP was $28,487. About 3.8% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Transportation

Hershey is accessible via Harrisburg International Airport, approximately 8 miles away. Amtrak's Keystone Service provides frequent rail service to the nearby towns of Middletown (9 miles) and Harrisburg (13 miles).

BCAT and COLT (County of Lebanon Transit) provide bus service.

From 1944 to 1981, Hershey had its own small general aviation airport.[2]

[edit] Sports

Club League Venue Established Championships
Hershey Bears AHL, Ice hockey GIANT Center 1932 10

Hershey was once home to the Hershey Wildcats of the A-League. This professional soccer team was folded after the 2001 season by its owners, who decided that it would not be successful financially. The Wildcats were named after a popular roller-coaster in Hersheypark. Hershey was also home to the Hershey Impact over the AISL indoor soccer league.

NBA player Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a neutral-site, regular season game played at Hersheypark Arena in 1962; his effort remains a single-game record for the league.

[edit] Points of interest

The community is home to The Hershey Company which also makes the well-known Hershey bar and Hershey's Kisses, as well as the parent to the H. B. Reese Candy Company, manufacturer of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Hershey's Chocolate World is a factory store and virtual tour ride of The Hershey Company. Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company owns and operates Hersheypark, Hersheypark Stadium and other attractions such as ZooAmerica, Hershey Gardens, and is a major employer of the community and surrounding area. The Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and the Milton Hershey School for underprivileged youth are also located in Hershey. The Pennsylvania State Police Academy is located north town along Hersheypark Drive. In addition the Derry Township Police Department is a nationally recognized law enforcement agency.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  2. ^ URL last accessed November 23, 2009.

[edit] External links

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