HERSHEY, PA

Hershey is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known as the home of The Hershey Company, which was founded by candy magnate Milton S. Hershey.

The community is located east of Harrisburg and is part of the Harrisburg−Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Hershey has no legal status as an incorporated municipality, and all its municipal services are provided by Derry Township. The population was 13,858 at the 2020 census.

Geography

Hershey is located in southeastern Dauphin County, in the center and eastern parts of Derry Township. It is bordered to the east by Palmdale (also in Derry Township) and by Campbelltown (in South Londonderry Township, Lebanon County). To the west is the borough of Hummelstown. Over half the population of Derry Township is within the Hershey CDP.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Hershey CDP has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.41%, is water.

Demographics

2020

As of the 2020 census, there were 13,858 people living there. Hershey was made up of 82.3% White, 5.5% Asian, 2.7% African American, and 1.1% in other categories. 10.7% identify as Hispanic or Latino.

2010

As of the 2010 census, there were 14,257 people living there. Hershey was made up of 83.5% White, 6.6% Asian, 6.2% African American, and 3.5% in other categories. 3.4% identify as Hispanic or Latino.

2000

As of the census 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/km). There were 5,887 housing units at an average density of 408.7/sq mi (157.7/km). The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.1% White, 2.1% African American, 0.1% Native American, 4.9% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino were 1.6% 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 of $42,013 versus $31,086 for females. The per capita for the 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.

Transportation

U.S. Route 422 (Chocolate Avenue) runs through the center of Hershey, and U.S. Route 322 (Governor Road) passes south of the center. The two highways merge at the western end of Hershey, at an interchange with Pennsylvania Route 39. US 422 leads east to Reading, while US 322 leads southeast to Ephrata and west to Harrisburg, the state capital. Route 39 provides access to Hersheypark and Chocolate World, located in the northern part of the CDP, and continues north to Interstate 81 at Skyline View.

Hershey is accessible via Harrisburg International Airport, approximately to the southwest. Amtrak's Keystone Service provides frequent rail service to the nearby towns of Middletown (9 miles), Harrisburg (13 miles) and Elizabethtown Amtrak Station (11 miles), as well as its eastern end in Philadelphia (95 miles). CAT and LT (formerly known as COLT) provide bus service.

From 1944 to 1981, Hershey had its own small general aviation airport on the front lawn of the Milton Hershey Middle School.

Climate

Hershey has a humid continental climate (Dfa), as is very common in Pennsylvania. Temperatures can reach up to 95 °F in the summer, and fall below 20 °F in the winter. The hardiness zones are 6b and 7a.

Education

Sports

Hershey was once home to the Hershey Wildcats of the A-League, a professional soccer team. The team folded after the 2001 season when its owners 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 NPSL indoor soccer league.

National Basketball Association player Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points for the Philadelphia Warriors in a regular season game played at Hersheypark Arena in 1962; his effort remains a single-game record for the league.

Elizabethtown College hosted the 2015 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center.

Christian Pulisic, the 23-year-old American soccer player who plays for Chelsea F.C. of England's Premier League and the United States men's national soccer team, is from Hershey.

Points of interest

The community is home to The Hershey Company, which makes the well-known Hershey Bar and Hershey's Kisses and is the parent company of 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. The original Hershey Chocolate Factory, located downtown along Chocolate Avenue, was closed in 2012 due to high operational costs. Although many of the former factory buildings have been demolished, several were converted to modern office space.

Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company owns and operates Hersheypark, Hersheypark Stadium, and other attractions such as ZooAmerica and Hershey Gardens, and is a major employer of the community and surrounding area. Every October since 1955, the Antique Automobile Club of America have hosted the AACA Eastern Fall Meet here. Usually referred to simply as "Hershey", this is often claimed to be the world's largest automotive swap meet.

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 along Hersheypark Drive. In addition, the Derry Township Police Department is a nationally recognized law enforcement agency.

Hershey is also home to four world-class golf courses, a few museums, The Hotel Hershey, and an opulent spa.

Hersheypark Stadium hosts concerts and sporting events, with a capacity of 30,000. It is also the venue of the Cocoa Bean Game between the Hershey High School and Milton S. Hershey High School football teams.

History

The town was founded by Hershey in 1903 for the company’s workers, and their homes had modern amenities such as electricity, indoor plumbing, and central heating. The town had a public trolley system; a free school to educate the children of employees; a free vocational school to train orphaned and underprivileged boys; and later an amusement park, golf courses, community center, hotel, zoo, and a sports area.

The purpose was to provide "a perfect American town in a bucolic natural setting, where healthy, right-living, and well-paid workers lived in safe, happy homes."

In popular culture

Hershey Park plays a large role in the American Dad episode "May the Best Stan Win" where Stan must fight his cyborg clone for the affection of his wife Francine. There is even a musical number called "At Hershey Park" sung by a chorus of back-up singers at the park.

In Mad Men, Donald Draper was raised in a brothel in Hershey.

In The Simpsons episode "Homerland", Homer says: "I’ve never prayed to a city in my life and if I did it’d be Hershey, Pennsylvania."

Hershey, Pennsylvania was also name dropped in The Good Doctor, when it was revealed that Shaun Murphy's (main character) love interest, Lea (played by Paige Spara) is moving to Hershey, Pa. to work in her family's auto body shop.

Notable people