Justin Douglas Board Chairman
Mike Pries Board Vice-Chairman
George P. Hartwick, III Board Secretary
From the Commissioners WELCOME
Dear Friends,
Home to the magnificent State Capitol Complex and the nationally acclaimed Hersheypark amusement center, Dauphin County features a diverse landscape, from cosmopolitan chic to down-home country.
This capital county’s 525 square miles and 40 municipalities each have their own local flavor. Within a short driving distance of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and New York City, this “keystone” county contains the best of both worlds –and traveling is easy and efficient. From our high-quality schools, exceptional museums, public libraries, hunting and fishing grounds, beautiful parks and other assets, it’s no surprise that Dauphin County is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and to raise a family.
With a stable work force employed by family farms, small businesses, state government, and national corporations, this growing region, hailed as the “sweetest place on earth,” is known for much more than chocolate. In addition to rolling farmlands and scenic parks, the heart of downtown Harrisburg has transformed in recent years into a bustling center of business and entertainment, as evidenced by the crowds packing locally owned eateries along Restaurant Row or attractions like the National Civil War Museum and Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts.
Dauphin County is the perfect place for history-lovers, nature enthusiasts, nightlife-lovers, sports fans, high-tech companies, families and anyone who appreciates the county’s first-rate and easy-going lifestyle.
Enjoy this full-color magazine and immerse yourself in the history, beauty and possibility that Dauphin County offers. It truly has it all!
Facts & Stats
Population
Dauphin County: 286,000 (2020)
Harrisburg Metropolitan Stat. Area (MSA) – 603,9493 (2022)
The MSA ranked 120th in the United States in 2018
County Seat
Harrisburg
Altitude
About 450 feet above sea level; higher in the mountains.
Climate
Moderate, with well-defined seasons. Moderate snow and rainfall.
Average high: 61.0°F | Average low: 42.6°F
Extremes: High 93.6°F | Low 2°F
Airports
Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) in Middletown, Capital City Airport (CXY) in neighboring Cumberland County. A number of private airports are also in operation.
Air Freight Carriers
Federal Express and United Parcel Service
Bus Service
Capital Area Transit (CAT) | Rohrer Bus Service
Capital Trailways | Easton Coach Company
Greyhound Bus Lines
Motor Freight
Served by a number of national and local carriers.
Rail Service
Passengers served by Amtrak Freight provided by Norfolk Southern
Public Utilities
Electricity: PPL Electric Utilities Corporation, FirstEnergy Gas: UGI Utilities
Water & Sewer: Capital Region Water, PA American Water, Veolia, and multiple municipal water/sewer authorities.
Chambers of Commerce
Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC www.HarrisburgRegionalChamber.org
Northern Dauphin Regional Chamber of Commerce www.facebook.com/NDRegionalChamber Hershey Partnership www.hersheypartnership.com
African-American Chamber of Commerce of Central Pennsylvania aacccp.org
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Central Pennsylvania www.facebook.com/chamberforus
GOVERNMENT
Dauphin County government supports its 286,000 residents through a vast network of innovative programs and services. Under the Pennsylvania County Code, management of the county is the responsibility of a three-member Board of County Commissioners, whose members are elected at-large by county voters to serve concurrent four-year terms. They are assisted by a team of professionals, including a chief clerk/chief of staff, elected row officers, and solicitors.
Dauphin County’s leaders are directly responsible for tax assessment of all county real estate; the maintenance of all real estate transactions through the Recorder of Deeds office; the issuance of marriage licenses through the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans’ Court office; the maintenance and funding of county parks and recreational programs; the administration of the county court and judiciary system; county prison operations; voter registration and election procedures; county social service agencies; and economic development programs and initiatives.
The commissioners also oversee emergency preparedness, housing and redevelopment, solid waste management and recycling, senior citizens’ programs, and veterans’ services. In addition, county officials coordinate activities and programs with Penn State’s Cooperative Extension office and are personally involved with farmland preservation.
The County Commissioners work closely with other elected and appointed officials who are responsible for managing the “Row Offices.” The Row Offices record and safeguard official documents, collect fees for services and/or court-imposed fines, and aid in the administration of justice. These independently elected officials include the clerk of courts, controller, coroner, district attorney, prothonotary, Recorder of Deeds, Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans’ Court, sheriff, and treasurer. Voters also elect county judges, who serve 10-year terms.
Here are the responsibilities of each department:
• The clerk of courts is primarily responsible for recording and maintaining the files and dockets of criminal and juvenile court cases.
• The controller’s office manages the central accounting system of the county.
• The coroner investigates sudden, unexplained deaths, accidental deaths, homicides, suicides, and deaths occurring during or following surgery that did not have the expected outcome.
• The district attorney’s office conducts criminal prosecutions.
• The prothonotary’s office records documents on civil matters.
• The Recorder of Deeds office records information on the buying and selling of real estate and has now made the information easily accessible in an online format.
• The Register of Wills office is responsible for determining whether a will is valid. The Clerk of Orphans’ Court handles adoptions, guardianships, termination of parental rights, and audits of estate accounts.
• The sheriff’s office protects courtrooms and judges, transports prisoners, issues gun permits, serves civil papers, and assists U.S. Marshals in executing warrants.
• The treasurer’s office serves as the custodian of county funds and is responsible for the collection, disbursement, and investment of the General Fund tax money.
Forty municipalities make up Dauphin County, which includes the City of Harrisburg, 16 boroughs, and 23 townships. All meetings of these municipalities are public and usually take place on a predetermined schedule, at least once a month.
Boroughs are governed by elected councils and mayors and, in some cases, a professional manager. They may be structured to include a host of other boards and authorities, such as planning and zoning, historic review, and water and sewer. Members on these boards and commissions are appointed by the councils. The boroughs are Berrysburg, Dauphin, Elizabethville, Gratz, Halifax, Highspire, Hummelstown, Lykens, Middletown, Millersburg, Penbrook, Paxtang, Pillow, Royalton, Steelton, and Williamstown.
Townships are governed by elected boards of supervisors or commissioners and may also include a paid manager, an appointed planning commission, and other authorities. The townships are Conewago, Derry, East Hanover, Halifax, Jackson, Jefferson, Londonderry, Lower Paxton, Lower Swatara, Lykens, Mifflin, Middle Paxton, Reed, Rush, South Hanover, Susquehanna, Swatara, Upper Paxton, Washington, Wayne, West Hanover, Wiconisco, and Williams.
Dauphin County’s Municipal Governments
CITIES
City of Harrisburg
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. City Government Center 10 North Second Street Harrisburg, PA 17101 (717) 255-3060
www.harrisburgpa.gov
2022 Population: 50,183
Sch. Dist.: Harrisburg
BOROUGHS
Berrysburg Borough PO Box 213 Berrysburg, PA 17005 (717) 362-9417
www.berrysburg.org
2022 Population: 324
Sch. Dist.: Upper Dauphin
Dauphin Borough
200 Church Street Dauphin, PA 17018 (717) 921-2633
Website: NA
2022 Population: 794
Sch. Dist.: Central Dauphin
Elizabethville Borough 68 S. Moore Street PO Box 578 Elizabethville, PA 17023 (717) 362-7945
www.elizabethville.org
2022 Population: 1,349
Sch. Dist.: Upper Dauphin Area
Gratz Borough
125 North center Street Gratz, PA 17030 (717) 365-4115
Website: NA
2022 Population: 741
Sch. Dist.: Upper Dauphin Area
Halifax Borough 203 Armstrong Street P.O. Box 419 Halifax, PA 17032 (717) 756-0565
www.halifaxborough.com
2022 Population: 794
Sch. Dist.: Halifax Area
Highspire Borough
640 Eshelman Street Highspire, PA 17034 (717) 939-3303
www.highspire.org
2022 Population: 2,728
Sch. Dist.: Steelton-Highspire
Hummelstown Borough
136 South Hanover Street
Hummelstown, PA 17036 (717) 566-2555
www.hummelstown.net
2022 Population: 4,529
Sch. Dist.: Lower Dauphin
Lykens Borough 200 Main Street Lykens, PA 17048 (717) 453-7597
www.lykenspa.com
2022 Population: 1,866
Sch. Dist.: Upper Dauphin Area
Middletown Borough 60 West Emaus Street
Middletown, PA 17057 (717) 902-0706
www.middletownborough.com
2022 Population: 9,593
Sch. Dist.: Middletown Area
Millersburg Borough 101 West Street
Millersburg, PA 17061 (717) 692-2389
www.millersburgpa.org
2022 Population: 2,536
Sch. Dist.: Millersburg Area
Paxtang Borough 3423 Derry Street
Harrisburg, PA 17111 (717) 564-4770
www.paxtang.com
2022 Population: 1,637
Sch. Dist.: Central Dauphin
Penbrook Borough 150 South 28th Street Harrisburg, PA 17103 (717) 232-3733
www.penbrook.org
2022 Population: 3,261
Sch. Dist.: Central Dauphin
Pillow Borough 129 North Pine Street Pillow, PA 17080
www.pillowpa.org
2022 Population: 291
Sch. Dist.: Upper Dauphin
Royalton Borough 101 Northumberland Street
Middletown, PA 17057 (717) 944-4831
www.royaltonpa.com
2022 Population: 1,129
Sch. Dist.: Middletown Area
Steelton Borough
123 North Front Street
Steelton, PA 17113 (717) 939-9842
www.steeltonpa.com
2022 Population: 6,246
Sch. Dist.: Steelton-Highspire
Williamstown Borough
200 South West Street Williamstown, PA 17098 (717) 647-4848
Website: NA
2022 Population: 1,299
Sch. Dist.: Williams Valley
TOWNSHIPS
Conewago Township
3279 Old Hershey Road Elizabethtown, PA 17022 (717) 534-8556
www.conewagoonline.com
2018 Population: 8,364
Sch. Dist.: Lower Dauphin
Township of Derry
600 Clearwater Road Hershey, PA 17033 (717) 533-2057
www.derrytownship.org
2018 Population: 25,207
Sch. Dist.: Derry Township
East Hanover Township
8848 Jonestown Road
Grantville, PA 17028 (717) 469-0833
www.easthanoverpa.com
2018 Population: 5,938
Sch. Dist.: Lower Dauphin
Halifax Township 102 Fisher Street Halifax, PA 17032 (717) 896-3035
www.halifaxtownship.net
2018 Population: 3,555
Sch. Dist.: Halifax Area
Jackson Township
450 Bastian Road
Halifax, PA 17032 (717) 362-9909
www.orgsites.com/pa/jacksontwp
2018 Population: 2,007
Sch. Dist.: Halifax Area
Jefferson Township
3155 Powells Valley Road Halifax, PA 17032 (717) 362-2313
www.jeffersontownshippa.org
2018 Population: 378
Sch. Dist.: Upper Dauphin
Londonderry Township
783 South Geyers Church Road
Middletown, PA 17057 (717) 944-1803
www.londonderrypa.org
2018 Population: 5,214
Sch. Dist.: Lower Dauphin
Lower Paxton Township 425 Prince Street Harrisburg, PA 17109 (717) 657-5600
www.lowerpaxton-pa.gov
2018 Population: 49,520
Sch. Dist.: Central Dauphin
Lower Swatara Township 1499 Spring Garden Drive Middletown, PA 17057 (717) 939-9377
www.lowerswatara.org
2018 Population: 8,836
Sch. Dist.: Middletown Area
Lykens Township
2073 East Middle Road Lykens, PA 17048 (717) 365-3617
www.lykenstownship.com
2018 Population: 1,684
Sch. Dist.: Upper Dauphin Area
Middle Paxton Township
10 Elizabeth Avenue
Dauphin, PA 17018 (717) 921-8128
www.middlepaxtontwp.org
2018 Population: 5,108
Sch. Dist.: Central Dauphin
Mifflin Township
543 Municipal Road
Millersburg, PA 17061 (717) 362-9371
Website: NA
2018 Population: 822
Sch. Dist.: Upper Dauphin Area
Reed Township 179 Rupp Road Halifax, PA 17032 (717) 896-8904
Website: NA
2018 Population: 236
Sch. Dist.: Susquenita
Rush Township
338 Reiners School Road
Tower City, PA 17980 (717) 647-2332
Website: NA
2020 Population: 226
Sch. Dist.: Williams Valley
South Hanover Township Patriot Way Hummelstown, PA 17036 (717) 566-0224
www.southhanover.org
2018 Population: 6,893
Sch. Dist.: Lower Dauphin
Susquehanna Township
1900 Linglestown Road
Harrisburg, PA 17110 (717) 545-4751
www.susquehannatwp.com
2018 Population: 25,107
Sch. Dist.: Susquehanna Township
Swatara Township
599 Eisenhower Blvd. Harrisburg, PA 17111 (717) 564-2551
www.swataratwp.com
2018 Population: 24,900
Sch. Dist.: Central Dauphin
Upper Paxton Township
500 Berrysburg Road Millersburg, PA 17061 (717) 692-4655
www.upperpaxtontwp.org
2018 Population: 4,250
Sch. Dist.: Millersburg Area
Washington Township 185 Manors Road Elizabethville, PA 17023 (717) 362-3191
www.wtwp.org
2018 Population: 2,284
Sch. Dist.: Upper Dauphin Area
Wayne Township
1652 Powells Valley Road
Halifax, PA 17032 (717) 362-3505
Website: NA
2018 Population: 1,384
Sch. Dist.: Halifax Area
West Hanover Township 7171 Allentown Blvd. Harrisburg, PA 17112 (717) 652-4841
www.westhanover.com
2018 Population: 10,618
Sch. Dist.: Central Dauphin
Wiconisco Township
305 Walnut Street PO Box 370
Wiconisco, PA 17097 (717) 453-7571
www.wiconiscotownship.com
2018 Population: 1,202
Sch. Dist.: Williams Valley
Williams Township 1 Orange Street PO Box 7 Williamstown, PA 17098 (717) 647-4877
www.wmstwp.org
2018 Population: 1,111
Sch. Dist.: Williams Valley
BUSINESS & INDUSTRY
Dauphin County is fortunate to serve as the home of many large employers, private and public, who provide many of the 286,000 people who live throughout our county with rewarding, family-sustaining jobs. Thanks to our diverse population, our outstanding public and private schools, and numerous, excellent postsecondary education options, our area’s employers can choose from some of the best trained workers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Occupations in Dauphin County
Our diversity of businesses is, in fact, one of the main reasons Dauphin County has maintained a strong and growing workforce. The professional service industry makes up the largest percentage of jobs in the region, employing thousands in the fields of transportation, public utilities, business, automotive, health care, law, education, social services, engineering and architecture, travel, and recreation.
Finance, insurance, real estate, retail trade, wholesale, manufacturing, and construction finish second. Federal, state, and local government entities are also major contributors to the workforce, employing thousands of military and civilian personnel.
Nationally recognized private firms located in Dauphin County include: FedEx, UPS, Wal-Mart, The Hershey Company, UPMC, Cleveland Cliffs Steelton, Penn State /Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey Entertainment and Resorts, Johnson Controls, TE Connectivity (formerly Tyco and AMP), Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Highmark, Capital Blue Cross, Verizon, and HealthAmerica/Health Insurance.
Two major economic development organizations, under the auspices of Dauphin County and the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC, provide assistance to employers through government-sponsored loan programs, often providing below-market interest rates.
Numerous commercial real estate companies are available to connect businesses, office parks and retail and commercial locations with developers, architects, engineers, attorneys, and planners.
EDUCATION
Colleges & Universities in Dauphin County
Dauphin County is blessed with a significant number of worldclass colleges and universities and is equally blessed with many exceptional post-secondary institutions that are in the immediate area. Anyone looking to complete a degree program, bachelor’s or graduate, will find just the right school, whether that’s a medical or nursing degree, an engineering degree, a law degree, or a teaching certificate.
The following higher learning institutions are in Dauphin County (in no particular order):
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, located in a 16-story office building in downtown Harrisburg, offers residents of central Pennsylvania the opportunity to receive specialized technical degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), while also working with local businesses as interns.
Widener University Commonwealth Law School offers law degrees from its campus, at 3800 Vartan Way. The 22-acre Harrisburg campus is located minutes from the state Capitol and downtown Harrisburg. The campus is also home to the Widener Law & Government Institute, which specializes in the study and improvement of government law.
Penn State College of Medicine is Penn State University’s only medical school. The College of Medicine offers degree programs in anatomy, biomedical sciences, neuroscience, public health, biostatistics, epidemiology, laboratory animal medicine, and other in-demand fields.
Penn State Harrisburg is an undergraduate college and graduate school of The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), one of the largest and most widely recognized institutions in the nation. Penn State Harrisburg is located on a suburban campus in Middletown, eight miles from the state Capitol. Penn State Harrisburg enrolls more than 5,000 students and offers associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral programs as well as certificate and certification programs. Penn State Harrisburg offers four years of study in more than 275 baccalaureate majors offered throughout the Penn State University system. At the transfer level, Penn State Harrisburg serves students from all campuses of The Pennsylvania State University and students from community colleges and other accredited colleges and universities.
Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC), Central Pennsylvania’s community college, is based in Harrisburg on its Wildwood Campus. HACC operates independent campuses in Lebanon, Gettysburg, York, and Lancaster. HACC offers associate degrees, diploma programs, and certificates. HACC serves 21,000 degree-seeking students as well as 50,000 in noncredit programs for personal and professional growth opportunities.
Temple University Harrisburg, located in Strawberry Square in downtown Harrisburg, offers the resources of one of the finest universities in the Commonwealth to students residing in central Pennsylvania. Temple University Harrisburg offers degrees in education, business, and social administration.
Albright College, based in Reading, Pennsylvania, offers an accelerated degree completion program from its Harrisburg campus at 800 Corporate Circle, Suite 200 Harrisburg, PA 17110.
Nearby Colleges & Universities
Several other institutions of higher learning are within an easy drive of residents living in Dauphin County. Dickinson College, one of the oldest and most preeminent liberal arts colleges in Pennsylvania, and the separately run Penn State Dickinson School of Law, are in Carlisle. Elizabethtown College, located just south of the Dauphin County border in Elizabethtown, is a selective private, residential co-ed college of 1900 students. Etown offers degrees in liberal arts, fine and performing arts, science and engineering, business, communications, and education. Also nearby are Messiah University; Central Penn College, which offers associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees, certificates and diplomas in business-related and health care fields, and Lebanon Valley College in Annville. Several other private and public colleges and universities are also located in nearby Gettysburg, Lancaster, Millersville, Shippensburg, and York.
K-12 Opportunities
Dauphin County is served by 11 public school districts, one science and technology high school, one vocational-technical school and several private and parochial schools offering comprehensive programs for all children. In addition, many of the districts offer extracurricular and sports activities as well as adult education programs. More than 21,000 students are enrolled in public elementary schools, almost 17,000 students are enrolled in public secondary schools, and almost 7,000 students are enrolled in private and parochial schools in the county.
The districts – Central Dauphin, Derry Township, Halifax, Harrisburg, Lower Dauphin, Middletown Area, Millersburg, Steelton-Highspire, Susquehanna Township, Upper Dauphin, and Williams Valley – are served, along with the private and parochial schools, by the Capital Area Intermediate Unit 15.
The CAIU provides assessment and referral services and educational programs. The Harrisburg University of Science and Technology High School, also known as SciTech High, is a regional math and science magnet school that attracts students from Harrisburg and neighboring school districts. Beginning with ninth grade, SciTech High prepares students for a university curriculum, studying toward degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Dauphin County Technical School is a full-time, comprehensive public career and technical high school serving Central Dauphin, Derry Township, Halifax Area, Lower Dauphin, Middletown Area, and Susquehanna Township School Districts. Students from other school districts may attend on a tuition basis.
Parents seeking a private or parochial education for their children have a large selection from which to choose. A number of nonsectarian private day schools provide small classes, focus on independent and creative learning and/or offer college preparatory classes.
Parents in search of a Christian-based education for their children have many choices, including Bishop McDevitt High School and Harrisburg Christian. Jewish students can attend Rabbi David Silver Yeshiva Academy, a day school located in Harrisburg.
Finally, there is one more school in Dauphin County that deserves mention. The Milton Hershey School is unlike any other school discussed here, and unlike any school anywhere in North America. The Milton Hershey School was created by chocolate magnates Milton and Catherine Hershey at the beginning of the 20th century as a school for young, orphaned boys from central Pennsylvania who had nowhere else to go.
Today, the Milton Hershey School provides free education, career training, housing, clothing, sustenance, health care, and counseling to more than 2,000 racially and ethnically diverse boys and girls who are in financial need and social need. Milton Hershey School is the largest residential pre-K through 12 school in the United States.
LIBRARIES
Dauphin County is filled with libraries. Some libraries, like the superb Dauphin County Library System, are located in neighborhoods and communities throughout the county and are open and available to anyone willing to learn. Other libraries are specific and may or may not be open to the public.
DAUPHIN COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM LOCATIONS
East Shore Area Library
(717) 652-9380 4501 Ethel Street, Harrisburg, PA 17109 www.dcls.org/Locations/ESA
Elizabethville Area Branch
(717) 362-9825 80 North Market Street Elizabethville, PA 17023 Website: www.dcls.org/Locations/EV
McCormick Riverfront Library
(717) 234-4976 101 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 www.dcls.org/Locations/MRL
Madeline Olewine Memorial Library ................................................... (717) 232-7286 2410 North Third Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110 www.dcls.org/Locations/MOM
William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library ............................ (717) 566-0949 200 West Second Street, Hummelstown, PA 17036 www.dcls.org/Locations/AFL
Johnson Memorial Library ...................................................................... (717) 692-2658 799 East Center Street, Millersburg, PA 17061 www.dcls.org/Locations/JOH
George and Hettie Love Memorial Library
(717) 234-3934 530 South 29th Street, Harrisburg, PA 17104 www.dcls.org/Locations/KL
Northern Dauphin Library
(717) 453-9315 683 Main Street, Lykens, PA 17048 www.dcls.org/Locations/ND
OTHER LIBRARIES IN DAUPHIN COUNTY
Hershey Public Library (717) 533-6555 701 Cocoa Avenue, Hershey, PA 17033 www.hersheylibrary.org
Middletown Public Library................................... (717) 944-6412 or (717) 902-6412 20 N. Catherine Street, Middletown, PA 17057 www.middletownpubliclib.org
Pennsylvania State Library (717) 783-5950
Forum Building, 607 South Drive, Harrisburg PA 17120-0600 Website: www.education.state.pa.us
Dauphin County Law Library (717) 780-6605
Dauphin County Courthouse (fourth floor) 101 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 www.DauphinCounty.org/court-departments/ offices-departments/law-library
Penn State Harrisburg Library ................................................................ (717) 948-6070 351 Olmsted Drive, Middletown, PA 17057 www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/harrisburg.html
Widener University Commonwealth Law School Library (717) 541-3933 Harrisburg Campus – 3800 Vartan Way, Harrisburg, PA 17106 http://law.widener.edu/LawLibrary
Library of Harrisburg University of Science and Technology........................................................................................... (717) 901-5188 Learning Commons, 326 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 http://library.harrisburgu.edu
Lois High Berstler Community Health Library ................................. (717) 531-4032
670 Cherry Drive, PO Box 850 HS-07, Hershey, PA 17033 www.pennstatehershey.org/web/commhealth/home
Penn State Hershey George T. Harrell Health Sciences Library ............................................................................. (717) 531-8626 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033 www.pennstatehershey.org/web/library
UPMC Pinnacle at Harrisburg Hospital Library Services (717) 782-5510 111 South Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 www.pinnaclehealth.org
US Courts Library ........................................................................................ (717) 901-2857 228 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101-1734
Senate of Pennsylvania Library (717) 787-6120 157 Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0022 www.senate.state.pa.us/Senate_Library.cfm
HEALTH CARE
Dauphin County is currently served by two major medical service providers, UPMC in Central PA, with hospitals and medical centers spread throughout central Pennsylvania, and Penn State Health based in Hershey. These community hospitals and medical centers provide Dauphin County’s (indeed all of central Pennsylvania’s) residents with world-class health care in neighborhood settings and offer their patients everything from pediatric to geriatric care in state-of-the-art settings.
The Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine, and Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital are the largest health care providers in Dauphin County.
Penn State Hershey employs more than 15,000 of our friends and neighbors in everything from cancer research to the delivery of babies. Penn State Hershey offers a vast array of in-and-out services to patients from throughout central Pennsylvania. Its specialties include allergy/immunology, arthritis, cancer treatment, cardiovascular care, children’s health, colorectal care, diabetes, dermatology, emergency medical services, endocrinology, gastroenterology, genetics, infectious diseases and epidemiology, orthopedics, pulmonary care, and rheumatology among others.
In 2020, Penn State Health joined with the Holy Spirit Health System, (formerly Geisinger Holy Spirit) so it is now renamed Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center.
Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital
The Children’s Hospital is the region’s only children’s hospital and the only Level 1 pediatric trauma center. The Children’s Hospital consists of more than 150 pediatric medical and surgical specialists renowned in disciplines such as cancer, cardiology, and critical care. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is the only fully equipped and staffed academic level IIIC NICU between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
continued on page 20
ARTS & CULTURE
Wherever you go in Dauphin County, and whenever you venture out to explore, you will be immersed in some of the finest arts, culture, and history in the nation. Harrisburg, as the Commonwealth’s capital city and the largest urban center, lies at the heart of the arts scene, but every community up and down the mighty, mile-wide Susquehanna and into the countryside will offer you something to capture your imagination.
One of the most popular of our many attractions is Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, located in downtown Harrisburg. Whitaker Center was the first arts center in the nation where performing arts, science, and education take place under one roof. Whitaker invites everyone to experience and explore all its wonders~ including the impact of a live theater performance, blockbuster movies on a digital screen, a state-of-the-art computer hub, and two floors of interactive science exhibits, all in one captivating destination.
Theatre Harrisburg, Gamut Theatre, the Harrisburg Opera Association, the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet also provide top-notch entertainment and inspiration, whether you want to take in Shakespeare in the Park in the hazy days of summer, or the Nutcracker at the holidays.
Other important performing arts groups include the renowned Susquehanna Chorale, the Harrisburg Choral Society, the Susquehanna Folk Music Society and more.
Open Stage offers dramatic works geared toward attracting the region’s diverse population. The Gamut Theatre Group is the combined Popcorn Hat Players and Harrisburg Shakespeare Festival. The Leavitt Pavilion in Harrisburg’s Reservoir Park offers free concerts, plays, and cultural performances under the stars during the summer.
The newly renovated and revitalized Forum, a splendid concert and lecture hall owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with almost 1,800 seats, is well known regionally for its Art Deco decor, and its starlit ceiling depicting the constellations. The Forum is home to the highly acclaimed Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra.
Hershey Entertainment and Resorts, which owns and operates
Hersheypark, provides the area with three outstanding entertainment venues, one indoors and two outdoors. The GIANT Center, located on Hersheypark Drive just west of the amusement park, is the indoor venue for some of the finest international entertainment available anywhere – think Cirque Du Soleil, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Elton John.
Within the confines of Hersheypark, you’ll find Hersheypark Stadium, the most prominent outdoor stadium between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, which can hold 30,000 fans for concerts. In past years, the Stadium has hosted Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews Band, Alabama, U2, James Taylor, The Who, Justin Timberlake and The Foo Fighters.
The Hershey Story on Chocolate Avenue in Hershey is a hands-on museum devoted to the life and times of Milton Hershey and the town that bears his name.
Harrisburg Area Community College’s Rose Lehrman Arts Center offers concerts and stage productions throughout the year. Other performing arts facilities include: The Scottish Rite Cathedral, and The Zembo Shrine. Although many multiplex movie theaters operate throughout Dauphin County, our community is extremely fortunate to also feature an impressive independent movie house –The Midtown Cinema at 250 Reilly Street in Midtown Harrisburg that brings the most innovative independent and foreign films to Harrisburg and Central Pennsylvania.
Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz is one of the largest organizations of its kind in the nation. “Friends” offers a monthly concert series that has become a popular attraction in the Central Pennsylvania region. Friends of Jazz also presents an annual festival in June.
Hershey’s cultural attractions include the historic Hershey Theatre, which offers first-run Broadway touring company shows, renowned entertainers, and classical music and dance. The Hershey Symphony, based at the Hershey Theater, presents an annual concert series.
In addition to offering splendid views of the Susquehanna River and the surrounding mountains, the National Civil War Museum in Reservoir Park is the largest museum in the world dedicated to the presentation of a balanced portrait of both the Northern and
Southern points of view of the American Civil War.
The John Harris/Simon Cameron Mansion, which dates to the mid-18th century, features historic collections, a gallery, and rotating exhibits. The Pennsylvania National Fire Museum displays permanent and rotating memorabilia including fire apparatus, engines, and artifacts.
Fort Hunter Mansion and Park, operated by the Dauphin County Parks and Recreation Department, located on a bluff high above the Susquehanna River, dates to the early 1800s. A number of cultural and recreational activities take place at the mansion and on its grounds, including Wine and Jazz Festivals, Garden Faire, the Maple Sugar Festival, and Fort Hunter Day in the fall.
The State Museum of Pennsylvania is a circular, six-story museum featuring Pennsylvania artifacts, historic documents, an art gallery, a planetarium, a gift shop, café, and exhibits of Pennsylvania’s industries and natural history.
Several public and private art galleries attract visitors from throughout the region. Among these is the newly located Susquehanna Art Museum at 1401 North 3rd Street in Midtown Harrisburg that exhibits nationally and internationally recognized artists to educate, inspire and foster creative exploration, collaboration, and public engagement. Galleries also operate at the Historical Society of Dauphin County, the Rose Lehrman Arts Center, the Governor’s Mansion, the Jewish Community Center, Historic Harrisburg Resource Center, and the State Museum of Pennsylvania. The Art Association of Harrisburg hosts an annual September Sunday afternoon Harrisburg Gallery Walk with many participating venues in and around the Capitol.
In cooperation with the Patriot News/PennLive, the Art Association of Harrisburg presents one of the largest and best attended Memorial Day weekend art shows (The Artsfest) in North America. 3rd in the Burg is Harrisburg’s answer to “First Friday.” 3rd in the Burg happens every third Friday of the month. From 2nd to North 3rd Streets in Harrisburg, shops and galleries participate from 5 – 9 p.m., hosting bands, lectures, films, or craft demos. Since its inception in September 2009, 3rd in the Burg has grown, with many galleries popping up and shops remaining open after hours.
BUSINESS GUIDE
ATTRACTIONS
Lake Tobias Wildlife Park
See Our Ad, Page 26 760 Tobias Road, Halifax, PA 17032 717-362-9126, www.laketobias.com
Hundreds of wild and exotic animals from around the world. Guided safari tours across 150 acres of rolling hills. Zoo exhibits, reptiles, picnic facilities.
ART GALLERIES
Art Association of Harrisburg
See Our Ad, Page 23 21 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 717-236-1432, www.artassocofhbg.com
The Art Association of Harrisburg was founded in 1926 to promote the visual arts through exhibition and education. AAH presents 10 exhibitions annually in the historic mansion on Front Street and offers art classes for youth and adults.
AUTOMOTIVE
Phil’s Body Shop & Auto Painting
See Our Ad, Page 10 3715 Derry Street, Suite D, Harrisburg, PA 17111 717-564-9202, www.harrisburgbodyshop.com
Phil’s Body shop -”Quality at a Great Price.” Check us out on the internet and see how our customers like us.
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
The Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC
See Our Ad, Page 8 3211 North Front St., Suite 201 Harrisburg, PA 17110 717-232-4099, www.harrisburgregionalchamber.org
We are a catalyst for dynamic job creation that seeks to improve economic growth, mobility and vitality while enhancing the quality of life in our region: Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry Counties.
CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATIONS
McClure Company
See Our Ad, Page 1 4101 N. Sixth Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110 717-232-9743, www.mcclureco.com
McClure company is the largest integrated energy, engineering and mechanical contractor in Pennsylvania with our in-house team of engineers, designers, installers and maintenance technicians.
EDUCATION
Penn State Harrisburg
See Our Ad, Page 18 777 West Harrisburg Pike Middletown, PA 17057-4898 717-948-6029, www.harrisburg.psu.edu
Penn State Harrisburg, an undergraduate and graduate school of The Pennsylvania State University, located in Middletown, PA, enrolls more than 5,000 students.
Temple University Harrisburg
See Our Ad, Page 17 234 Strawberry Square, Harrisburg, PA 17101 570-460-7868, harrisburg.temple.edu
Temple University Harrisburg (TUH) is committed to being the premier hub for graduate studies and professional growth in central Pennsylvania, focusing on social work, public education, policy, and service.
Tri-County OIC
500 Maclay Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110 717-238-7318, www.tricountyoic.org
See Our Ad, Page 1
OIC is an adult education center offering classes in GED prep, high school diploma courses, family literacy, and school-to-work activities for area residents.
HEALTHCARE SERVICES
Capital Blue Cross See Our Ad, Back Cover 2500 Elmerton Avenue Harrisburg, PA 17177
717-541-7000, www.capbluecross.com
Rooted in Central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley, backed by national strength, we go the extra mile for you.
Hamilton Health Center
See Our Ad, Page 20 110 S. 17th St. Harrisburg, PA 17104
717-232-9971, hamiltonhealthcenter.com
Hamilton Health Center offers medical, dental, vision, behavioral & social services with access to pharmacy, lab, WIC & insurance resources. Hamilton is Dauphin County’s only Federally Qualified Health Center.
Hospice for All Seasons See Our Ad, Inside Front Cover 280 S. Hill Drive Grantville, PA 17028
717-234-2555, www.hospiceforallseasons.org
Locally owned and operated hospice focused on providing quality, compassionate, individualized care for our patients/families. Our traditional/ non-traditional approach offers comforting support when it’s needed most.
UPMC Harrisburg
See Our Ad, Page 21 111 S. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 717-782-3131, UPMC.com/CentralPa
UPMC Harrisburg is a full-service acute care hospital with 422 beds.
HOTELS/MOTELS
Sleep Inn & Suites See Our Ad, Page 24 631 A Eisenhower Blvd., Harrisburg, PA 17111 717-564-8888, www.sleepinn.com/pa558
We are designed to make dreams come true! We are a limited serviceproperty with full service charm. Book your stay today.
MUSEUMS
Lykens Valley Children’s Museum (LVCM) See Our Ad, Page 17 33 S Market St, Elizabethville, PA 17023 570-809-6379, www.lykensvalleychildrensmuseum.org
The LVCM is an interactive play and hands-on learning museum for the whole family to enjoy!
The National Civil War Museum
1 Lincoln Circle at Reservoir Park, Harrisburg, PA 17103 717-260-1861, www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org
See Our Ad, Page 5
The nation’s largest museum portraying the entire Civil War from beginning to end, without bias. A place where Union and Confederacy meet on common ground.
