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.
'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. 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."
Demographics
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/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.
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).
B
CAT and COLT
(County of Lebanon Transit) provide bus service.
Sports
Hershey is home of the 2009 and ten-time Calder Cup champion
Hershey Bears of the
American Hockey League.
The Bears, one of the
oldest hockey teams in existence and one of the few remaining
original teams of the AHL, played in Hersheypark Arena
for over six decades and have made GIANT Center
their home since 2002.
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 basketball player
Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a
game played at
Hersheypark Arena in 1962; his effort remains a single-game record
for the league.
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.
See also
References
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