Hershey, Pennsylvania

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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 an unincorporated community within Derry Township in Dauphin County in the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 14 miles east of Harrisburg. The community has no legal status as an incorporated municipality and all municipal services are provided by Derry Township. The Census Bureau has also defined a census-designated place (CDP) with the same name for statistical purposes, although the local understanding of the community may differ somewhat from the census definition. The population was 12,771 at the 2000 census.

Hershey was originally named Derry Church, Pennsylvania. It was renamed Hershey, Pennsylvania in 1906 after the growing popularity of Hershey's Chocolate. It is popularly called Chocolatetown, USA.

[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 of $42,013 versus $31,086 for females. The per capita income 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.

[edit] Sports

Hershey is home of the 2006 and nine-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 the 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.

[edit] Points of interest

The community is home to The Hershey Company which also makes the well-known Hershey bar and Hershey Kisses, as well as the parent to the H. B. Reese Candy Company, manufacturer of the # 1 selling candy brand in the United States, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Hershey's Chocolate World is a factory store and virtual tour ride of the The Hershey Company. Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company owns and operates Hersheypark, Hersheypark Stadium and other attractions such as ZooAmerica, 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 orphans and troubled youth are also located in Hershey. Hershey is also known for it's strong heritage in Law Enforcement. Located in Hershey, is the Pennsylvania State Police Academy, located north of town along Hersheypark Drive. In addition the Derry Township Police Department is a nationally recognized law enforcement agency.

• GIANT Center, home of the Hershey Bears
• Hershey's Chocolate World
• Hersheypark Arena
• Hersheypark Stadium
• Hershey Gardens
• Hotel Hershey
• Hershey Museum
• Hersheypark
• The Hershey Lodge
• Milton Hershey School
• Hershey Area Playhouse

[edit] See also

• Milton S. Hershey
• Derry Township, Pennsylvania
• H. B. Reese
• The Hershey Company
• Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
• Ocean Blue, The
• Penn State Hershey Medical Center
• Derry Township Police
• Pennsylvania State Police
• Richard Winters

[edit] References

1. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links

• Preserve Hershey organization

• Hershey, Pennsylvania is at coordinates 40°16′42″N 76°39′05″W / 40.278423, -76.65124 (Hershey, Pennsylvania)Coordinates: 40°16′42″N 76°39′05″W / 40.278423, -76.65124 (Hershey, Pennsylvania)

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