Hershey, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hershey
Census-designated place
Hershey Kiss-shaped street lamps in downtown Hershey
Motto(s):  The Sweetest Place on Earth
Location of Hershey in Dauphin County (right) and of Dauphin County in Pennsylvania (left)
Hershey Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Hershey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Dauphin
Township	Derry
Area
• Total	14.42 sq mi (37.34 km2)
• Land	14.30 sq mi (37.03 km2)
• Water	0.12 sq mi (0.30 km2)
Elevation	411 ft (125 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	13,858
• Density	969.23/sq mi (374.23/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	17033
Area code(s)	717
FIPS code	34-71385
GNIS feature ID	1176895
Pennsylvania Historical Marker
Designated:	March 2, 2003

Hershey is a special community in Pennsylvania, USA. It's famous for being the home of The Hershey Company, which makes delicious chocolate! It was started by a candy genius named Milton S. Hershey. You can also find the fun Hersheypark here.

This community is about 14 miles (23 km) east of Harrisburg. Hershey isn't a city or town on its own. All its services, like roads and police, are handled by Derry Township. In 2020, about 13,858 people lived here.

Hershey is also about 75 miles (121 km) southwest of Allentown and 94 miles (152 km) northwest of Philadelphia.

History of Hershey

Early Settlers in Pennsylvania

When Pennsylvania was first settled, many people built homes on land they found, even if they didn't have legal papers for it yet.

In 1681, King Charles II of England gave a huge piece of land in North America to William Penn. This was to pay back money the King owed Penn's father. William Penn promised religious freedom and a say in government. This brought many new people to the area. The first settlers near what is now Hershey were from two main groups: the Scotch-Irish and the German Palatinates.

The Scotch-Irish left their homes because Queen Anne treated people badly if they didn't follow the Anglican Church. They were drawn to the mountains and valleys of Pennsylvania. Catholic and Presbyterian Scottish Highlanders also came for similar reasons. These Scots liked to stick together and quickly got involved in local government.

The Scotch-Irish built several Presbyterian churches as they moved west. One of these was the Derry Presbyterian Church in Old Derry Village. Milton S. Hershey later helped preserve its old Session House, built in 1732.

Old Derry Presbyterian Church

Some early Scotch-Irish families in the Derry Township area included Hayes, Wilson, Harris, and Wallace.

The German Palatinates, later called the "Pennsylvania Dutch," also left their homes due to unfair treatment, religious issues, and poverty. Like the Scotch-Irish, the Germans mostly kept to themselves. Most were farmers and did very well in the countryside. They weren't very interested in politics. Many Germans stayed in Pennsylvania to farm the rich land.

At one point, German was spoken more than English in many parts of Pennsylvania. This encouraged even more German settlers to come and live there.

Life on the Pennsylvania frontier was tough for early settlers. The French and Indian Wars caused a lot of damage. Forts were built along the Blue Mountains to protect people. During one famous part of the war, the Delawares, who sided with the French, attacked settlers from the Blue Mountains.

When the American Revolution began, settlers in the Derry Township area were very excited about fighting for freedom. Both Scotch-Irish and Germans signed a list of patriotic promises in 1776.

Roads and Travel

Good roads were very important for towns to grow. Companies were formed to build better roads, called turnpikes. These roads made it easier to move goods between towns. In 1805, a turnpike was built to connect Reading and Hummelstown.

Another important road, the Horseshoe Pike, was finished in 1819. It ran through Derry and connected Downingtown, Ephrata, and Harrisburg.

Learning and Schools

The early German and Scotch-Irish settlers were not sure about the idea of free public schools. They believed education was linked to the church, not the government. But in 1834, a law called "An Act to Establish a General System of Education by Common Schools" was passed. This was a big step for public schools.

By 1893, state law said that all public schools in Pennsylvania had to provide free textbooks and supplies. In 1895, a law made it mandatory for children to attend school, though there were some exceptions. Today, education in Hershey is handled by the Derry Township School District.

How Hershey Was Founded

Milton S. Hershey sold his Lancaster Caramel Company in 1900. With the money, he bought farmland about 30 miles (50 km) northwest of Lancaster. This land was near where he was born in Derry Township. He built his chocolate factory in the middle of this dairy farming area, near Derry Church.

With Hershey's help, houses, shops, churches, and roads were built around the factory. This area eventually became known as the company town of Hershey, Pennsylvania.

The town was officially started in 1903 and finished in 1905. It was mainly for the company's workers. Their homes had modern things like electricity, indoor plumbing, and central heating. The town also had a public trolley system, a free school for employees' children, and a free vocational school for orphaned boys. Later, an amusement park, golf courses, a community center, a hotel, a zoo, and a sports area were added. The goal was to create "a perfect American town" where healthy, well-paid workers lived in happy homes.

In 1905, Milton Hershey started building a theme park for his workers, which he called "Hershey Park." It opened to the public on May 30, 1906. The park was a great place for picnics, boating, and canoeing. ZooAmerica, which used to be the Hershey Zoo, was added in 1910. It housed Milton Hershey's own animals.

A public trolley system was built in 1908. It made it easy for people to travel to other towns. On November 15, 1909, Milton and Catherine Hershey started the Hershey Industrial School. Milton Hershey had no children of his own. He wanted to give underprivileged boys the education and skills they needed to succeed.

In 1927, Milton S. Hershey created Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company (originally Hershey Estates). This separated his chocolate business from his other ventures. The Pennsylvania State Police Academy also opened in Hershey that same year.

Growth and Tourism

Many of Hershey's buildings were constructed during the Great Depression. This was part of Hershey's "Great Building Campaign" to create jobs. This effort helped turn the town into a big tourist spot that is still popular today.

Some of Hershey's famous projects built during this time include:

• Hershey Country Club, opened 1930
• The Hotel Hershey, opened May 1933
• Hershey Theatre, opened September 1933
• Hersheypark Arena, opened 1936
• Hersheypark Stadium, opened May 1939

From 1930 to 1936, Milton Hershey spent over $10 million on building up Hershey. This helped many people find work during a tough economic time.

In 1935, Hershey started The M.S. Hershey Foundation. This charity helps provide educational and cultural opportunities for local residents. The foundation supports places like the Hershey Story Museum, Hershey Gardens, Hershey Theatre, and the Hershey Community Archives.

Hershey Since the 1960s

In 1903, about 700 people lived in Hershey. By 1920, the population grew to 1,500. By 1960, it was over 7,000 people!

In 1963, the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center was founded. It became the home of Pennsylvania State University’s College of Medicine. The first students started in 1967. The Hershey Motor Lodge (now the Hershey Lodge) opened in 1967. It is known as "The Great American Meeting Place."

Geography of Hershey

Hershey is located in southeastern Dauphin County. It is in the center and eastern parts of Derry Township. To the east, it borders Palmdale and Campbelltown. To the west is the town of Hummelstown. More than half of Derry Township's population lives in the Hershey area.

The Hershey area covers about 14.4 square miles (37.3 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.

People of Hershey

Population in 2020

In 2020, there were 13,858 people living in Hershey.

• About 82.3% were White.
• About 5.5% were Asian.
• About 2.7% were African American.
• About 1.1% were from other groups.
• About 10.7% identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Population in 2010

In 2010, there were 14,257 people living in Hershey.

• About 83.5% were White.
• About 6.6% were Asian.
• About 6.2% were African American.
• About 3.5% were from other groups.
• About 3.4% identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Getting Around Hershey

U.S. Route 422, also known as Chocolate Avenue, runs through the middle of Hershey. U.S. Route 322, or Governor Road, passes south of the center. These two highways meet at the western end of Hershey.

US 422 goes east about 43 miles (69 km) to Reading. US 322 goes southeast about 28 miles (45 km) to Ephrata and west about 15 miles (24 km) to Harrisburg, the state capital. Pennsylvania Route 39 gives access to Hersheypark and Hershey's Chocolate World.

Hershey is also close to Harrisburg International Airport, about 12 miles (19 km) southwest. Amtrak trains offer frequent service to nearby towns like Middletown and Harrisburg. Bus services are also available.

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

Hershey's Climate

Hershey has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm, humid summers and cold winters. Temperatures can reach up to 95°F (35°C) in summer. In winter, they can drop below 20°F (-7°C).

Education in Hershey

Hershey has several schools and educational centers:

• Derry Township School District: This is the public school system.
  • Hershey High School: The public high school.
• The Vista School: A private school for students aged 3 to 21 with autism.
• Milton Hershey School: A private school founded in 1909 by Milton Hershey to help children from low-income families. It serves students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
• Penn State University College of Medicine: A medical school connected to the Hershey Medical Center.

Sports in Hershey

Hershey is home to professional sports teams and has hosted many famous events.

Hershey used to have a professional soccer team called the Hershey Wildcats. They were named after a popular roller-coaster at Hersheypark.

A famous basketball game happened at Hersheypark Arena in 1962. Wilt Chamberlain, an NBA player, scored 100 points for the Philadelphia Warriors. This is still a record for the most points scored in a single game!

Christian Pulisic, a famous American soccer player who plays for AC Milan and the United States men's national soccer team, is from Hershey.

Fun Places to Visit in Hershey

The Hershey Company in August 1976

Hershey is full of exciting places, especially if you love chocolate!

• The Hershey Company: This is where the famous Hershey Bar and Hershey's Kisses are made. It also owns the H. B. Reese Candy Company, which makes Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.
• Hershey's Chocolate World: Here you can take a virtual tour of the Hershey Company factory and buy lots of chocolate treats.
• Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company: This company owns and runs many attractions, including Hersheypark, Hersheypark Stadium, ZooAmerica, and Hershey Gardens. It's a big employer in the area.
• Every October since 1955, the Antique Automobile Club of America hosts a huge car show here. It's often called "Hershey" and is said to be the world's largest car swap meet.
• The Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and the Milton Hershey School for young people are also in Hershey.
• The Pennsylvania State Police Academy is located here.
• Hershey has four amazing golf courses, several museums, The Hotel Hershey, and a fancy spa.
• Hersheypark Stadium hosts concerts and sports events. It can hold 30,000 people! It's also where the Cocoa Bean Game is played between the Hershey High School and Milton S. Hershey High School football teams.

Other interesting spots include:

• AACA Museum: A museum about antique cars.
• GIANT Center: Home of the Hershey Bears hockey team.
• Hershey Area Playhouse
• Hershey Cemetery
• Hershey Center for Applied Research
• Hershey Country Club
• Hershey Gardens
• Hershey Lodge and Convention Center
• Hershey Museum
• Hershey Public Library
• Hershey Recreation Center
• Hershey Theatre
• Hersheypark
• Hersheypark Arena
• Hersheypark Stadium
• Hershey-Derry Township Historical Society
• Hotel Hershey
• Indian Echo Caverns
• Milton Hershey School
• Milton S. Hershey Mansion
• Parkview Cross Country Course
• Tanger Outlets
• The Hershey Story
• Tröegs Brewing Company
• ZooAmerica

Famous People from Hershey

Many notable people have connections to Hershey:

• Valarie Allman: A track and field athlete who specializes in the discus throw.
• Brian Baker: An actor.
• Michele Buck: The current CEO and president of the Hershey Company.
• Scott Campbell: A professional football player in the National Football League (NFL).
• Deesha Dyer: A former White House Social Secretary.
• Garry Gilliam: A former NFL offensive linesman.
• Milton S. Hershey: The famous confectioner and generous giver.
• Jules Jordan: A film director and actor.
• Nellie King: A former Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Kellen Kulbacki: A professional baseball player.
• George M. Leader: A former Governor of Pennsylvania.
• Trymaine Lee: A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist.
• Mark Malkoff: A comedian and writer.
• David Nolan: A Stanford University swimmer.
• The Ocean Blue: An alternative rock band that formed in Hershey.
• Steven Pasquale: A television and stage actor.
• Christian Pulisic: A soccer player for AC Milan and the United States men's national soccer team.
• Da'Vine Joy Randolph: An Academy Award-winning actress.
• H.B. Reese: The inventor of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. He lived and built his candy factories in Hershey.
• Nate Saint: An American missionary.
• Joe Senser: A former NFL tight end.
• John B. Sollenberger: A sports and entertainment executive.
• Dave Twardzik: A professional basketball player in the NBA.
• Chris Villarrial: A professional football player in the NFL.
• Richard Winters: A U.S. Army major.
• Michelle Wolf: A comedian.
• Warren Zeiders: An American country singer.

Images for kids

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  Old Derry Presbyterian Church

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  The Hershey Company in August 1976

See also

In Spanish: Hershey (Pensilvania) para niños