Millersburg, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Millersburg, Pennsylvania
Borough
Millersburg, Pennsylvania
Keystone Marker
Location in Dauphin County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Millersburg, Pennsylvania Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Millersburg, Pennsylvania Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Dauphin
Settled	1807
Incorporated	1850
Government
• Type	Borough Council
Area
• Total	0.76 sq mi (1.97 km2)
• Land	0.76 sq mi (1.97 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	430 ft (130 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,545
• Density	3,353.10/sq mi (1,294.37/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	17061
Area code(s)	717
FIPS code	42-49680

Millersburg is a small town, called a borough, located in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. In 2020, about 2,541 people lived there. It is part of the larger Harrisburg-Carlisle area.

Exploring Millersburg's Location

Millersburg is in the northwest part of Dauphin County. It sits on the east bank of the Susquehanna River. A smaller stream called Wiconisco Creek joins the Susquehanna River at the southern edge of the town.

The United States Census Bureau says Millersburg covers about 0.76 square miles (1.97 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the borough limits.

Roads and River Crossings

Millersburg is the starting point for U.S. Route 209. This road goes northeast for 44 miles (71 km) to Pottsville. Pennsylvania Route 147 runs through the center of Millersburg, known as Market Street. It goes north to Sunbury and south to U.S. Route 22.

The Millersburg Ferry is a special way to cross the Susquehanna River. It goes west to Buffalo Township in Perry County. This ferry connects Millersburg to other major roads like U.S. Route 11 and U.S. Route 15.

Millersburg's Past: A Look at History

Millersburg was created in 1807 from a part of Upper Paxton Township. The town was named after its founder, Daniel Miller.

Two important historical sites in Millersburg are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the Millersburg Ferry and the Millersburg Passenger Rail Station.

How Millersburg Began

In 1790, Daniel Miller and his brother, John, were traveling along the Susquehanna River. Daniel loved the spot where the Wiconisco Creek met the Susquehanna. He decided to buy the land there. On June 2, 1790, Daniel Miller bought 979.25 acres of land.

In 1794, Miller built his first cabin. This cabin later became a school where he taught local children for free. In 1805, he finished a better home, which you can still see today. In 1807, Miller's dream of a town came true. He had the land measured and divided into lots. He also set aside land for churches, a town square, and a park by the river. Daniel Miller was a lay minister for the Methodist Church. He held church services in his home until a church could be built.

Transportation Development

Transportation has always been very important for Millersburg. In the 1800s, two big transportation projects were planned. One was the Lykens Valley R.R. & Coal Company railroad. The other was an extension of the Pennsylvania Canal.

In 1837, the state started building the Wiconisco Canal. This canal was part of a larger canal system. Millersburg was the northern end of the Dauphin County Canal network.

Millersburg's Population

According to the census in 2000, there were 2,562 people living in Millersburg. There were 1,213 households and 695 families. The population density was about 3,290 people per square mile (1,270 per square kilometer).

Most of the people living in Millersburg were White (98.52%). A small number were African American, Native American, or Asian. About 1.09% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 24.4% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.11 people, and the average family had 2.78 people.

The population was spread out by age. About 20.6% were under 18, and 21.2% were 65 or older. The average age was 39 years old.

The Millersburg Ferry

The Millersburg Ferry is the last wooden-stern paddle-wheel ferry in the United States.

The Millersburg Ferry is very special. It is the last ferry that crosses the Susquehanna River. It is also the last wooden-stern paddle-wheel ferry still working in the United States. A sign at the ferry dock says a ferry has been operating here since 1825. The first ferries were pushed across the river with long poles. Paddle-wheel boats started in 1873.

The ferries used today are wooden-stern paddle-wheelers. They can carry up to four cars. The trip across the river is about one mile long. It goes to a campground on the west side of the Susquehanna, near Liverpool. The ferry boats were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

The river at this spot is very wide, about one mile across. However, it is usually very shallow, sometimes only 2 feet (0.6 meters) deep. The ferry follows a path across the river where there is a slightly deeper area. This helps the ferry avoid getting stuck.

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art

Millersburg is home to the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art. This center opened on October 9, 2004. It is named after Ned Smith, a local wildlife artist. He was also a writer for "Gone for the Day" in the Pennsylvania Game News.

The Center has three art galleries, a gift shop, offices, and classrooms. It also has over 500 acres of trails and streams for outdoor fun. The Ned Smith Center is known for its programs about nature and art. They offer summer camps for kids, family "discovery programs," and school field trips.

During spring and summer, the Ned Smith Center hosts live shows at the DeSoto Amphitheater. This outdoor stage was built in 2014. It has hosted ballet shows, rock concerts, and "Shakespeare in the Woods." This last show is put on by children who attend an acting camp at the Center.

See also

In Spanish: Millersburg (Pensilvania) para niños