Hershey Vacation and Travel Information

The town that chocolate built is more than just a sweet place to visit. It is filled with a history as rich as its chocolate and a community that was the center of an empire that began with just one man. Hershey, PA still carries that small town feeling and as much credit for its "sweetness" goes to the people of the area as to the candies that are made there.

City Info

The city is an unincorporated community
Land Area: 14.4 sq. miles
County-owned parks: 4
Area's strongest Radio stations: 13 AM; 20 FM
Number of nearby television stations: 8

Weather and Climate:

Average daily temperature — Jan: 28.2°F; July: 73°F
Average annual rainfall — 42.2 inches
Average annual snowfall — 34.3 inches

Distances to other Metropolitan Areas

Atlanta, GA — 731
Charleston, SC — 661
Charlotte, NC — 491
Chicago, IL — 670
Miami, FL — 1,187
Nashville, TN — 732
New York, NY — 162
New Orleans, LA — 1,154
Raleigh, NC — 387
Washington, DC - 135

Safety Phone # and Major Hospitals:

Ambulance: 911; Police: 911; Fire: 911
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center — Address: 500 University Drive

Top Tourism Draws and Seasons:

Hershey Park
Hershey Gardens
AACA Museum
Indian Echo Caverns
Zoo America
Hershey Museum
Hershey's Chocolate World
Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad
Hershey Trolley Works
Adventure Sports
Hershey Theatre

Major Shopping Areas:

The Outlets
Ziegler's in the Country
American Gifts and Collectibles
Hershey Park

Major Dining Areas:

Hershey Park
Downtown
Middletown/Hummelstown

Famous Landmarks & Historic Places:

Antique Automobile Club of America Museum
American Civil War Museum (Gettysburg)
Gettysburg National Military Park (Gettysburg)
Hershey Museum
National Civil War Museum (Harrisburg)
State Capital (Harrisburg)
Founders Hall
Milton Hershey School
Hershey Community Center Building
Milton S. Hershey Mansion
Quarries of the Hummelstown Brownstone Company
Henry Smith Farm
Swatara Ferry House

Famous Natives and Residents:

Milton S. Hershey

Notable Moments in the city's History:

1681 — William Penn is granted Pennsylvania land as payment of a debt by King Chalres II.
1724 — Derry Presbyterian Church is organized
1903 — The Hershey Chocolate Company was founded
1907 — Hershey Park officially opens
1907 — The Hershey Chocolate Company began producing the Hershey Kiss
1909 — Hershey Industial School was created
1914 — The Consolidated Public School was built by Milton Hershey and given to the community as a gift
1938 — Hershey Junior College was Opened
1963 — The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center was established

Interesting facts

The Hershey plant is the largest chocolate and confectionery production facility in the world.
Milton S. Hershey received only a fourth grade education.
Technically Pennsylvania is not a state. It is a commonwealth.
Hershey Kisses got their name from the machine that makes them which looks as if it is kissing the conveyor belt as it drops the candies.
The town of Hershey began as a model envisioned by Milton Hershey for his employees.
Many of the structures in Hershey were built during the Great Depression as part of Milton Hershey's
"Great Building Campaign" which he began to provide jobs to locals.
Milton Hershey began his candy making career in Lancaster, PA with the Lancaster Caramel Company.

Population and Demographics:

Population — 12,771 (as of the 2000 census)
Male — 5,916 (46.3%)
Female — 6,855 (53.7%)
White — 90.1%
Black — 2.1%
Asian — 1.8%
Chinese — 2.1%
Two or more races — 1.4%
Hispanic/Latino — 1.6%
2000 percent population 18 and over — 79.6%
65 and over — 23.55%
Median age — 41.8
Median household income - $45,098

Local Colleges and Universities:

Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
Pennsylvania State University — Harrisburg (8 miles)
Harrisburg Area Community College (17 miles)
York College Pennsylvania (19 miles)
Messiah College — Grantham (26 miles)
Millersville University of Pennsylvania (29 miles)

Harrisburg Economy & Business — Notable Companies based in Hershey:

Hershey Chocolate Company

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