Harrisburg: Recreation

Sightseeing

Harrisburg can be conveniently divided into five districts for sightseeing purposes: Center City, the Shipoke Historic District, the Capitol district and complex, Old Uptown Historic District, and Allison Hill.

Highlights of Center City, where most historic buildings were spared in rebuilding, include Riverfront Park, a scenic five-mile stretch that features a sunken flower garden, and City Hall, where sightseeing brochures can be obtained and perused at an outdoor plaza bedecked with sculptural works.

In the Front Street area of Center City, Governor's Row preserves several townhouses that housed early state chief executives. Also of interest are the art-deco Dauphin County Courthouse and a number of nineteenth-century churches.

The Shipoke Historic District, a late nineteenth-century residential area overlooking the Susquehanna River, contains the John Harris/Simon Cameron Mansion as well as restored townhouses interspersed with modern dwellings.

The Capitol district and complex contains the Capitol Building, an Italian Renaissance structure covering two acres and surrounded by a 13-acre park. Considered by many to be the finest such structure in the country, the Capitol Building features a dome modeled after St. Peter's basilica in Rome and stairs patterned after those at the Grand Opera in Paris. Also located in the district are the State Museum of Pennsylvania, with exhibits relating to the state's history from earth's beginning to the present time, and the beautiful churches and mansions preserved on State and Front streets.

The Old Uptown Historic District encompasses the Historic Midtown District. Highlights there include late nineteenth-and early twentieth-century residences of various architectural styles and, a short distance away, Italian Lake, created from a swamp in the 1930s and spanned by a picturesque Italian Bridge. Contained in the baroque park setting is the Obelisk, a memorial to Dauphin County's Civil War soldiers.

Allison Hill is the name used for the portion of the city that rises above the Susquehanna Valley. In the area are found the Mount Pleasant Historic District (Allison Hill's oldest section); Bellevue Park, an early planned residential community laid out in 1910; and McFarland House, an Italianate residence built in 1876 and later home to J. Horace McFarland, horticulturist, environmentalist, and publisher. State Street East is a grand boulevard that descends from Allison Hill to the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Bridge and State Capitol Complex.

Of special interest to children are the Museum of Scientific Discovery (on the third level of the Strawberry Square Mall) with a variety of exhibits on subjects such as aviation, Earth and space, and biology along with the Fire Museum of Greater Harrisburg, Indian Echo Caverns in Hummelstown, and Hersheypark in Hershey. Known as the most beautiful "company town" in the country, Hershey is the headquarters of Hershey Foods Corporation and was conceived as a story-book-like town for company employees. Sights there include Chocolate World, Hersheypark, Zooamerica, Hershey Gardens, and the Hershey Museum. The Hessian Powder Magazine Museum of Carlisle describes the contributions of Hessian soldiers to the American Revolution.

Arts and Culture

A major venue for the performing arts in Harrisburg is the 1,763-seat State Forum, an art-deco edifice located in the state government built in 1931. There the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1930, presents seven classical and three pops series, three outdoor summer concerts, and special concerts and guest artists. Market Square Concerts brings national and international performing artists to Harrisburg between September and May with most concerts held in the Market Square Presbyterian Church. Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz sponsors several performances at varied locations. Rounding out the musical offerings are performances by the Harrisburg Opera Association, the Harrisburg Singers, Chamber Singers of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Choral Society, and the Susquehanna Folk Music Society.

Theatre Harrisburg, formerly known as Harrisburg Community Theatre and founded in 1926, has its own playhouse and stages full-scale productions. Rose Lehrman Arts Center at Harrisburg Area Community College holds concerts and theatrical events and is home to Open Stage of Harrisburg, which presents works reflecting the area's multicultural population. One of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet studios resides in Harrisburg while a lively network of local theater groups, historical societies, literary and music clubs, and art associations complete the city's rich cultural landscape.

The Art Association of Harrisburg (AAH) offers 10 annual exhibitions of works in all styles and mediums by artists from around the world. In Reservoir Park is a restored 1898 mansion that contains an art gallery as well as the National Civil War Museum at Harrisburg, the nation's largest Civil War museum, with artifacts and collections from both the Union and the Confederacy. One of the world's largest paintings, "The Battle of Gettysburg: Pickett's Charge," is displayed at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, home to an extensive collection of state historical documents and artifacts. Other museums in Harrisburg are John Harris/Simon Cameron Mansion, home of the Dauphin County Historical Society and its collections and library; and Fort Hunter Mansion and Park.

Festivals and Holidays

Harrisburg proper is the site of the well-attended Greater Harrisburg ArtsFest at Riverfront Park in May; the Central Pennsylvania Commerce Bank Jazz Festival and Harrisburg Shakespeare Festival in June; American MusicFest at Riverfront Park for the Fourth of July and Pennsylvania Pump Primers Muster in mid-July; and the Dauphin County 4-H Fair in August and the official Labor Day celebration, known as Kipona Festival, at Riverfront Park. The Harrisburg Holiday Parade opens the holiday season, and a New Year's Eve Celebration is held on Market Square. In addition, many arts and crafts fairs with juried exhibitions and ethnic festivals are held throughout the region.

The Pennsylvania State Farm Show Complex, a 25-acre exposition hall that is one of the largest of its kind in the country, hosts the Pennsylvania Farm Show and Pennsylvania Auto & Boat Show in January, the Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show in February, Annual Spring Craft Show in March, the Pennsylvania Relief Sale of Mennonite crafts in early April, the Eastern National Antique Show in late April, the RV and Camping Show in mid-September, the All-American Dairy Show in late September, the Pennsylvania State 4-H Horse Show in October, and the Pennsylvania and Gift Show in early December.

Sports for the Spectator

City Island, in the Susquehanna River, contains Commerce Bank Park, home of Harrisburg's Eastern League Class Double-A minor league baseball team the Senators (affiliated in 2005 with Major League Baseball's Washington Nationals), whose season extends from April to Labor Day. Spectators gather downtown each June for the Faulkner Honda Harrisburg Criterium international cycling event.

Hersheypark Arena is home to the Hershey Bears, an American Hockey (AHL) team that entertains fans from October through April. The arena also hosts the Ice Capades and the Harlem Globetrotters. Hershey Country Club is home to the Reese's Cup Classic in May, although this was cancelled in 2005 due to ongoing renovations at the club. Sprint-car racing goes on at area tracks, and Penn National Race Course in Grantville offers the opportunity for betting on thoroughbred horses.

Sports for the Participant

Harrisburg's Department of Parks and Recreation maintains a network of 17 recreational sites, 27 parks and playgrounds, two pools, and tennis courts. The city's recreational showpiece is City Island, located in the Susquehanna River only 400 yards from downtown. In addition to the usual park facilities, the Island offers riding stables, miniature golf, swimming, jogging and nature trails, volleyball courts, multipurpose playing fields, and much more. Recreational facilities are also available at Italian Lake Park, Reservoir Park, and Riverfront Park. Wildwood Park, a wildlife haven, has bike and hiking trails and picnic areas. Harrisburg sponsors the Harrisburg Marathon & Relay and other running events throughout the year. Fifteen public and private golf courses are located in the region. Fishing on the Susquehanna River is a popular pastime, and islands in the river may be explored by boat or canoe. Nearby Carlisle boasts the best fly-fishing streams in the East while Ski Roundtop has facilities for the winter (skiing and snowboarding) and summer (rock climbing and paintball) sports enthusiast.

Recreation Information: Department of Parks and Recreation, City of Harrisburg, 10 N 2nd St., Ste. 401, Harrisburg, PA 17101; telephone (717)255-3020; fax (717)255-6554

Shopping and Dining

Downtown shopping in Harrisburg centers around the Shops at Strawberry Square, two floors of enclosed shopping located in a huge office complex. More than 40 shops and galleries along with 10 food emporiums are contained in about 170,000 square feet of retail space. Harrisburg East Mall is the city's other main shopping area, a 90-store complex anchored by Hecht's, Bass Pro Shops, and Boscov's. Specialty stores can also be found at adjacent Walnut Place and along a number of streets in Center City. Broad Street Farmers Market, dating back to 1860, offers fresh produce Thursday through Saturday. It is located in the Historic Midtown Market District, a neighborhood shopping area that also features antique and art shops. Harrisburg is a major East Coast outlet shopping center—bus charters bring in thousands of shoppers annually.

Downtown dining opportunities have expanded to accommodate increased tourism and convention business. Cuisine ranges from Philadelphia steaks to seafood. One local establishment, The Fire House at Hope Station, is located on the first floor of an 1871 firehouse.

Visitor Information: Harrisburg-Hershey-Carlisle Tourism and Convention Bureau, 415 Market St., Rm. 208, Harrisburg, PA 17101; telephone (717)231-7788; toll-free (800)955-0969

Harrisburg: Education and Research

Elementary and Secondary Schools

The Harrisburg Public Schools offer special programs in remedial and special education and for the gifted and handicapped along with courses toward English as a second language. A collaborative high school with the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology focuses on math and science studies; there is one vocational-technical school. The district is operated by an unpaid five-member board that is appointed by the mayor.

The following is a summary of data regarding the Harrisburg public schools as of the 2003–2004 school year.

Total enrollment: 7,663

Number of facilities

elementary/middle schools: 12

high schools: 1

other: 1 alternative school

Student/teacher ratio: 13:1

Teacher salaries

average: $49,123

Funding per pupil: $10,754

Private school education is offered at seven parochial institutions and at Harrisburg Academy, as well as a number of other secular institutions.

Public Schools Information: Harrisburg School District, 2101 N Front St., Bldg. 2, Harrisburg, PA 17110-1081; telephone (717)703-4000. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Division of Data Services, 333 Market St., Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333; telephone (717)787-2644; fax (717)787-3148; email ra-ddsadmin@state.pa.us

Colleges and Universities

Ten colleges, five community/junior colleges, and three graduate schools are located in the Harrisburg area. Among these are branches of three major universities—Penn State, Temple University, and Widener University. Institutions located in the city limits are Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC), founded in 1964 and the state's first community college, offering more than 100 associate degrees, certificates, and diploma programs; Penn State's Downtown and Eastgate Centers; Temple University at Harrisburg; Dixon University Center at Harrisburg, part of the State System of Higher Education and offering graduate degrees in Business Administration, Library Studies, Public Administration, and Safety Science; and the Pittsburgh-based Computer Tech. Penn State's College of Medicine at Hershey offers graduate programs for doctors, nurses, and medical researchers. Carlisle is home to the Army War College and Penn State's Dickinson School of Law. Shippensburg University specializes in business; its campus looks out on the Blue Mountains.

Libraries and Research Centers

The Dauphin County Library System, founded in 1889, is headquartered in downtown Harrisburg on Walnut Street and also maintains a facility in Colonial Park (East Shore Area Library) along with six additional branches located throughout the region. The system holds more than 321,000 items including periodical subscriptions, tapes, videos, and maps. Special collections focus on local history and grants-manship. Internet access is available at all locations.

The State Library of Pennsylvania serves the reference needs of state government and acts as the regional library resource center for public, college, and special libraries. It holds about one million general interest volumes along with 6,500 serials and maintains special genealogy, periodical, and law libraries. At the State Archives, created in 1903, are government and private papers relating to Pennsylvania history that includes 195 million pages of documents and manuscripts, 20,000 reels of microfilm, and one million special collection items. Also located in Harrisburg are the collections of many libraries of state agencies, available for use by researchers and others through special arrangement. Rare medical books are housed at George T. Harrell Library at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine at nearby Hershey. The Alexander Family Library, part of the Dauphin County Historical Society, features genealogy and local history resources.

Government-related research centers in Harrisburg include the Legislative Office for Research Liaison (LORL), which coordinates the research needs of legislators using the capabilities of academic researchers. Pennsylvania Family Institute studies family issues as they relate to government policy.

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center conducts AIDS and cancer research, as well as an artificial heart research project, biostatistics, and epidemiology. Hershey Foods Corp. maintains an Information Analysis Center.

Public Library Information: Dauphin County Library System, 101 Walnut St., Harrisburg, PA 17101; telephone (717)234-4961; fax (717)234-7479; email HDBweb@dcls.org

Harrisburg: Communications

Newspapers and Magazines

Harrisburg's daily newspaper, The Patriot-News, has a daily morning edition; Patriot-News Company also publishes the Sunday Patriot-News and a weekly tabloid examining area business, arts, and entertainment. Another daily, the Press and Journal, is published in Middletown. Other newspapers published in Harrisburg are The Catholic Witness and Community Affairs. Journals published there include The New Social Worker (by White Hat Communications), The PBA Quarterly, and Pennsylvania Heritage (by the Pennsylvania Heritage Society). Many other magazines are published in Harrisburg, including Country Journal and several magazines focusing on sports and hobbies, law and medicine.

Television and Radio

Harrisburg receives two major network affiliates and public television; cable service is available. A Harrisburg educational television station presents Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) series as well as programs of local interest, especially those relating to issues arising at the state capital. Four AM and six FM radio stations broadcast from Harrisburg, which also receives stations from Philadelphia, Lancaster, and York.

Media Information: Patriot-News Company, 812 Market St., Harrisburg, PA 17101; telephone (717)255-8100; toll-free (800)692-7207

Harrisburg Online

Capital Region Economic Development Corporation. Available www.harrisburgregionalchamber.org

City of Harrisburg. Available www.harrisburgpa.gov.

Dauphin County Historical Society. Available www.dauphincountyhistoricalsociety.org

Dauphin County Public Library. Available www.dcls.org

Harrisburg-Hershey-Carlisle Tourism & Convention Bureau. Available www.visithhc.com/capcity.shtml

Harrisburg Regional Chamber. Available www.harrisburgregionalchamber.org

Harrisburg School District. Available www.hbgsd.k12.pa.us

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Available www.phmc.state.pa.us

PinnacleHealth System. Available www.pinnaclehealth.org

Selected Bibliography

Del Tredici, Robert, The People of Three Mile Island: Interviews and Photos (San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1980)

Eggert, Gerald E. Harrisburg Industrializes: The Coming of Factories to an American Community (Pennsylvania State University Press, 1993)

Seitz, Blair (photographer) and John Hope, ed.. Harrisburg: Renaissance of a Capital City (Rb Books, 2000)

Harrisburg: Transportation

Approaching the City

Harrisburg International Airport (HIA), eight miles south of Center City, offers 7 major airlines to 13 domestic stops along with one international destination as well as short-hop commuter service. Services at HIA, operating under the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA), continue to expand to accommodate increasing traffic (about 750,000 enplanements per year). Also under SARAA's ownership is the Capital City Airport, which is available for charters and business and pleasure craft. Philadelphia International Airport, 100 miles from Harrisburg, may be the most convenient destination for visitors flying in from distant locations.

Harrisburg is easily accessible by car. Interstate highways 76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike), 78, 81, and 83 cross in the region and connect it to major metropolitan areas. Other major highways are U.S. 11, 15, 22, 322, and 422.

Amtrak's main east-west line carries passengers into the restored Harrisburg Transportation Center (formerly the 1884 Pennsylvania Railroad Station) on 16 daily departures. The center is a hub for a planned light-rail, commuter transit system and a cross-state high-speed rail line. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) provides commuter and high-speed rail service out of Philadelphia. Bus lines carrying passengers into the region from other locales include Greyhound, Fullington Trailways, and Capitol Trailways. Capital Area Transit provides local bus service.

Traveling in the City

Harrisburg's downtown Center City comprises the original 80-acre borough laid out in a grid pattern by John Harris in 1785. East-west streets are named and north-south streets are numbered. Market Street, running east-west, is the dividing point between north and south street designations. Sightseeing is probably best done on foot downtown and by car or bicycle elsewhere. The Capitol Area Transit (CAT) maintains 67 buses for 26 regular routes along with four express routes for 2.1 million annual riders.

Harrisburg: Population Profile

Metropolitan Area Population

1980: 556,000

1990: 587,986

2000: 629,401

Percent change 1990–2000: 7%

U.S. rank in 1980: 62nd

U.S. rank in 1990: 67th

U.S. rank in 2000: 66th

City Residents

1980: 53,264

1990: 52,376

2000: 48,950

2003 estimate: 48,322

Percent change, 1990–2000: -6.5%

U.S. rank in 1980: 447th

U.S. rank in 1990: 473rd

U.S. rank in 2000: Not reported (State rank: 17th)

Density: 6,035.6 people per square mile (2000)

Racial and ethnic characteristics (2000)

White: 15,527

Black or African American: 26,841

American Indian and Alaska Native: 183

Asian: 1,384

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 35

Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 5,724

Other: 3,199

Percent of residents born in state: 68.3% (2000)

Age characteristics (2000)

Population under 5 years old: 3,968

Population 5 to 9 years old: 4,158

Population 10 to 14 years old: 3,794

Population 15 to 19 years old: 3,139

Population 20 to 24 years old: 3,228

Population 25 to 34 years old: 7,593

Population 35 to 44 years old: 7,561

Population 45 to 54 years old: 6,459

Population 55 to 59 years old: 2,140

Population 60 to 64 years old: 1,590

Population 65 to 74 years old: 2,807

Population 75 to 84 years old: 1,808

Population 85 years and over: 705

Median age: 33.0 years (2000)

Births (2002)

Total number: 849

Deaths (2003)

Total number: 565 (of which, 11 were infants under the age of 1 year)

Money income (1999)

Per capita income: $15,787

Median household income: $26,920

Total households: 20,613

Number of households with income of . . .

less than $10,000: 3,786

$10,000 to $14,999: 2,054

$15,000 to $24,999: 3,790

$25,000 to $34,999: 3,215

$35,000 to $49,999: 3,151

$50,000 to $74,999: 2,691

$75,000 to $99,999: 1,045

$100,000 to $149,999: 581

$150,000 to $199,999: 145

$200,000 or more: 155

Percent of families below poverty level: 23.4% (53.4% of which were female householder families with related children under 5 years)

2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 2,928

Harrisburg

The City in Brief

Founded: 1791 (incorporated as city, 1860)

Head Official: Mayor Stephen R. Reed (D) (since 1982)

City Population

1980: 53,264

1990: 52,376

2000: 48,950

2003 estimate: 48,322

Percent change, 1990–2000: -6.5%

U.S. rank in 1980: 447th

U.S. rank in 1990: 473rd

U.S. rank in 2000: Not reported (State rank: 17th)

Metropolitan Area Population

1980: 556,000

1990: 587,986

2000: 629,401

Percent change, 1990–2000: 7%

U.S. rank in 1980: 62nd

U.S. rank in 1990: 67th

U.S. rank in 2000: 66th

Area: 11.44 square miles (2000)

Elevation: Ranges from 100 to 358 feet above sea level

Average Annual Temperature: 52.9° F

Average Annual Precipitation: 40.5 inches of rain; 34.3 inches of snow

Major Economic Sectors: Manufacturing, services, retail trade, state government

Unemployment Rate: 3.6% (April 2005)

Per Capita Income: $15,787 (1999)

2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 2,928

Major Colleges and Universities: Harrisburg Area Community College, Penn State Downtown Center, Penn State Eastgate Center, Temple University at Harrisburg, Dixon University Center at Harrisburg

Daily Newspaper: The Patriot-News

Harrisburg city (1990 pop. 52,376), state capital and seat of Dauphin co., SE Pa., on the Susquehanna River; settled c.1710 by John Harris, who established a trading post and operated a ferry there; inc. 1791. It is a commercial, wholesale, administrative, and transportation center. Manufactures include metal products, transportation equipment, processed foods, machinery, electrical and electronic equipment, building materials, and steel. Harrisburg became the state capital in 1812 and grew as an inland transportation center with the opening of the Pennsylvania Canal in 1827 and the arrival of the railroad in 1836.

The sprawling Italian Renaissance state capitol (completed 1906) has a 272-ft (83-m) dome modeled after St. Peter's in Rome. Other notable structures are the education building, which contains the state library; the State Museum of Pennsylvania; the National Civil War Museum; the William Penn Memorial Museum; the John Harris Mansion (1766), headquarters of the county historical society; and the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Bridge. A medical center and the Pennsylvania State Univ. Center are in Harrisburg. The city has numerous parks. To the south is the large Three Mile Island facility, site of a nuclear accident in 1979. The New Cumberland Army Depot, the U.S. Army War College, and the U.S. Naval Supply Depot are also nearby.

Harrisburg: Health Care

PinnacleHealth is a community-based system offering comprehensive services and programs for people of all ages and backgrounds in Central Pennsylvania, from prenatal and maternity services to gerontology. Care is provided through four hospitals in Harrisburg: Community General Osteopathic, Harrisburg, Polyclinic, and Seidle, as well as the Fredricksen Outpatient Center, a network of family practice and urgent care centers, managed care entities, home health-care, hospice, and an array of other healthcare services. PinnacleHealth's medical staff is comprised of more than 800 primary care physicians supported by more than 4,000 skilled nurses and technicians.

Since 1845 Harrisburg has been the home of the Harrisburg State Hospital, a psychiatric facility, which is located on 200 acres and comprised of 50 buildings. With most mental health patients being cared for at community-based centers, it was announced in January 2005 that the hospital would close. The decision will impact approximately 250 patients and 540 staff members, although patient numbers have steadily declined since the early 1990s.

Health Care Information: PinnacleHealth System, PO Box 8700, Harrisburg, PA 17101-8700; telephone (717)782-5678

Harrisburg: Convention Facilities

Harrisburg's largest convention facility is the 341-room Hilton Hotel & Towers. Located at Market Square and linked by an overhead walkway to Strawberry Square, the Hilton offers the 9,472-square-foot Harrisburg Ballroom with a reception capacity of about 1,200 guests; overall, the facility provides 17,000 square feet of meeting space. The Harrisburg Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center, with 299 rooms, has 21,000 square feet of meeting space. The State Farm Show Complex, one of the largest exhibition halls in the country, offers space for large shows and hosts more than 200 events annually. The 43,000-square-foot Wild-wood Conference Center at the Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) can facilitate more than 300 events annually for a variety of group sizes. With its mountain views, the Ski Roundtop is a picturesque setting for meetings, company outings, and conferences.

Convention Information: Harrisburg-Hershey-Carlisle Tourism and Convention Bureau, 415 Market St., Rm. 208, Harrisburg, PA 17101; telephone (717)231-7788; toll-free (800)955-0969

Harrisburg: Geography and Climate

Harrisburg is located on the eastern bank of the Susquehanna River, 100 miles west of Philadelphia, at a gap in the Blue Mountains between the Cumberland and Lebanon valleys created by the river. The terrain is rolling, with a band of flat land in the southern part of Dauphin County ranging up to a mile wide along the Susquehanna River. The region is underlain by limestone which, combined with the gently rolling terrain, creates an ideal farming environment.

Harrisburg's climate is humid continental; there are four distinct but mild seasons. Summers are warm to occasionally hot with relatively high humidity; winters are comparatively mild for the region's latitude.

Area: 11.44 square miles (2000)

Elevation: Ranges from 100 to 358 feet above sea level

Average Temperatures: January, 28.6° F; July, 73.5° F; average annual temperature, 52.9° F

Average Annual Precipitation: 40.5 inches of rain; 34.3 inches of snow

Harrisburg, USA 1. Illinois: laid out in 1853 and named after James Harris, one of the first settlers.2. Pennsylvania: first established as a trading post and ferry crossing on the Susquehanna River c.1718, it was known as Harris's Ferry after John Harris, an Englishman who traded with the Native Americans. When the settlement was developed into a town in 1785 for John Harris's son, also John Harris (1727–91), it was named Louisbourg after Louis XVI (1754–93), King of France (1774–92). However, the link with John Harris senior and his son was not forgotten and within a few years the city became known as Harrisburg, principally after the junior John Harris.

Harrisburg: Introduction

Harrisburg is the capital of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a major distribution center for the northeastern United States. Located on the Susquehanna River near the beautiful Blue Mountains, it offers the amenities of a big city with the ambiance of a small town. Harrisburg has received top national awards for budgeting, water pollution control, law enforcement, and conservation for several years running. The prosperity of the business climate can be seen in the area's selection in June 2004 as one of the "country's hottest up & coming cities" for populations between 500,000 to one million by Money magazine.

Harrisburg: Municipal Government

Harrisburg's is a strong mayor form of government, with separate executive and legislative branches. The mayor and seven council members are elected to four-year terms.

Head Official: Mayor Stephen R. Reed (D) (since 1982; current term expires January 2006)

Total Number of City Employees: 721 (2003)

City Information: Office of the Mayor, City of Harrisburg, City Government Center, 10 N Second St., Ste. 202, Harrisburg, PA 17101; telephone (717)255-3040; fax (717)255-3036; email mayor@cityofhbg.com

Harrisburg Capital of Pennsylvania, USA, in the se of the state, on the Susquehanna River. Established as a trading post in c.1718, by 1785 a town was established, and it was later the scene of the Harrisburg Convention (1788). It became the state capital in 1812. Industries: textiles, machinery, electronic equipment. Pop. (2000) 48,950.