Harrisburg

About Harrisburg

Harrisburg ( HARR-iss-burg; Pennsylvania German: Harrisbarrig) is the capital city of the U.S. commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the ninth-most populous city in the state, with a population of 50,099 at the 2020 census, while the Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan statistical area has an estimated 615,000 residents and is the fourth-most populous metropolitan area in Pennsylvania. Harrisburg is situated on the east bank of the Susquehanna River 83 miles (134 km) southwest of Allentown and 108 miles (174 km) northwest of Philadelphia. It is officially incorporated as a third-class city and is the county seat of Dauphin County.

Harrisburg played a role in American history during the Westward Migration, the American Civil War, and the Industrial Revolution. During part of the 19th century, the building of the Pennsylvania Canal and later the Pennsylvania Railroad allowed Harrisburg to develop into one of the most industrialized cities in the Northeastern United States. In the mid- to late 20th century, the city's economic fortunes fluctuated with its major industries consisting of government, heavy manufacturing, agriculture, and food services. These economic fluctuations contributed to Harrisburg experiencing a decline of nearly half its population between 1950 and 2000. However, the region is seen as financially stable in part due to the high concentration of state and federal government agencies.

The Pennsylvania Farm Show, the largest indoor agriculture exposition in the U.S., was first held in Harrisburg in 1917 and has been held there annually in early to mid–January since. The city also hosts the annual Great American Outdoor Show, the largest of its kind in the world, among many other events. Harrisburg experienced the Three Mile Island accident on March 28, 1979, in nearby Middletown.

Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Harrisburg weather: 7-day forecast

Source: National Weather Service (NOAA).

Live webcams in Harrisburg

Webcams: Windy.com

Living in Harrisburg

Median household income

$48,099

Median home value

$124,200

Median rent

$1,062/mo

Median age

33.4

Map of Harrisburg

Tap any street on the map to see it in Street View below. Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Harrisburg Street View

Drag the image to look around and tap the arrows on the ground to move. If it says there is no imagery, tap a nearby street on the map above.

Harrisburg, PA population

Harrisburg had 50,099 residents in the 2020 Census.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.

Harrisburg at a glance

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.

Towns near Harrisburg

• Wormleysburg1.7 mi SW
• West Fairview1.9 mi W
• Penbrook1.9 mi E
• Lemoyne2.3 mi S
• Progress2.6 mi NE
• East Pennsboro2.8 mi W
• Paxtang2.8 mi E
• Enola2.8 mi W
• Susquehanna2.9 mi N
• Camp Hill3.2 mi SW
• New Cumberland3.3 mi S
• New Market4.0 mi SE

Straight-line distance between town centers.

Frequently asked questions about Harrisburg