Harrisburg is a city located in Dauphin County Pennsylvania. Harrisburg has a 2024 population of 49,984. It is also the county seat of Dauphin County. Harrisburg is currently declining at a rate of -0.06% annually and its population has decreased by -0.22% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 50,095 in 2020.
The average household income in Harrisburg is $60,155 with a poverty rate of 28.32%. The median age in Harrisburg is 31.9 years: 31.1 years for males, and 33 years for females.
The city was once named as one of the best in the United States for raising a family, although it has faced some economic troubles in recent years.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is the city’s largest employer, providing jobs to nearly 22,000 people. The United States government, Giant Food Stores, Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Hershey Entertainment and Resorts are also top employers in the city, together providing tens of thousands of jobs to residents.
Since the 1960s, the of Harrisburg has been on the decline. At its peak, the population was almost 90,000 at the time of the 1950 census. However, by the time of the next census, it had dropped to below 80,000. This trend continued until the 2000 poll, which showed that the population was below 50,000. While the city’s population did increase between 2000 and 2010, it was just by over 1%. Recent estimates show that the population is down since the last census, indicating that the city’s financial issues and other problems continue to plague Harrisburg.
The region that is now the city of Harrisburg is believed to have been inhabited as far back as 3000 BC. Before being settled as a city, it was a crossroads for traders in its earliest days. Europeans did not reach the area until the early 1600s but did not settle at that time. The first European to settle in the area was John Harris, Sr. in 1719, later acquiring 800 acres of land. Toward the end of the 18th century, Harris’ son made plans for a town, and Harrisburg (named after the elder Harris) was incorporated in 1791. The city was designated as the capital in 1812.
In its earliest days, Harrisburg was a rural town. After being named as the capital, the capitol building was built in 1822, and the city began to expand, and its population grew. The Pennsylvania Canal, residential homes and businesses were constructed during the early 1800s. At the time of the Civil War, Harrisburg served as a training center and rail center for the Union. It was targeted twice by the Army of Northern Virginia. Harrisburg was also a stopping point of the Underground Railroad.
During the late 19th century, the city’s economy was centered on the steel and iron industries. The Steelton Borough in particular was known for its production of steel. The neighborhood had its downtown, houses and housed over 16,000 people. The rail yard also grew as industrialization took hold of Harrisburg.
However, in the 20th century, the industrial sector went into decline, and more people moved from the city limits to the surrounding suburbs. It was at this time that the city’s economy shifted to service industries including health care. Despite this, the population continued to decline after 1950. The city population continued to drop into the 1990s.
In the 21st century, mishandling funds put Harrisburg in a financial crisis. Most notably, trash to electricity plant that was supposed to boost the economy brought a debt of hundreds of millions of dollars. The total debt today has been estimated to be over $1.5 million, though missing audits and other issues have prevented an official total from being determined. In 2011, the city filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy which was dismissed. A receiver was appointed to help handle the finances as city assets were seized. A plan was announced in 2013 to bring the city out of debt, a plan that is currently being put in place.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Harrisburg was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
---|---|---|
Black or African American | 23,245 | 46.44% |
White | 17,156 | 34.27% |
Other race | 4,202 | 8.39% |
Two or more races | 3,787 | 7.57% |
Asian | 1,377 | 2.75% |
Native American | 199 | 0.4% |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 89 | 0.18% |
Black or African American
White
Other race
Two or more races
Asian
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 21,474 | 2.28 | 35.5 | 64.5 |
Non Family | 10,705 | 1.23 | 30.9 | 69.1 |
Female | 4,878 | 3.41 | 21.5 | 78.5 |
Married | 4,621 | 3.39 | 60.4 | 39.6 |
Male | 1,270 | 2.78 | 37.1 | 62.9 |
3.21
Average Family Size
2.28
Average Household Size
35.5%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
---|---|---|
9th to 12th Grade | 3,309 | 10.58% |
Associates Degree | 2,598 | 8.3% |
Bachelors Degree | 4,692 | 15% |
Graduate Degree | 2,771 | 8.86% |
High School Graduate | 10,292 | 32.9% |
Less Than 9th Grade | 1,660 | 5.31% |
Some College | 5,962 | 19.06% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
---|---|---|---|
Black | 14,009 | 11,535 | 1,685 |
White | 9,659 | 8,975 | 4,058 |
Hispanic | 6,240 | 4,663 | 861 |
Other Race | 2,280 | 1,582 | 313 |
2+ Races | 1,694 | 1,530 | 414 |
Asian | 1,168 | 942 | 620 |
Native American | 174 | 52 | 29 |
Islander | 89 | 89 | 89 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 100%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among islander people with a rate of 100%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
---|---|---|---|
Bachelors Degree | $49,585 | $50,683 | $48,707 |
Graduate Degree | $66,688 | $66,290 | $67,763 |
High School Graduate | $29,614 | $34,518 | $24,881 |
Less Than 9th Grade | $24,181 | $26,883 | $15,736 |
Overall | $38,701 | $44,207 | $32,708 |
Some College | $40,012 | $45,339 | $33,464 |
$38,701
Average Earnings
$44,207
Average Male
$32,708
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
78.98% of Harrisburg residents speak only English, while 21.02% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 15.24% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
---|---|---|---|
Black | 22,958 | 7,818 | 34.05% |
Hispanic | 12,292 | 4,257 | 34.63% |
Other | 4,183 | 2,036 | 48.67% |
White | 12,227 | 1,977 | 16.17% |
Multiple | 3,787 | 1,028 | 27.15% |
Asian | 1,377 | 146 | 10.6% |
Native | 199 | 58 | 29.15% |
28.32%
Overall Poverty Rate
26.1%
Male Poverty Rate
30.36%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Harrisburg is Other, with 48.67% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Harrisburg is Asian, with 10.6% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 6.73%. Among those working part-time, it was 30.57%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 41.84%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Less Than 9th Grade | 40.47% |
High School | 26.17% |
Some College | 18.46% |
Bachelors or Greater | 8.58% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Female Unemployed | 57.67% |
Male Unemployed | 42.42% |
Female Employed | 16.63% |
Male Employed | 10.1% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
---|---|---|
Families | $50,874 | $65,019 |
Households | $46,654 | $60,155 |
Married Families | $80,128 | $-999,999,999 |
Non Families | $42,004 | $52,274 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
29.8%
Overall Marriage Rate
30.2%
Male Marriage Rate
29.5%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is 35-44, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
1,997
Number of Veterans
1,697
Male Veterans
300
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
---|---|
Vietnam | 729 |
First Gulf War | 451 |
Second Gulf War | 393 |
Korea | 34 |
World War II | 0 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
---|---|
55 to 64 | 665 |
35 to 54 | 415 |
65 to 74 | 410 |
75+ | 330 |
18 to 34 | 177 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
---|---|---|
Black | 1,203 | 7.75% |
White | 688 | 4.9% |
Hispanic | 223 | 3.05% |
2+ Races | 55 | 2.64% |
Other Race | 28 | 1.05% |
Asian | 23 | 1.94% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
20.04%
Veteran Poverty Rate
22.48%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
67.7%
Labor Force Participation
61.5%
Employment Rate
9%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
59.97%
Born in Harrisburg
91.6%
Native Born
8.4%
Foreign Born
4.64%
Non Citizen
3.75%
Naturalized
91.6% of Harrisburg residents were born in the United States, with 59.97% having been born in Pennsylvania. 4.64% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
---|---|---|---|
2029 | 49,846 | -27 | -0.05% |
2028 | 49,873 | -28 | -0.06% |
2027 | 49,901 | -28 | -0.06% |
2026 | 49,929 | -27 | -0.05% |
2025 | 49,956 | -28 | -0.06% |
2024 | 49,984 | -28 | -0.06% |
2023 | 50,012 | -145 | -0.29% |
2022 | 50,157 | -91 | -0.18% |
2021 | 50,248 | 153 | 0.31% |
2020 | 50,095 | 854 | 1.73% |
2019 | 49,241 | 19 | 0.04% |
2018 | 49,222 | 2 | 0% |
2017 | 49,220 | 24 | 0.05% |
2016 | 49,196 | -76 | -0.15% |
2015 | 49,272 | -87 | -0.18% |
2014 | 49,359 | -28 | -0.06% |
2013 | 49,387 | -47 | -0.1% |
2012 | 49,434 | 13 | 0.03% |
2011 | 49,421 | -92 | -0.19% |
2010 | 49,513 | 0 | 0% |
2000 | 48,950 | -3,426 | -6.54% |
1990 | 52,376 | -888 | -1.67% |
1980 | 53,264 | -14,797 | -21.74% |
1970 | 68,061 | -11,636 | -14.6% |
1960 | 79,697 | -9,847 | -11% |
1950 | 89,544 | 5,651 | 6.74% |
1940 | 83,893 | 3,554 | 4.42% |
1930 | 80,339 | 4,422 | 5.82% |
1920 | 75,917 | 11,731 | 18.28% |
1910 | 64,186 | 14,019 | 27.94% |
1900 | 50,167 | 10,782 | 27.38% |
1890 | 39,385 | 8,623 | 28.03% |
1880 | 30,762 | 7,658 | 33.15% |
1870 | 23,104 | 9,699 | 72.35% |
1860 | 13,405 | 5,571 | 71.11% |
1850 | 7,834 | 1,854 | 31% |
1840 | 5,980 | 1,668 | 38.68% |
1830 | 4,312 | 1,322 | 44.21% |
1820 | 2,990 | -46,856 | -94% |