Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
The city of Harrisburg is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and also the county seat of the Dauphin County. The city stands on the banks of the Susquehanna River and played significant roles in the American Civil War and the Industrial Revolution. The city is located just 14 miles away from Hershey, the “The sweetest place on earth”.
Today the city is a burgeoning center for state’s arts and culture. They city has become a major tourist attraction with its natural and artificial attractions such as the Riverfront Park the numerous amusement parks, annual festivals and various other attractions.
The city is known to also have a high standard of living and has often been rated as one of the best places to live and work in. The city has had a lot of changes in its economic condition over the years and yet it has managed retain its warmth. The community is also home to some amazing festivals throughout the year and is also well known for other historic events that happen annually.
The city has one of the most scintillating night lives seen in any city in United States. This popular nightlife has been credited for reversing the financial decline of the city in the beginning of the decade. The city has more than 7000 diverse businesses that have set up shop here along with good schools and universities.
Harrisburg has a lot to offer those who enjoy city life as well as the outdoors. It has something to appeal to everyone's senses. Many businesses in the city also thrive.
Harrisburg History
The site where the city of Harrisburg currently stands is believed to have been inhabited by Native Americans some 3000 years ago. The first settlements in the region came from Europe in the early 18th century. The city is named after one of its founding fathers, John Harris Sr. The city quickly became one of the leading industrial and commercial centers in the region as it was connected to most major towns via the river. The Susquehanna River is an important transit area for many rivers in the region and has historically seen a lot of activity.
Before the start of the Civil War the Harrisburg was well connected to most areas in the region, which helped in its development and expansion. In the first part of the 19th century it became a stopover destination for many travelers. The buildings of the city were colonial architectural styled buildings and prior to the American Civil War the city depended primarily on its agricultural businesses.
The period during the American Civil War was an important one for the city as it saw countless changes. The strategic location of the city soon made it an important area and the town of Harrisburg was an important training center for the Union Army's soldiers. Some of the bloodiest battles were fought in areas close to the city.
After the war the city attracted significant industrial development. The railroad was a major factor in the industrialization as steel and iron became important industries for the region. The city of Harrisburg soon became a major center for the processing of iron ore and the production of steel. Along with this many other industries also came up in the city in a short period of time. The community saw the peak of its industrial development of the era until around 1920.
The decline of steel industry in the city occurred because of a shift in focus from industrial to suburban life. Services like healthcare and education became important. They helped slow the financial decline caused by the decline of the industrial sectors. People from the city shifted towards the suburbs where cheap homes were available. Even during WWII the city saw industrial development but the development did not last long as it declined again after the end of the war.
The city has produced economic stability by executing plans to stabilize the region. The plans have also worked well for the city administration; today the city is a prospering center for service based industries and a large number of other companies that call Harrisburg their home.
About Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
The city of Harrisburg is the capital of the State of Pennsylvania. It is the ninth largest city in the state with a population of 50 thousand people, according to the 2010 census. The city lies on the banks of the picturesque Susquehanna River.
The city’s population is made up of 30 percent white, followed by African Americans at 52 percent. The four prominent seasonal changes are observed here and the climate is a mix of sub-tropical and continental climates. Winters are cold and summers are fairly hot with the post winter and post summer seasons being the most attractive.
The city was nearly bankrupt when it was affected by the withdrawal of the dairy and steel industries in 1981, but a revival of its fortunes happened soon after as new companies began to invest in the city. The City Center is the hub of city activity. A large number of companies have set up in the city center along with another dozen or more well developed areas in the area. The city is also known for its many historic buildings such as the Pennsylvania State Capitol, which is built to resemble the Vatican City’s St. Peter’s Basilica.
The city is a center for more than 5000 businesses which have come and settled in the city. The main employers in the city are based on healthcare, technology, food services and government based services. The city and surrounding areas are also connected by a well-designed system of transportation, which makes it ideal as a major center for trade.
The city has two major performance centers that offer cultural activities. The city has also seen a lot of development in terms of its nightlife in the past decade, attracting thousands of tourists each year. Downtown Harrisburg is one of the most happening places in the city as many musical festivals are held here annually. The community is also home to one of the largest agricultural exhibitions across the nation, the Pennsylvania Farm Show. It also has a large number of museums that draw visitors from surrounding communities.
The two newspapers that operate in the area have a print run of more than a hundred thousand copies. There are also other newspapers that serve the region.
The Harrisburg School District serves the city with its excellent network of schools. The city also has a number of well-known private colleges and schools that deliver quality education to the residents of the city.
About Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
The Dauphin County is located in the state of Pennsylvania. The county seat is the city of Harrisburg, which is also the state capital. It is one of the three counties that comprise the Harrisburg -Carlisle Metropolitan statistical area.
The county was created in 1785 by carving out a part of the existing Lancaster County. It was named after the Dauphin of France who was the son of Louis XVI. The total area of the county is around 558 square miles out of which 32 square miles is covered by water and the rest is land. The city of Harrisburg is the only city that is incorporated in the county. Otherwise, the county is made up of smaller municipalities, boroughs, townships, and unincorporated communities. The county also has some designated places which have their own local government and also do not fall under any jurisdiction of state laws.
The county is home to the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station which saw a major meltdown in 1979. Most parts of the county are well connected by roads and rail to larger cities like such as New York, Pittsburg, Baltimore and Washington D.C. The county is also home to the Hershey chocolate industries.
The economy of the county area is fairly stable with many companies located in the area. Service oriented businesses have done well in the county and it has a history of industrial prosperity. The county is culturally enriched with many forms of cultural influences that have gathered over the years. The county has many areas that are well known for their development as well as areas which are well known for their preserved heritage and culture. It is made up with a mix of urban and sub-urban areas.
The western side the Susquehanna River offers some excellent opportunities for recreational activities and picnics. The river banks are also the home of Harrisburg, which has been touted as one of the best places to live in the entire state. It has something for every kind of tastes, from nature lovers to art lovers, everyone will feel right at home in this county.