Harrisburg: Pennsylvania's Capital on the Susquehanna

Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania, located in the south-central part of the state on the east bank of the Susquehanna River.

Key Facts

• Area: ~11.4 sq mi (29.5 km²) — 8.1 sq mi land, 3.3 sq mi water
• Population: ~50,000 (city); ~600,000 (metro)
• Coordinates: 40.27° N, 76.88° W
• Founded: 1785 (incorporated 1791); capital since 1812

Notable Features

• Pennsylvania State Capitol: 1906 Beaux-Arts masterpiece (Joseph Huston), 272-ft dome modeled on St. Peter's. Free tours.
• Riverfront: Riverfront Park, City Island (baseball, concerts), Walnut Street Bridge (pedestrian).
• Hershey connection: Hershey, PA (14 mi east) = "Chocolate Town," Hersheypark, Hershey's Chocolate World. Not in Harrisburg but closely linked.
• National Civil War Museum: Balanced, comprehensive.
• State Museum of PA: Natural/cultural history.

Transportation

• Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) — 9 mi south in Middletown.
• Amtrak: Keystone Service (Philly–Harrisburg), Pennsylvanian (Pittsburgh–NYC).
• I-76 (PA Turnpike), I-81, I-83, US-322.

Harrisburg blends government gravity, riverfront revival, and small-city livability—often overlooked between Philly and Pittsburgh.