Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|558|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|525|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|33|sqmi}} (5.9%) is water.{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_42.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 6, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}} The county is bound to its western border by the Susquehanna River (with the exception of a small peninsula next to Duncannon). The area code is 717 with an overlay of 223.

• Northumberland County (north)
• Schuylkill County (northeast)
• Lebanon County (east)
• Lancaster County (south)
• York County (southwest)
• Cumberland County (west)
• Perry County (west)
• Juniata County (northwest)

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{jct|state=PA|I|76|PATP}}
• {{jct|state=PA|I|81}}
• {{jct|state=PA|I|83}}
• {{jct|state=PA|I|283}}
• {{jct|state=PA|US|11|US|15}}
• {{jct|state=PA|US|22}}
• {{jct|state=PA|US|209}}
• {{jct|state=PA|US|322}}
• {{jct|state=PA|US|422}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|25}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|39}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|147}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|225}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|230}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|283}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|325}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|341}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|441}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|443}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|743}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|849}}
• 25px SR 3032

{{div col end}}

Most of the county by area has a humid continental climate (Dfa except for some Dfb in highlands.) The inclusion of temperature numbers for the past decade shows some lower-lying areas, including Harrisburg, to have a humid subtropical climate (Cfa.) The hardiness zone is 7a except in some higher northern areas where it is 6b and a few very small areas along the river below the city including the airport where it is 7b. [https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/]

{{Harrisburg, Pennsylvania weatherbox}}

{{Weather box

|location = Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (Harrisburg Capital City Airport) 1991-2020 normals (Records 1939-2021)

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 73

|Feb record high F = 83

|Mar record high F = 86

|Apr record high F = 93

|May record high F = 97

|Jun record high F = 100

|Jul record high F = 107

|Aug record high F = 101

|Sep record high F = 102

|Oct record high F = 97

|Nov record high F = 84

|Dec record high F = 75

|year record high F = 107

|Jan high F = 40.3

|Feb high F = 43.2

|Mar high F = 52.6

|Apr high F = 64.9

|May high F = 74.7

|Jun high F = 83.2

|Jul high F = 87.6

|Aug high F = 85.4

|Sep high F = 78.6

|Oct high F = 66.7

|Nov high F = 55.1

|Dec high F = 44.4

|year high F= 64.7

|Jan mean F = 32.6

|Feb mean F = 34.7

|Mar mean F = 43.2

|Apr mean F = 54.1

|May mean F = 64.0

|Jun mean F = 73.0

|Jul mean F = 77.5

|Aug mean F = 75.4

|Sep mean F = 68.5

|Oct mean F = 56.7

|Nov mean F = 46.0

|Dec mean F = 37.0

|year mean F= 55.2

|Jan low F = 24.9

|Feb low F = 26.2

|Mar low F = 33.9

|Apr low F = 43.3

|May low F = 53.2

|Jun low F = 62.8

|Jul low F = 67.4

|Aug low F = 65.5

|Sep low F = 58.4

|Oct low F = 46.7

|Nov low F = 37.0

|Dec low F = 29.5

|year low F= 45.7

|Jan record low F = -9

|Feb record low F = -5

|Mar record low F = 2

|Apr record low F = 19

|May record low F = 31

|Jun record low F = 40

|Jul record low F = 49

|Aug record low F = 45

|Sep record low F = 30

|Oct record low F = 23

|Nov record low F = 13

|Dec record low F = -8

|year record low F= -9

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 2.64

|Feb precipitation inch = 2.36

|Mar precipitation inch = 3.35

|Apr precipitation inch = 3.70

|May precipitation inch = 3.48

|Jun precipitation inch = 3.72

|Jul precipitation inch = 4.30

|Aug precipitation inch = 3.68

|Sep precipitation inch = 4.12

|Oct precipitation inch = 3.68

|Nov precipitation inch = 2.80

|Dec precipitation inch = 3.15

|year precipitation inch= 40.98

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 9

|Feb precipitation days = 9

|Mar precipitation days = 10

|Apr precipitation days = 12

|May precipitation days = 14

|Jun precipitation days = 12

|Jul precipitation days = 12

|Aug precipitation days = 11

|Sep precipitation days = 10

|Oct precipitation days = 11

|Nov precipitation days = 9

|Dec precipitation days = 10

|year precipitation days= 127

|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web

|url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=ctp

|title = NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|accessdate = May 12, 2021

|archive-date = July 5, 2012

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120705132003/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=ctp

|url-status = dead

}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1790= 18155

|1800= 22270

|1810= 31883

|1820= 21653

|1830= 25243

|1840= 30118

|1850= 35754

|1860= 46756

|1870= 60740

|1880= 76148

|1890= 96977

|1900= 114443

|1910= 136152

|1920= 153116

|1930= 165231

|1940= 177410

|1950= 197784

|1960= 220255

|1970= 223834

|1980= 232317

|1990= 237813

|2000= 251805

|2010= 268100

|2020= 286401

|estimate=289234

|estyear=2023

|

|estref=

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 6, 2015}}
1790-1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=March 6, 2015|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}} 1900-1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/pa190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 24, 1995|access-date=March 6, 2015}}
1990-2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=March 6, 2015}} 2010,<{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/42/42043.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 16, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606191602/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/42/42043.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011}} 2020

}}

{{update|section|date=September 2021|reason=Newer information is available from the 2020 Census report}}

As of the 2010 census, the county was 72.7% White, 18.0% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 3.2% Asian, and 3.1% were two or more races. 7.0% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 251,798 people, 102,670 households, and 66,119 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|479|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 111,133 housing units at an average density of {{convert|212|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units }}. The racial makeup of the county was 77.11% White, 16.91% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.96% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.97% from other races, and 1.85% from two or more races. 4.13% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 29.2% were of German, 7.5% Irish, 7.3% American and 7.2% Italian ancestry. 91.8% spoke English and 3.9% Spanish as their first language.

According to 2005 estimates, 73.9% of the county's population was non-Hispanic whites. 17.8% of the population was African-Americans. 2.5% were Asians. Latinos now were 5.0% of the population.[http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/42/42043.html Dauphin County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606191602/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/42/42043.html|date=June 6, 2011}}

In 2000 there were 102,670 households, out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.60% were married couples living together, 12.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.60% were non-families. 30.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.30% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 30.10% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.80 males.

A study by Echelon Insights found Dauphin County to be the most typical county in America, with its 2016 presidential vote, median income, higher education rate, and religiosity all very close to the national averages.{{Cite web|url=https://echeloninsights.com/map/|title=Middle America Project|website=Echelon Insights|language=en-US|access-date=December 17, 2018}}

Dauphin County is home to an Amish community that resides in the Lykens Valley in the northern part of the county, consisting of eight church districts. The community was settled by Amish from Lancaster County seeking cheaper land.{{cite news|last=Warner|first=David|title=Amish community in Lykens Valley is a microcosm of national population boom|publisher=PennLive|date=August 8, 2010|url=https://www.pennlive.com/midstate/2010/08/amish_population_in_lykens_val.html|access-date=March 24, 2020}}

The United States Office of Management and Budget{{cite web|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb|title=Office of Management and Budget|date=February 7, 2017}} has designated Dauphin County as the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the 2010 U.S. Census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |title=2010 U.S. Census website |access-date=February 13, 2016 }} the metropolitan area ranked 5th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 96th most populous in the United States with a population of 549,475. Dauphin County is also a part of the larger Harrisburg–York–Lebanon combined statistical area (CSA), which combines the populations of Dauphin County as well as Adams, Cumberland, Lebanon, Perry and York Counties in Pennsylvania. The combined statistical area ranked the 5th most populous in Pennsylvania and 43rd most populous in the nation with a population of 1,219,422.

{{PresHead|place=Dauphin County, Pennsylvania|whig=no|source1={{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|69,474|78,327|2,280|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|66,408|78,983|2,510|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|60,863|64,706|6,214|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|57,450|64,965|1,886|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|58,238|69,975|1,632|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|65,296|55,299|613|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|53,631|44,390|2,637|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1996|Republican|44,417|40,936|7,618|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1992|Republican|45,479|36,990|16,441|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|48,917|35,079|681|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|54,330|33,576|752|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|44,039|27,252|7,096|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1976|Republican|46,819|34,342|1,961|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|54,307|22,587|1,376|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|48,394|25,480|7,914|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|42,718|46,119|594|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1960|Republican|61,726|33,962|427|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|61,342|29,226|375|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|58,385|30,985|286|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1948|Republican|46,861|27,729|796|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1944|Republican|44,725|30,684|333|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1940|Republican|42,394|38,305|282|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|39,598|43,256|644|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1932|Republican|36,278|22,412|1,462|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|49,108|9,115|394|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1924|Republican|27,838|9,004|4,074|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|26,094|11,990|1,839|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1916|Republican|13,954|11,483|1,315|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|6,012|7,470|12,337|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1908|Republican|15,637|7,546|1,488|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1904|Republican|16,508|5,040|1,186|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1900|Republican|14,673|7,390|783|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1896|Republican|14,752|6,584|733|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1892|Republican|11,010|7,520|627|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1888|Republican|10,852|7,684|286|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1884|Republican|9,394|6,378|298|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1880|Republican|8,573|6,619|337|Pennsylvania}}

|}

Dauphin County was historically a Republican stronghold, like most of south-central Pennsylvania. It was long one of the more conservative urban counties in the nation, having only supported a Democrat for president twice from 1880 to 2004. The only breaks in this trend were in 1936 and 1964, which were national 400-electoral vote Democratic landslides.

However, there has been a decided shift toward the Democrats in national and statewide elections in recent years. This culminated when the Democrats overtook the Republicans in countywide registration during the summer of 2008.

Bob Casey Jr. carried the county in the 2006 Senate election when he unseated Rick Santorum. According to the Dauphin County Board of Elections, in 2008 Barack Obama became the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry Dauphin County since 1964, receiving 9.0% more of the vote than John McCain.{{cite web |title=Pennsylvania Election Returns |url=http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?ElectionID=28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116081121/http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?ElectionID=28 |archive-date=November 16, 2012 |access-date=July 12, 2017}} It was also only the third time Dauphin County had supported a Democrat for president since 1936. Obama won Dauphin with a slightly reduced majority in 2012, while Hillary Clinton won it with a narrow plurality in 2016. It is now the only blue county in the traditionally powerfully Republican Susquehanna Valley.

In 2023, with the election of newcomer Justin Douglas to join George Hartwick, III, the Democrats took a majority on the Board of County Commissioners for the first time in nearly 100 years. That same year, Democrat Bridget Whitley was elected Clerk of Courts as the first Democratic row officer, while the remaining row offices remained Republican. Three of the state house seats are held by Democrats. Republicans control two state house seats as well as one of the two state senate seats and the congressional seat. Most local elected officials are also Republican, by a margin of 3 to 1. This is because most of the Democratic gains have been in already heavily Democratic Harrisburg, which has had a Democratic mayor since 1982 and has been represented in the state house by a Democrat since 1975. In contrast, the suburbs and rural areas are among the most Republican areas of Pennsylvania.

As of July 29, 2024, 44.0% of registered voters in the county were Democrats, 38.6% Republicans, 13.3% non-affiliated, and 4.1% other party.{{cite web |author=Pennsylvania Department of State |date=February 5, 2024 |title=Voter registration statistics by county |url=https://www.dos.pa.gov/VotingElections/OtherServicesEvents/VotingElectionStatistics/Pages/VotingElectionStatistics.aspx |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=February 5, 2024 |website=dos.pa.gov |format=XLS}}

{{Pie chart|thumb=left|value1=43.98|value2=38.61|value3=13.33|value4=4.07|caption=Chart of Voter Registration|label4=Other Parties|label3=Independent|label2=Republican|label1=Democratic|color1={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|color2={{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|color3={{party color|Independent (United States)}}|color4={{party color|Green Party (United States)}}}}

Party registration stats according to the Secretary of State's office:

• George P. Hartwick III, Chairman, Democrat
• Justin Douglas, Vice Chairman, Democrat
• Mike Pries, Secretary, Republican

{{div col}}

• Clerk of Courts, Bridget Whitley, Democrat
• Controller, Mary Bateman, Republican
• Coroner, Graham Hetrick, Republican
• District Attorney, Fran Chardo, Republican
• Prothonotary, Matt Krupp, Republican
• Recorder of Deeds, Jim Zugay, Republican
• Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court, Jean Marfizo King, Republican
• Sheriff, Nick Chimienti, Republican
• Treasurer, Nick DiFrancesco, Republican
• Solicitor, Fred Lighty, Esquire

{{div col end}}

{{div col}}

• Nathan Davidson, Democrat, 103rd district
• Dave Madsen, Democrat, 104th district
• Justin Fleming, Democrat, 105th district
• Tom Mehaffie, Republican, 106th district
• Joseph Kerwin, Republican, 125th district

{{div col end}}

{{Cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/county_list.cfm?CNTYLIST=Dauphin|title=Find Your Legislator|last=Center|first=Legislativate Data Processing|website=The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.|language=en|access-date=April 21, 2017}}

• Patty Kim, Democrat, 15th district
• Greg Rothman, Republican, 34th district

• Scott Perry, Republican, 10th district

{{Cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/PA|title=Pennsylvania Senators, Representatives, and Congressional District Maps - GovTrack.us|website=GovTrack.us|access-date=April 21, 2017}}

Image:Map of Dauphin County Pennsylvania School Districts.png

{{div col}}

• Dixon University Center
• Harrisburg Area Community College
• Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
• Penn State Harrisburg
• Penn State Hershey Medical Center
• Temple University Harrisburg Campus
• Widener University School of Law

{{div col end}}

School districts include:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42043_dauphin/DC20SD_C42043.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42043_dauphin/DC20SD_C42043.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Dauphin County, PA|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=July 20, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42043_dauphin/DC20SD_C42043_SD2MS.txt Text list]

{{div col}}

• Central Dauphin School District
• Derry Township School District
• Halifax Area School District
• Harrisburg School District (Pennsylvania)
• Lower Dauphin School District
• Middletown Area School District
• Millersburg School District
• Steelton-Highspire School District
• Susquehanna Township School District
• Susquenita School District (also in Perry County)
• Upper Dauphin School District
• Williams Valley School District (also in Schuylkill County)

{{div col end}}

Several public charter schools are established in Dauphin County Pennsylvania Department of Education Approved Public Charter Schools, January 2010

• Infinity Charter School
• Sylvan Heights Science Charter School
• Capital Area School for the Arts
• Premier Arts and Science Charter School

The Capital Area Intermediate Unit 15 is a state approved education agency that offers: school districts, charter schools, private schools, and home school students, a variety of services including: a completely developed K–12 curriculum that is mapped and aligned with the Pennsylvania Academic Standards (available online), shared services, a group purchasing program and a wide variety of special education and special needs services.

The Dauphin County Library System provides library service to the residents of the county through a main central library in the state capital and county seat of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and eight branch libraries. DCLS is a private, non-profit corporation. It is governed by a 17-member Board of Trustees, five appointed annually by the Dauphin County Commissioners, and twelve elected for three-year terms. The Library is a member of the Pennsylvania library system.

As reported by the National Center for Educational Statisticsies, National Center for Education Statistics, US Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, Private School Universe Survey 2008

{{div col}}

• Armstrong Valley Christian School – Halifax
• Berrysburg Christian Academy – Elizabethvile
• Bishop McDevitt High School – Harrisburg
• Cathedral Consolidated School – Harrisburg
• Covenant Christian Academy – Harrisburg
• East Shore Montessori School – Harrisburg
• Emmanuel Wesleyan Academy – Gratz
• Garden Spot Amish School – Millersburg
• Garden Spot School – Millersburg
• Goddard School – Harrisburg
• Hansel and Gretel Early Learning Centers – Harrisburg
• Harrisburg Adventist School – Harrisburg
• Harrisburg Christian School – Harrisburg
• Hillside Amish School – Harrisville
• Hillside Seventh Day Adventist School – Harrisburg
• Keystone Math and Science Academy – Harrisburg
• Kinder-Care Learning Center – Harrisburg
• KinderCare Learning Center – Hershey
• Londonderry School – Harrisburg
• Mahantango School – Lykens
• Matterstown School – Millersburg
• Middletown Christian School – Middletown
• Milton Hershey School – Hershey
• North Mountain View Amish – Millersburg
• Northern Dauphin Christian School – Millersburg
• Pride of the Neighborhood Academies – Harrisburg
• Rakers Mill School – Elizabethville
• Rolling Acres School – Lykens
• Seven Sorrows of BMV School – Middletown
• Sonshine Learning Station – Middletown
• South Mountain View School – Spring Glen
• Specktown School – Lykens
• St. Catherine Laboure School – Harrisburg
• St Joan of Arc Elementary School – Hershey
• St. Margaret Mary School – Harrisburg
• St. Stephen's Episcopal School – Harrisburg
• Tender Years Inc. – Hershey
• The Nativity School of Harrisburg – Harrisburg
• Windy Knoll School – Spring Glen
• Wordsworth Academy – Harrisbrug
• Yeshiva Academy – Harrisburg

{{div col end}}

The largest employers in Dauphin County in 2019 were:{{cite web |title=Pennsylvania Top 50 Employers & Industries |url=https://www.workstats.dli.pa.gov/Documents/Top%2050/Dauphin_County_Top_50.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.workstats.dli.pa.gov/Documents/Top%2050/Dauphin_County_Top_50.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |website=Department of Labor and Industry |publisher=Center for Workforce Information and Analysis |access-date=October 9, 2019 |ref=Top Employers in Dauphin County}}

• Commonwealth Government
• Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
• The Hershey Company
• Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Co.
• UPMC Pinnacle Hospitals
• Federal Government
• Pennsylvania State University
• PHEAA – Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
• United Parcel Service Inc
• TYCO Electronics Corp.

There are two Pennsylvania state parks in Dauphin County.

• Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area
• Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area

Image:Map of Dauphin County Pennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels.png

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Dauphin County:

• Harrisburg (county seat)

• Berrysburg
• Dauphin
• Elizabethville
• Gratz
• Halifax
• Highspire
• Hummelstown
• Lykens
• Middletown
• Millersburg
• Paxtang
• Penbrook
• Pillow
• Royalton
• Steelton
• Williamstown

{{div col|colwidth=12em}}

• Conewago
• Derry
• East Hanover
• Halifax
• Jackson
• Jefferson
• Londonderry
• Lower Paxton
• Lower Swatara
• Lykens
• Middle Paxton
• Mifflin
• Reed
• Rush
• South Hanover
• Susquehanna
• Swatara
• Upper Paxton
• Washington
• Wayne
• West Hanover
• Wiconisco
• Williams

{{div col end}}

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Bressler
• Colonial Park
• Enhaut
• Hershey
• Lawnton
• Lenkerville
• Linglestown
• Oberlin
• Palmdale
• Paxtonia
• Progress
• Rutherford
• Skyline View
• Union Deposit
• Wiconisco

{{div col end}}

{{div col|colwidth=12em}}

• Bachmanville
• Cartin
• Chambers Hill
• Clifton
• Dietrich
• Deodate
• Dayton
• Carsonville
• Ebenezer
• Edgemont
• Ellendale Forge
• Enders
• Enterline
• Erdman
• Estherton
• Freys Grove
• Fort Hunter
• Grantville
• Greenfield
• Hanoverdale
• Heckton
• Hockersville
• Hoernerstown
• Inglenook
• Jednota
• Killinger
• Loyalton
• Lucknow
• Manada Gap
• Manada Hill
• Matamoras
• Matterstown
• Montrose Park
• Oakleigh
• Oakmont
• Oberlin Gardens
• Paxtang Manor
• Piketown
• Powells Valley
• Rockville
• Sand Beach
• Shellsville
• Singersville
• Speeceville
• Swatara
• Vaughn
• Waynesville

{{div col end}}

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Dauphin County.

† county seat

• Milton S. Hershey (1857–1945), founder of The Hershey Company and the town of Hershey
• H.B. Reese (1879–1956), inventor of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
• Samuel B. Garver (1839–1911), an Illinois state representative, businessman, and farmer, was born in Dauphin County.
• Nicholas H. Heck (1882–1953), a geophysicist, seismologist, oceanographer, hydrographic surveyor, and United States Coast and Geodetic Survey officer, was born in Dauphin County in Heckton Mills, near Heckton.
• Newt Gingrich (1943–), former speaker of the United States House of Representatives, was born in Harrisburg and lived in Hummelstown.
• Michelle Wolf (1985–), comedian, was born and lived in Dauphin County.
• Christian Pulisic (1998–), soccer player who plays for Chelsea F.C. of England's Premier League and the United States men's national team was born in Hershey.
• Micah Parsons (1999–), football linebacker.
• Richard L. Schlegel (1927–2006), LGBT rights activist; born in Berrysburg and lived in Harrisburg.

• Hummelstown brownstone
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist|24em}}

{{Commons category|Dauphin County, Pennsylvania}}

• [https://www.dauphincounty.gov/ Dauphin County official website]

{{Dauphin County, Pennsylvania}}

{{Harrisburg, Pennsylvania}}

{{Pennsylvania}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|40.41|-76.79|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-PA_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:1785 establishments in Pennsylvania

Category:Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan statistical area

Category:Populated places established in 1785

Category:Susquehanna Valley