The Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan statistical area, officially the Harrisburg–Carlisle, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area, and also referred to as the Susquehanna Valley, is defined by the

Office of Management and Budget The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is the largest office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP). The office's most prominent function is to produce the president's budget, while it also examines agency pro ...

as an area consisting of three counties in South Central Pennsylvania, anchored by the cities of

Harrisburg Harrisburg ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat, seat of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Dauphin County. With a population of 50, ...

and

Carlisle Carlisle ( , ; from ) is a city in the Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. Carlisle's early history is marked by the establishment of a settlement called Luguvalium to serve forts along Hadrian's Wall in Roman Britain. Due to its pro ...

. As of the 2020 census, the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) had a population of 591,712, making it the fourth-most-populous metropolitan area in Pennsylvania, after the

Delaware Valley The Philadelphia metropolitan area, also known as Greater Philadelphia and informally called the Delaware Valley, the Philadelphia tri-state area, and locally and colloquially Philly–Jersey–Delaware, is a major metropolitan area in the Nor ...

, Greater Pittsburgh, and the

Lehigh Valley The Lehigh Valley () is a geography, geographic and urban area, metropolitan region formed by the Lehigh River in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, Lehigh and Northampton County, Pennsylvania, Northampton counties in eastern Pennsylvania. It is a co ...

. Since 2012, it has been defined as part of the

Harrisburg–York–Lebanon combined statistical area The Harrisburg–York–Lebanon, PA combined statistical area (CSA) is a region assigned by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget that includes six cities in the Harrisburg and York areas along with several metropolitan statistical areas of ...

, which also includes

York York is a cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England, with Roman Britain, Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire, Ouse and River Foss, Foss. It has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a Yor ...

Lebanon Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...

, and Adams counties.

Components

The Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Area consists of three counties, located entirely within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The following three counties are designated as being part of the greater Harrisburg–Carlisle area: *

Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Cumberland County is a County (United States), county in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 259,469. Its county seat is Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Carlis ...

Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Dauphin County (; Pennsylvania Dutch language, Pennsylvania Dutch: Daffin Kaundi) is a County (United States), county in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the populati ...

* Perry County, Pennsylvania Officially, Lebanon County is not part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan statistical area, and has not been since 2003. It is rather part of combined statistical area, but it is culturally considered to be part of Greater Harrisburg, with Harrisburg suburbs extending into the county.

Combined statistical area

Additionally, three more counties are included as part of the Harrisburg–York–Lebanon, PA combined statistical area. Collectively, they have a population of 1,271,801 people, making it the 46th-most-populous combined statistical area (CSA) in the United States, and the 3rd-most-populous CSA in the state of Pennsylvania. *

Adams County, Pennsylvania Adams County is a County (United States), county in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 103,852. Its county seat is Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Gettysbu ...

* Lebanon County, Pennsylvania *

York County, Pennsylvania York County is a County (United States), county in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 456,438. Its county seat is York, Pennsylvania, ...

Statistical history

*1950: The Harrisburg standard metropolitan area (SMA), consisting of Cumberland and Dauphin counties, was first defined. *1959: Following a term change by the Bureau of the Budget (present-day

), the Harrisburg SMA became the Harrisburg standard metropolitan statistical area (SMSA). *1963: Perry County added to the Harrisburg SMSA. *1983: Harrisburg SMSA renamed the Harrisburg–Lebanon–Carlisle metropolitan statistical area (MSA); Lebanon County added to the MSA. *2003: MSA split into two separate metropolitan areas – Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan statistical area (

Cumberland Cumberland ( ) is an area of North West England which was historically a county. The county was bordered by Northumberland to the north-east, County Durham to the east, Westmorland to the south-east, Lancashire to the south, and the Scottish ...

, Dauphin, and

Perry Perry or pear cider is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented pears, traditionally in England (particularly Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire), parts of South Wales, France (especially Normandy and Anjou), Canada, Austral ...

counties) and the Lebanon metropolitan statistical area (Lebanon County); Both MSAs together form the Harrisburg–Carlisle–Lebanon combined statistical area. *2010: The Harrisburg–

–Lebanon urban agglomeration area is defined for the first time, linking York County to the CSA.America's Urban Agglomerations 2010
Proximity, Retrieved January 21, 2011. *2012: The

was formally defined and includes the counties of York and Adams.Harrisburg-York-Lebanon, PA Combined Statistical Area

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, Retrieved April 2, 2015.

Geography and climate

Geography

Harrisburg–Carlisle is located in the

Susquehanna River The Susquehanna River ( ; Unami language, Lenape: ) is a major river located in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, crossing three lower Northeastern United States, Northeast states (New York, Pennsylvani ...

valley A valley is an elongated low area often running between hills or mountains and typically containing a river or stream running from one end to the other. Most valleys are formed by erosion of the land surface by rivers or streams over ...

, which makes the terrain rolling, with occasional flat land and tall hills. The metropolitan area is underlain with limestone, which makes the land ideal for farming. Much of the region is within the

piedmont Piedmont ( ; ; ) is one of the 20 regions of Italy, located in the northwest Italy, Northwest of the country. It borders the Liguria region to the south, the Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna regions to the east, and the Aosta Valley region to the ...

region of the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

Climate

The Harrisburg metropolitan area has a

humid continental climate A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers, and cold ...

, experiencing four mild seasons:

summer Summer or summertime is the hottest and brightest of the four temperate seasons, occurring after spring and before autumn. At or centred on the summer solstice, daylight hours are the longest and darkness hours are the shortest, with day ...

autumn Autumn, also known as fall (especially in US & Canada), is one of the four temperate seasons on Earth. Outside the tropics, autumn marks the transition from summer to winter, in September (Northern Hemisphere) or March ( Southern Hemisphe ...

winter Winter is the coldest and darkest season of the year in temperate and polar climates. It occurs after autumn and before spring. The tilt of Earth's axis causes seasons; winter occurs when a hemisphere is oriented away from the Sun. Dif ...

, and spring. The average high temperature is 62 °F, while the average low is 44 °F. Harrisburg receives about 41 inches of rainfall annually.

Communities

Places with more than 40,000 inhabitants *

(Principal City) Places with 10,000 to 20,000 inhabitants *

* Hershey * Colonial Park Places with 1,000 to 10,000 inhabitants *

Progress Progress is movement towards a perceived refined, improved, or otherwise desired state. It is central to the philosophy of progressivism, which interprets progress as the set of advancements in technology, science, and social organization effic ...

* Mechanicsburg * Middletown * Camp Hill * New Cumberland * Lower Allen * Linglestown * Enola * Steelton * Shippensburg * Paxtonia * Schlusser * Lemoyne * Hummelstown * Rutherford * Skyline View * Lawnton * Boiling Springs * Wormleysburg * Penbrook * Shippensburg University * Millersburg * Marysville * Highspire *

Messiah College Messiah University is a private interdenominational evangelical Christian university in Upper Allen Township, Pennsylvania, near Mechanicsburg. History The school was founded as "Messiah Bible School and Missionary Training Home" in 1909 by ...

* Mount Holly Springs * Lykens * Newport * Shiremanstown * Paxtang * Duncannon * Elizabethville * Bressler * Williamstown * Newville * Palmdale * West Fairview * New Bloomfield * Enhaut Places with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants *

Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...

* Wiconsico * Royalton * Halifax * Dauphin * Gratz * Millerstown * Oberlin * Lenkerville * New Kingstown * Union Deposit * Plainfield * Berrysburg * Newburg * Pillow * Blain * Landisburg * New Buffalo

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were 509,074 people, 202,380 households, and 134,557 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 86.20% White, 9.39% African American, 0.15% Native American, 1.68% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.17% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.67% of the population. The median income for a household in the MSA was $43,374, and the median income for a family was $51,792. Males had a median income of $36,368 versus $26,793 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the MSA was $21,432. In 2009, the urban population of the MSA increased to 383,008 from 362,782 in 2000, a change of 20,226 people.America's Urban Population: Patterns & Characteristics 2000-2009
Proximity, 2009 data, Retrieved January 21, 2011.

Transportation

Roads and highways

The Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan area is served by a number of interstates, US routes, and

state highways A state highway, state road, or state route (and the equivalent provincial highway, provincial road, or provincial route) is usually a road that is either Route number, numbered or maintained by a sub-national state or province. A road numbered ...

that help facilitate the movement of people and goods throughout the region. Major routes in the region include: * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Airport Connector

Air

Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) is the primary airport for the Harrisburg–Carlisle area. Located in Middletown, the airport serviced 1.137 million passengers in 2017. It is Pennsylvania's 3rd-busiest airport. It is owned and operated by the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority, which also operates several other airports throughout South Central Pennsylvania. Some residents use Baltimore/Washington, Ronald Reagan Washington, and

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

airports for a wider selection of destinations and airlines.

Rail

Harrisburg–Carlisle is served by

Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak (; ), is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates intercity rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...

's '' Keystone Service'' and ''Pennsylvanian''. Amtrak's ''Keystone Service'', which terminates at Harrisburg Transportation Center, allows for rail trips to points east, including

and

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

. The ''Pennsylvanian'' connects Harrisburg–Carlisle with Pittsburgh and New York City (by way of Philadelphia). Currently, the Harrisburg–Carlisle region is not served by any

commuter rail Commuter rail or suburban rail is a Passenger train, passenger rail service that primarily operates within a metropolitan area, connecting Commuting, commuters to a Central business district, central city from adjacent suburbs or commuter town ...

; however, there were plans to bring it to the metropolitan and combined statistical areas. Plans included a commuter rail line, called the Capital Red Rose Corridor, running from Lancaster to Harrisburg, with a possible extension to Carlisle.

Bus

The region is interconnected by bus services, which offer service for local and regional trips, as well as for

intercity InterCity (commonly abbreviated ''IC'' on timetables and tickets) is the train categories in Europe, classification applied to certain long-distance passenger train services in Europe. Such trains (in contrast to InterRegio, regional train, r ...

trips. The primary bus service provider for the region is Capital Area Transit (CAT). CAT provides local and commuter bus service in eastern Cumberland and southern Dauphin counties. Its services are used by about 8,000 daily riders. Intercity bus service is primarily provided by

Greyhound Lines Greyhound Lines, Inc. is an American operator of Intercity bus service, intercity bus services. Greyhound operates the largest intercity bus network in the United States, and also operates charter and Amtrak Thruway services, as well as interci ...

and Fullington Trailways.

Colleges and universities

The Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan area is home to several universities. The following is a list of non-profit colleges and universities within Harrisburg–Carlisle:

Cumberland County

* Central Penn College *

Dickinson College Dickinson College is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1773 as Carlisle Grammar School, Dickinson was chartered on September 9, 1783, ...

* Messiah University * Penn State Dickinson School of Law * Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania * United States Army War College

Dauphin County

* HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College (Harrisburg Campus) *

Harrisburg University of Science and Technology Harrisburg University of Science & Technology, commonly referred to as Harrisburg University (HU), is a Private university, private Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, STEM-focused university in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with an a ...

* Penn State College of Medicine * Penn State Harrisburg * Widener University Commonwealth Law School

Media

The Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan area is located entirely within the Harrisburg–York–Lebanon media market. It is the 42nd largest in the United States, with 772,810 households .

Newspapers

* '' The Patriot-News'' * '' Central Penn Business Journal'' * '' Press and Journal'' * '' Carlisle Sentinel''

Television

The Harrisburg TV market is served by: * WGAL – ( NBC) *

WXBU WXBU (channel 15) is a television station licensed to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States, serving the Susquehanna Valley region as an affiliate of the Spanish-language network Univision. The station is owned by Howard Stirk Holdings, a part ...

– (

Comet A comet is an icy, small Solar System body that warms and begins to release gases when passing close to the Sun, a process called outgassing. This produces an extended, gravitationally unbound atmosphere or Coma (cometary), coma surrounding ...

) * WHBG-TV – cable-only, public access *

WHP-TV WHP-TV (channel 21) is a television station licensed to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States, serving the Susquehanna Valley region as an affiliate of CBS, MyNetworkTV, and The CW. Owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group, the station has studios ...

– ( CBS) * WHTM-TV – ( ABC) * WCZS-LD – ( CTVN) * WITF-TV – ( PBS) * WPMT – ( Fox) * WLYH – independent, religious * PCN-TV, is a

cable television Cable television is a system of delivering television programming to consumers via radio frequency (RF) signals transmitted through coaxial cables, or in more recent systems, light pulses through fibre-optic cables. This contrasts with bro ...

network dedicated to 24-hour coverage of

government A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a State (polity), state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive (government), execu ...

and public affairs in the

commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the 15th century. Originally a phrase (the common-wealth ...

. * Roxbury News –independent news

Radio

The Harrisburg area's radio market is ranked 78th in the nation.This is a list of FM stations in the Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan area: This is a list of AM stations in the Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan area:

Area codes

The entire Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan area is served by two area codes: * 717: area code used in South Central Pennsylvania * 223:

overlay plan In telecommunications, an area code overlay complex is a telephone numbering plan that assigns multiple area codes to the same geographic numbering plan area (NPA). Area code overlays are implemented in territories of the North American Numbe ...

with 717 area code

References

External links

PA MSA 1990 Census and 1994 Population Estimatescensus.gov Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harrisburg-Carlisle, Pennsylvania, metropolitan statistical area Metropolitan areas of Pennsylvania Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Carlisle, Pennsylvania Geography of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Geography of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Geography of Perry County, Pennsylvania Susquehanna Valley