Hershey is a census-designated place (CDP) in Derry Township in the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The community is located 14 miles east of Harrisburg and is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Hershey has no legal status as an incorporated municipality and all municipal services are provided by Derry Township. The population was 12,771 at the 2000 census.

Hershey was originally named Derry Church, Pennsylvania. It was renamed Hershey in 1906 after the growing popularity of Hershey's Chocolate. It is popularly called "Chocolatetown, USA." Hershey is also referred to as "The Sweetest Place on Earth."

Demographics

As of the censusGR: 2 of 2000, there were 12,771 people, 5,451 households, and 3,297 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 886.5 people per square mile (342.2/km²). There were 5,887 housing units at an average density of 408.7/sq mi (157.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.07% White, 2.12% African American, 0.06% Native American, 4.87% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.55% of the population.

There were 5,451 households out of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 20.3% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $45,098, and the median income for a family was $63,385. Males had a median income CDP was $28,487. About 3.8% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

Hershey is home of the 2006 and nine-time Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League. The Bears, one of the oldest hockey teams in existence and one of the few remaining original teams of the AHL, played in the Hersheypark Arena for over six decades and have made GIANT Center their home since 2002.

Hershey was once home to the Hershey Wildcats of the A-League. This professional soccer team was folded after the 2001 season by its owners, who decided that it would not be successful financially. The Wildcats were named after a popular roller-coaster in Hersheypark. Hershey was also home to the Hershey Impact over the AISL indoor soccer league.