Editing Hummelstown, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Borough in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Hummelstown, Pennsylvania
| other_name = Fredrickstown
| native_name = 
| nickname = 
| settlement_type = [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|Borough]]
| motto = Your Kind of Town
| image_skyline = Hummelstown.jpg
| imagesize = 
| image_caption = Hummelstown square
| image_flag = 
| flag_size = 
| image_seal = 
| seal_size = 
| image_shield = 
| shield_size = 
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_size = 
| image_map = Dauphin County Pennsylvania incorporated and unincorporated areas Hummelstown highlighted.svg
| mapsize = 260px
| map_caption = Location in [[Dauphin County, Pennsylvania|Dauphin County]] and the U.S. state of [[Pennsylvania]].
| pushpin_map            = Pennsylvania#USA
| pushpin_label = Hummelstown
| pushpin_map_caption    = Location in Pennsylvania and the United States
| pushpin_label_position = left
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Pennsylvania]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Pennsylvania|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Dauphin County, Pennsylvania|Dauphin]]
| subdivision_type3 = 
| subdivision_name3 = 
| subdivision_type4 = 
| subdivision_name4 = 
| government_footnotes = There are 12 seats on the borough council
| government_type = Borough Council
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = <nowiki>David Roeting</nowiki>
| leader_title1 = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
| leader_name1 = 
| leader_title2 = 
| leader_name2 = 
| leader_title3 = 
| leader_name3 = 
| leader_title4 = 
| leader_name4 = 
| established_title = Settled
| established_date = 1762
| established_title2 = Incorporated (borough)
| established_date2 = 1874
| area_magnitude = 
| unit_pref  = Imperial
| area_footnotes = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='42'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 12, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 3.39
| area_land_km2 = 3.22
| area_water_km2 = 0.18
| area_total_sq_mi = 1.31
| area_land_sq_mi = 1.24
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.07
| area_water_percent = 
| area_urban_km2 = 
| area_urban_sq_mi = 
| area_metro_km2 = 
| area_metro_sq_mi = 
| area_blank1_title = 
| area_blank1_km2 = 
| area_blank1_sq_mi = 
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_note = 
| population_total = 4544
| population_density_km2 = 1412.46
| population_density_sq_mi = 3658.62
| population_metro = 
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
| population_urban = 
| population_density_urban_km2 = 
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 
| population_blank1_title = 
| population_blank1 = 
| population_density_blank1_km2 = 
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi = 
| timezone = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset = -5
| timezone_DST = EDT
| utc_offset_DST = -4
| coordinates       = {{coord|40|15|55|N|76|42|31|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <!-- for references: use<ref> </ref> tags --><ref name="GNIS1">{{cite web |title=Hummelstown |year=2009 |publisher=[[Geographic Names Information System]] |access-date=2009-12-02 |url=http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:1215164}}</ref>
| elevation_m = 
| elevation_ft = 397
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code = 17036
| area_code = [[Area code 717|717]]
| blank_name = [[FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 42-36232<ref name="Census 2010" />
| blank1_name = [[GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 1213972<ref>{{gnis|1213972}}</ref>
| website = {{URL|www.hummelstown.net}}
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
}}

'''Hummelstown''' is a [[borough (Pennsylvania)|borough]] in [[Dauphin County, Pennsylvania]], United States. The population was 4,535 as of the 2020 census.<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021">{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=13 July 2022}}</ref> It is part of the [[Harrisburg metropolitan area]].

Originally named Fredrickstown, the town was established in 1762.<ref name="Fredrickstown">{{cite journal|last=Hopkins|first=Thomas Cramer|year=1896|title=The building materials of Pennsylvania: I. Brownstones|journal=Pennsylvania State College|publisher=Clarence M. Busch, State Printer|location=Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|page=[https://archive.org/details/buildingmateria00collgoog/page/n68 48]|url=https://archive.org/details/buildingmateria00collgoog|quote=place names Hummelstown.|access-date=2009-05-01}}</ref> Hummelstown is a [[Tree City USA|Tree City]] and is located in [[Pennsylvania Senate, District 15|District 15 of the Pennsylvania State Senate]]. It is centrally located between [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|Harrisburg]] and [[Hershey, Pennsylvania|Hershey]], making it a common tourist drive-through. It has several businesses and shops designed to capitalize on the tourist travel that passes through town.<ref name="fizber">[http://www.fizber.com/sale-by-owner-home-services/pennsylvania-city-hummelstown-profile.html Hummelstown profile], fizber.com; accessed December 3, 2016.</ref>

==History==
{{more citations needed section|date=December 2016}}
[[File:Parish house museum1.jpg|thumb|left|The original Parish House, now the Hummelstown Historical Society Library & Museum]]
Hummelstown was founded as "Fredrickstown" in 1762 by two Germans, Frederick and Rosina Hummel.<ref name="Fredrickstown"/> They purchased the land for 200 [[pound sterling|pounds sterling]], then divided the area into building lots, which were sold to German settlers. During the mid-19th century, the [[Union Canal (Pennsylvania)|Union Canal]] along [[Swatara Creek]] was an important factor in the development of the local economy, promoting trade and transportation.

The town was located on the Berks-Dauphin Turnpike, and later it was served by the Union Canal<ref name="museum">{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20080906122147/http://www.hummelstownhistorical.org/museum.htm Hummelstown Historical Society and Museum]}}</ref> which paralleled Swatara Creek bordering the north and the west sides of the town, and was opened in 1827. The [[Lebanon Valley Railroad]] arrived in 1858. This brought about many jobs of stone cutting and [[shipyard]] work and helped facilitate the [[Hummelstown Brownstone Company]] which became the leading employer of Hummelstown residents.<ref name="museum" /> The company mined [[Hummelstown brownstone]] at its quarries from 1867 until 1929. The company was the largest producer of [[brownstone]] on the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]].

Throughout the history of the town it has been a stopping point for tourists traveling to Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, or to Hershey, the home of [[Hershey Foods]], [[Hersheypark]], and [[Chocolate World]]. At various times Hummelstown has been as close as {{convert|20|mi}} from up to ten different professional sports teams, such as the [[Harrisburg Heat (MASL)|Harrisburg Heat]], [[Hershey Bears]], [[Hershey Wildcats]], and the [[Harrisburg City Islanders]]. The [[Calder Cup]] has had several ceremonies conducted in Hummelstown over the years.

The borough celebrated its [[semiquincentennial]] or 250-year anniversary in 2012.

The [[Dr. William Henderson House]], [[Keystone Hotel (Hummelstown, Pennsylvania)|Keystone Hotel]], [[Enoch Matlack House]], and [[Zion Lutheran Church and Graveyard]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref> The Hummelstown Historical Society building is located at North Rosanna Street and North Alley Street in the original building for the Zion Lutheran Church, which is now the main brownstone church on Main Street of Hummelstown. The society has a library, museum, and genealogy section, and hosts numerous Native American [[relic]]s, such as [[arrowhead]]s, [[bone]]s, and [[pottery]].<ref name="museum"/>

Hummelstown is within a thirty-minute drive of several colleges and educational institutions, such as [[Harrisburg Area Community College|HACC]], [[Lebanon Valley College]], [[Penn State Harrisburg]], YTI Career Institute, Kepler Career Institute, and VoTech. Many residents of Hummelstown have jobs in [[Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania|Derry Township]], mainly through Hershey Foods and its subsidiaries.

Hummelstown currently has three [[historical marker]]s in the town, one for the town's oldest church, one for a former Revolutionary War gun factory, and the other for the Hummelstown Brownstone company.<ref name="Historical Markers">[http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=7132 Hummelstown Brownstone Quarries Marker], hmdb.org; accessed December 3, 2016.</ref>

==Geography==
{{more citations needed section|date=March 2017}}
[[File:SwateracreekinHTown.jpg|thumb|right|240px|[[Swatara Creek]] as seen from a park in Hummelstown, at the west end of town. The bridge supports [[U.S. 322]].]]
Hummelstown is located in southern Dauphin County at {{coord|40|15|55|N|076|42|30|W|type:city}} (40.265168, −76.710995) at an elevation of {{convert|397|ft|m}} above sea level.<ref name="GNIS1"/> According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the borough has a total area of {{convert|3.4|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{Convert|3.2|sqkm|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.2|km2|order=flip|1}}, or 6.31%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4236232|title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Hummelstown borough, Pennsylvania|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder|access-date=December 15, 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213064515/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4236232|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Swatara Creek]], a southward-flowing tributary of the [[Susquehanna River]], forms the northern and western border of Hummelstown,<ref name="GNIS2">{{cite web |title=Swatara Creek |year=2009 |publisher=[[Geographic Names Information System]] |access-date=2009-12-02 |url=http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:1189149}}</ref> and there is one unnamed pond by the Hummel Nature Trail east of the 7–11, at the end of town, next to the [[Tee Ball]] baseball field.

===Climate===
The climate of Hummelstown is similar to [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania#Climate|Harrisburg's]]. The lows during winter reach about {{convert|-5|F|C}}, and the highs during summer reach about {{convert|95|F|C}}.
[[File:Hummelstownclimatechart.png|center|Hummelstown's climate during the year]]

====Weather====
Few [[tornado]]es or [[hurricane]]s striking Hummelstown over the years. In 1992 the borough was hit by a [[bow tornado]]. In past years the town has been hit by only several hurricanes, the most severe being [[Hurricane Agnes]] which knocked out two key bridges in the town.<ref>[http://climate.fizber.com/pennsylvania-city-hummelstown-climate.html Fizber Hummelstown Climate], climate.fizber.com; accessed March 10, 2017.</ref>

Hummelstown has had numerous [[blizzard]]s. In 1996, a [[North American blizzard of 1996|blizzard]] hit with {{convert|13|in}}; in 1997, a [[North American blizzard of 1997|blizzard]] hit Hummelstown with {{convert|9|in}} of snow. In 2004, a blizzard with {{convert|7|in}} hit Hummelstown, and a [[February 5–6, 2010 North American blizzard|blizzard]] hit Hummelstown in 2010 with a record-setting {{convert|21|in}}.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}

===Highways===
[[U.S. Route 322]] skirts the south side of the borough as the [[Hummelstown Bypass]]. [[U.S. Route 422]] branches off US 322 just east of the borough limits. The center of Hershey is {{Convert|3.5|mi}} east of the center of Hummelstown, and Harrisburg is {{Convert|11|mi}} to the west.

East of the center of Hummelstown, Main Street ends at the Boro Bar and Walton Avenue (previously Main Street) turns into and becomes [[PA Route 39]]/Hersheypark Road. At the west end of Hummelstown, Fiddlers Elbow Road crosses the US 322 bypass without access to it, then leads south {{convert|3|mi|0}} to the [[Pennsylvania Route 283|PA 283]] expressway. Main Street, leaving Hummelstown to the west, joins [[U.S. Route 322 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 322]]. Going east Main Street turns into PA Route 39 at what part is known as Hersheypark Drive in [[Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania|Derry Township]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 480
|1850= 619
|1860= 807
|1870= 837
|1880= 1043
|1890= 1485
|1900= 1729
|1910= 2128
|1920= 2654
|1930= 3036
|1940= 3264
|1950= 3789
|1960= 4474
|1970= 4723
|1980= 4267
|1990= 3981
|2000= 4360
|2010= 4538
|2020= 4535
|estyear=2021
|estimate=4523
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="USDecennialCensus">{{cite web|title=Census of Population and Housing|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=December 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref><ref name=CensusPopEst>{{cite web|title=Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|work=Population Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=December 11, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611010502/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|archive-date=June 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:42&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 12, 2022}}</ref>
}}

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]] the median house value in Hummelstown is $99,400.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?geo_id=16000US4236232&ds_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U&qr_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_DP4&_lang=en&_sse=on |title=United Census Bureau Page 2 |access-date=2009-12-21 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214065259/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?geo_id=16000US4236232&ds_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U&qr_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_DP4&_lang=en&_sse=on |archive-date=2020-02-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Directly within the main limits of the town, excluding those of the development of Graystone, as well as those that have Hummelstown addresses, there is a total of 1,953 housing units.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?geo_id=16000US4236232&ds_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U&qr_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_DP4&_lang=en&_sse=on |title=UCB Page 2 |access-date=2009-12-21 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214065259/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?geo_id=16000US4236232&ds_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U&qr_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_DP4&_lang=en&_sse=on |archive-date=2020-02-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{| class=wikitable
|-
!Units in structure || Number || Percent<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?geo_id=16000US4236232&ds_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U&qr_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_DP4&_lang=en&_sse=on |title=United Census Bureau Housing Chart |access-date=2009-12-21 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214065259/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?geo_id=16000US4236232&ds_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U&qr_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_DP4&_lang=en&_sse=on |archive-date=2020-02-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| 1-Unit Detached
| align=right | 1,031
| 52.8%
|-
| 1-Unit Attached
| align=right | 195
| 10%
|-
| 2-Units
| align=right | 116
| 5.9%
|-
| 3 or 4 Units
| align=right | 216
| 11.1%
|-
| 5 to 9 Units
| align=right | 220
| 11.3%
|-
| 10 to 19 Units
| align=right | 65
| 3.3%
|-
| 20 or more Units
| align=right | 74
| 3.8%
|-
| Mobile Home
| align=right | 36
| 1.8%
|-
| Boat, RV, or Van (etc.)
| align=right | 0
| 0.00%
|-
|}

Hummelstown is home to many older homes; a large number were built in the earlier decades of the 1900s.
{| class=wikitable
|-
!Year structure built || Number || Percent<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?geo_id=16000US4236232&ds_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U&qr_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_DP4&_lang=en&_sse=on |title=United Census Bureau House Aging Chart |access-date=2009-12-21 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214065259/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?geo_id=16000US4236232&ds_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U&qr_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_DP4&_lang=en&_sse=on |archive-date=2020-02-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| 1999 to March 2000
| align=right | 21
| 1.1%
|-
| 1995 to 1998
| align=right | 85
| 4.4%
|-
| 1990 to 1994
| align=right | 33
| 1.7%
|-
| 1980 to 1989
| align=right | 143
| 7.3%
|-
| 1970 to 1979
| align=right | 239
| 12.2%
|-
| 1960 to 1969
| align=right | 250
| 12.8%
|-
| 1940 to 1959
| align=right | 531
| 27.2%
|-
| 1939 or earlier
| align=right | 651
| 33.3%
|-
|}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the estimated upkeep cost and home improvement costs to percentage of house value in Hummelstown, has a median of less than 15% (which comes to a median cost of $14,910).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?geo_id=16000US4236232&ds_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U&qr_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_DP4&_lang=en&_sse=on |title=FactFinder.census.gov Hummelstown Housing Costs |access-date=2009-12-21 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214065259/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?geo_id=16000US4236232&ds_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U&qr_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_DP4&_lang=en&_sse=on |archive-date=2020-02-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===2000 census records===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2"/> of 2000, there were 4,360 people, 1,879 households, and 1,200 families residing in the borough. The population density was {{convert|3,233.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,953 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,448.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the borough was 97.02% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|White]], 0.32% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|African American]], 0.02% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Native American]], 1.06% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Asian]], 0.07% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Pacific Islander]], 0.67% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|other races]], and 0.85% from two or more races. [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Hispanic]] or [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Latino]] of any race were 1.51% of the population.

There were 1,879 households, out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the borough, the population exhibited a varied distribution, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 7.4% aged 18 to 24, 32.0% aged 25 to 44, 21.1% aged 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years or older. The median age stood at 38 years. There were 95.0 males for every 100 females, and among those aged 18 and over, there were 93.4 males per 100 females.

The [[median income]] for a household in the borough was $41,625, and the median income for a family was $50,572. Males had a median income of $36,500 versus $27,547 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the borough was $21,394. About 4.2% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the [[Poverty threshold|poverty line]], including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==
{{more citations needed section|date=March 2017}}

===Annual cultural events===
* The Lollipop Drop – New Year's Eve (discontinued)
* Movie Nights – at the Herbert A. Schaffner Memorial Park
* Taste of Hummelstown – food sampling by restaurants along the [[Main Street]]
* The Hummelstown Arts Festival – a non-profit annual arts festival held each September to raise money for scholarships for graduating seniors at Lower Dauphin High School continuing their education in the arts.
*Hummelstown Winter Fling - January event featuring music, food, and drinks on the square. Established in 2014.  
* [[Trick or Treat]] – [[Halloween]] is the night used for the annual Trick or Treat. Houses with their porchlight on from 6&nbsp;pm until 8&nbsp;pm are houses participating.

Borough of Hummelstown: [http://www.hummelstown.net/index.asp?SEC=45340E9D-8BC6-44EF-AE00-C344A2DAB0EF&Type=B_EV Calendar of Events]

===Museums and other points of interest===
Hummelstown has a historical society constructed with Hummelstown brownstone. The Hummelstown Historical Society is both a museum and [[visitor center]]. The town is home to a historical landmark, the Warwick Hotel, which is still a [[tavern]] reminiscent of its pre-[[American Revolution|Revolutionary War]] days. [[George Washington]] stayed a night there and drank from its bar.{{citation needed|date=January 2012}}

[[Indian Echo Caverns]], located one-half mile south of the borough limits, is one of the main attractions near Hummelstown. The caverns were originally used by the [[Susquehannock]] tribe, who lived and hunted in the nearby area until they vanished in the 1670s; it opened to the public in 1929.

The [[Short-line railroad|shortline]] [[Middletown and Hummelstown Railroad]] operates heritage and freight service between its namesake towns of [[Middletown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania|Middletown]] and just south of Hummelstown proper, stopping in front of the Indian Echo Caverns entrance. The Hummelstown Borough Council has expressed concern around quality of life issues (noise, odor, safety) with having more trains passing through town. As such, trains stop just south of the busy four-lane [[U.S. Route 322]] grade crossing on a regular basis, and are allowed to enter town exactly 12 times per year.<ref>[http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2009/04/hummelstown_wants_hearing_on_m.html pennlive.com]</ref> [[Norfolk Southern]]'s busy [[Harrisburg Line]] traverses the northern section of Hummelstown, with up to 20 lengthy freight trains passing through daily.

===In the town===
In the town there is an [[American Legion]], a borough office building, and a post office. The legion and the post office are located on Walton Avenue (Main Street). The borough office building is located on South Hanover Street. The town also has several churches, most located on Main Street.

The Hummelstown Chemical Fire Department occasionally serves as a distribution center for Potassium Iodide pills supplied by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Hummelstown falls within a 10-mile radius of Three Mile Island.

===Religion===
As much of Pennsylvania, in the initial days of its founding, Hummelstown had a large base of [[Quakers]]. As the town grew, other Protestant denominations such as [[Lutheran]], [[Methodist]], and [[Presbyterian]] developed.

==Parks and recreation==
{{more citations needed section|date=March 2017}}
{{See also|List of Pennsylvania state parks}}
[[File:BPpavilion.JPG|left|thumb|The Pavilion at Herbert A. Schaffner Park]]
Several parks are located throughout the borough:<ref name="Parks">{{cite web|url=http://www.hummelstown.net/index.asp?Type=B_DIR&SEC={FFE603CF-91D8-4D1D-9BBC-E79C994C7917}|title=Borough of Hummelstown – Parks|access-date=2009-05-02}}</ref>
[[File:BPplayground.JPG|right|thumb|The playground at Schaffner Park, the former Borough Park.]]
* Barry E. Mehaffie Memorial Park (formerly West End Park)
* Herbert A. Schaffner Memorial Park (formerly Borough Park)
* Hummel Nature Trail
* Marion F. Alexander Memorial Park
* Shope's Field

==Education==
{{unreferenced section|date=March 2017}}
[[File:LDHS-overhead.jpg|right|thumb|[[Lower Dauphin High School]], as taken from the [[Hershey Medical Center]] life lion]]
Hummelstown is located in [[Lower Dauphin School District]]. [[Lower Dauphin High School]], Lower Dauphin Middle School, Nye Elementary School, and the Price Building are located within the borough, as is the school district's administration building.
[[File:LDFalcons.jpg|left|thumb|The Lower Dauphin High School Falcons logo]]

===Libraries===
Hummelstown's public library, the [https://www.dcls.org/afl William H. and Marion C. Alexander Family Library], named for its major donors and local philanthropists, is located on the corner of 2nd and Railroad Streets.
::HUM at a glance:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://dcls.org/w/l/bldg/hum.html |title=Hummelstown Community Library |access-date=2010-05-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100215011741/http://dcls.org/w/l/bldg/hum.html |archive-date=2010-02-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
:2,821 square feet of net space
:27,456 volumes
:Opened in 1953.
:Building constructed in 1957 as Hummelstown Teen Center, later Hummelstown Civic Center.
:Library moved into building in 1965.
:Became part of the Dauphin County Library System in 1975. Library took over entire building in 1983. (This address is the current location of the library but the building info pertains to the former location across from the NYE Elementary School.)

==Media==
Hummelstown is home to ''[[The Sun (Hummelstown)|The Sun]]'' newspaper, which covers Hummelstown, [[Hershey, Pennsylvania|Hershey]] and Palmyra area (Lower Dauphin, Derry Township, Milton Hershey and Palmyra Area school districts). In early 2008, The Sun acquired the subscribers of the now-defunct Hershey Chronicle newspaper<ref>''The Sun'', February 4, 2009.</ref> making The Sun the largest paid-circulation weekly in Dauphin County. ''The Sun'' began in 1871.<ref name="museum"/>

Other newspapers that cover Hummelstown include:
* ''[[The Patriot-News]]''
* ''[[Central Penn Business Journal]]''

=== Radio stations ===
This is a list of [[FM station]]s in the greater '''Hummelstown, Pennsylvania''', metropolitan area.

{| class=wikitable
|-
![[Callsign]] || MHz || Band || "Name", Format, Owner || [[City of license]]
|-
| [[WDCV]]
| align=right | 88.3
| FM
| Indie/College Rock, [[Dickinson College]]
| Carlisle
|-
| [[WXPH]]
| align=right | 88.7
| FM
| [[WXPN]] relay, [[University of Pennsylvania]]
| Harrisburg
|-
| [[WSYC]]
| align=right | 88.7
| FM
| Alternative, [[Shippensburg University]]
| Shippensburg
|-
| [[WITF-FM]]
| align=right | 89.5
| FM
| [[NPR]]
| Harrisburg
|-
| [[WVMM]]
| align=right | 90.7
| FM
| Indie/College Rock, [[Messiah College]]
| Grantham
|-
| [[WJAZ]]
| align=right | 91.7
| FM
| [[WRTI]] relay, Classical/Jazz, [[Temple University]]
| Harrisburg
|-
| [[WKHL (FM)|WKHL]]
| align=right | 92.1
| FM
| "K-Love", Contemporary Christian
| Palmyra
|-
| [[WPPY]]
| align=right | 92.7
| FM
| "Nu 92.7" Adult Contemporary
| Starview
|-
| [[WTPA-FM]]
| align=right | 93.5
| FM
| "93.5 WTPA" Classic Rock
| Mechanicsburg
|-
| [[WRBT]]
| align=right | 94.9
| FM
| "Bob" Country
| Harrisburg
|-
| [[WLAN-FM|WLAN]]
| align=right | 96.9
| FM
| "FM 97" Top 40
| Lancaster
|-
| [[WRVV]]
| align=right | 97.3
| FM
| "The River" Classic Hits and the Best of Today's Rock
| Harrisburg
|-
| [[WYCR]]
| align=right | 98.5
| FM
| 98.5 The Peak
| York
|-
| [[WQLV]]
| align=right | 98.9
| FM
| "Love 99" Adult Contemporary
| Millersburg
|-
| [[WHKF]]
| align=right | 99.3
| FM
| "Kiss-FM" CHR
| Harrisburg
|-
| [[WFVY]]
| align=right | 100.1
| FM
| Adult Contemporary
| Lebanon
|-
| [[WROZ]]
| align=right | 101.3
| FM
| "The Rose" Adult Contemporary
| Lancaster
|-
| [[WARM-FM|WARM]]
| align=right | 103.3
| FM
| "Warm 103" Adult Contemporary
| York
|-
| [[WNNK]]
| align=right | 104.1
| FM
| "Wink 104" Hot AC
| Harrisburg
|-
| [[WQXA]]
| align=right | 105.7
| FM
| "105.7 The X" Hard Rock
| York
|-
| [[WWKL (FM)|WWKL]]
| align=right | 106.7
| FM
| "Hot 106.7" CHR
| Hershey
|-
| [[WGTY]]
| align=right | 107.7
| FM
| "Great Country"
| York
|-
|}

This is a list of [[AM station]]s in the '''Hummelstown, Pennsylvania''', metropolitan area:

{| class=wikitable
|-
![[Callsign]] || kHz || Band || Format || [[City of license]]
|-
| [[WHP (AM)]]
| align=right | 580
| AM
| Conservative News/Talk
| Harrisburg
|-
| [[WHYF]]
| align=right | 720
| AM
| Contemporary Christian
| Shiremanstown
|-
| [[WSBA (AM)]]
| align=right | 910
| AM
| News/Talk
| York
|-
| [[WADV]]
| align=right | 940
| AM
| Gospel
| Lebanon
|-
| [[WHYL]]
| align=right | 960
| AM
| Adult Standards
| Carlisle
|-
| [[WIOO]]
| align=right | 1000
| AM
| Classic Country
| Carlisle
|-
| [[WKBO]]
| align=right | 1230
| AM
| Christian Contemporary
| Harrisburg
|-
| [[WQXA-AM|WQXA]]
| align=right | 1250
| AM
| Country
| York
|-
| [[WLBR]]
| align=right | 1270
| AM
| Talk
| Lebanon
|-
| [[WHGB]]
| align=right | 1400
| AM
| Now ESPN Radio (Formerly Adult R&B: The Touch)
| Harrisburg
|-
| [[WTKT]]
| align=right | 1460
| AM
| sports: "The Ticket"
| Harrisburg
|-
| [[WRDD]]
| align=right | 1480
| AM
| Country
| Shippensburg
|-
| [[WRKY (AM)|WRKY]]
| align=right | 1490
| AM
| Classic rock
| Lancaster
|-
| [[WPDC]]
| align=right | 1600
| AM
| Spanish
| Elizabethtown
|}

==Folklore==
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2017}}
There is a great history to the area, with its fields, creek, and the caves nearby. The biggest case of folklore around the town is the case of the sister and brother duo of [[William "Amos" Wilson]] and [[Elizabeth "Harriot" Wilson]]. William would later be known as "the Pennsylvania Hermit".

==Notable people==
* [[Kate Baer]], poet<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bennett |first1=Jessica |title=Kate Baer Is Speaking Truth. From Her Minivan. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/13/books/kate-baer-what-kind-of-woman-poetry-feminism-motherhood.html |access-date=18 January 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=13 March 2021}}</ref>
* [[Brian Baker (actor)|Brian Baker]], actor{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
* [[Jerry G. Beck Jr.]], US Army brigadier general<ref name="DMVABio2017">{{cite web |date=2017 |title=Biography Brig. Gen. (Ret) Jerry G. Beck Jr. |url=https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/dmva/documents/dmvaoffices/pdf/hall-of-fame/jerry%20g%20beck%20jr.pdf |website=DMVA Hall of Fame |location=Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs |pages=1–2}}</ref>
* [[Terry Farrell (actress)|Terry Farrell]], model and actress{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
* [[Bill Gaudette]], soccer player for the [[New York Red Bulls]]
* [[Newt Gingrich]], former [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]] and [[Newt Gingrich presidential campaign, 2012|presidential candidate]], was raised by his mother and step-father on Main Street in an apartment above what is now a computer store. There is a tree on Main Street dedicated to his step-father as well as a plaque commemorating the site as their place of residence.
* [[George M. Leader]], former governor of [[Pennsylvania]]
* [[Laurel Martin]], [[field hockey]] player formerly for the [[United States at the Summer Olympics|US Olympic Team]]
* [[John D. Payne]], [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] member of the US House of Representatives
* [[Alexander Ramsey]], second governor of [[Minnesota]]
* [[William Simonton]], [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig]] member of the [[US House of Representatives]]
* [[Bob Swank]], head coach of the [[Buffalo State College]] football team
* [[William K. Thierfelder]], psychologist
* [[Chris Villarrial]], [[American football]] player, formerly for the [[Buffalo Bills]] and [[Chicago Bears]]
* [[James M. Wallace]], member of the US House of Representatives
* [[Richard Winters]], WWII veteran best known for his direction in "Band of Brothers"

==Historic buildings and listings==
{{See also|National Register of Historic Places listings in Dauphin_County, Pennsylvania}}
[[File:Henderson House DauphCo PA.jpg|thumb|Henderson House]]
* [[Dr. William Henderson House]] – 31 East Main Street
* [[Keystone Hotel (Hummelstown, Pennsylvania)|Keystone Hotel]] – 40 East Main Street
* [[Enoch Matlack House]] – 250 East Main Street
* [[John Todd House]] – South Meadow Lane
* [[Zion Lutheran Church and Graveyard]] – Rosana Street, home of the Hummelstown Historical Society
* [[Brownstone Station]] - 320 E 2nd St

==Native Americans==
There were several [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] [[tribe]]s located around Hummelstown, including the [[Susquehannock]]s, the [[Iroquois]], and several smaller tribes that would later be conquered or assimilated into the Iroquois.<ref>[http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/pennsylvania/ Information on Native Americans – Indigenous to Pennsylvania], accessgenealogy.com; accessed March 10, 2017.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Hummelstown Brownstone]]
* [[Indian Echo Caverns]]
* [[List of museums in Pennsylvania]]
* [[List of towns and boroughs in Pennsylvania]]
* [[Middletown and Hummelstown Railroad]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.hummelstown.net/ Borough website]
* [http://www.thesunontheweb.com/ ''The Sun'' newspaper]
* [http://www.indianechocaverns.com/ Indian Echo Caverns]

{{Harrisburg Radio}}
{{Dauphin County, Pennsylvania}}
{{Pennsylvania}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places established in 1762]]
[[Category:Boroughs in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1874 establishments in Pennsylvania]]