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A+History
History · Harrisburg

Harrisburg dates to 1719, and 43% of its homes were built before 1940

Among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns · #14 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. What drives it

37 places in town are on the National Register, among them 4 National Historic Landmarks and eight historic districts with 3,796 buildings between them. Below: 16 old photos and papers, maps from 1884 on, and the census since 1790.

1719founded
37on the National Register
43%homes built before 1940
16old photos & papers
36famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Harrisburg’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Harrisburg began

When was Harrisburg founded?

1719

Harrisburg dates its founding to 1719 (Wikidata). It appears in the first U.S. census, 1790.

First census: 875 in 17902020 census: 50,099307 years

How historic is Harrisburg?

A+

Among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Harrisburg’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Harrisburg is among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns, #14 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. All 3 inputs put Harrisburg near the top nationally; its National Register listings ranks highest.

A+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Harrisburg’s overall grade.
Founding era1719, from Wikidata: founded before 1776, an older era than 96% of U.S. townsA+Homes built before 194043.2% of homes (±3.2) · typical PA town 17.7% · U.S. 8.4%A+National Register37 listings, 3,827 historic buildings, 761 per 10,000 residents · typical PA town 2.1 · U.S. 2.4A+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Among the top 1%
NewerOlder
Pennsylvania towns of 2,500+ (1,035)#14 of 1,035

Pennsylvania towns list about as much on the Register as the country (a typical Pennsylvania town has 2.1 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Harrisburg’s 761 sits above most of its state (96% of Pennsylvania towns have fewer) while its 3,827 historic buildings outnumber those of 100% of U.S. towns.

NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1719.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would still be A+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.2 points).

Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about Harrisburg’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A National Historic Landmark37 places on the National Register, 4 of them National Historic Landmarks.A historic districtThe Mount Pleasant Historic District takes in 2,098 historic buildings.On the map since 18928 editions of the USGS map, 1892 to 1993. Watch Harrisburg change.Boom and bustPeaked at 89,544 in 1950; 50,099 people lived here in 2020.
★ What stands out · On the National Register

37 listings protect 3,827 historic buildings

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving. 4 are National Historic Landmarks, the highest tier. Boundary changes and added documentation are counted with their listing.

places listed
37
National Historic Landmarks
4
John Harris Mansion
historic buildings protected
3,827
each building in a district counts
first listed
1972
Walnut Street Bridge
Walnut Street Bridge, built 1890Broad Street MarketSalem United Church of ChristGerman Evangelical Zion Lutheran ChurchHarrisburg Historic DistrictWilliam R. Griffith HouseKeystone BuildingWilliam Seel BuildingCamp Curtin Fire Station, built 1910Colonial Theatre, built 1836Kunkel Building, built 1914Harrisburg Technical High SchoolMidtown Harrisburg Historic DistrictOld Downtown Harrisburg Commercial Historic DistrictMount Pleasant Historic DistrictHarrisburg CemeteryCameron, Simon, SchoolMarket Street Bridge, built 1928Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Bridge, built 1930Old Uptown Harrisburg Historic DistrictSheffield Apartments, built 1925William Donaldson HouseHarrisburg 19th Street ArmoryHarrisburg Military PostDauphin County CourthouseHarris Switch Tower, Pennsylvania RailroadHarrisburg Polyclinic HospitalCamp Curtin Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church, built 1895Penn, William, Memorial Museum and State Archives BuildingZembo ShrineJohn Harris Mansion★Harrisburg Central Railroad Station and Trainshed, built 1887★State Capitol Building, Pennsylvania, built 1906★Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex (Boundary Revision)★
BuildingsDistrictsSitesStructures★ landmark

Architectural styles listings

Greek Revival5
Victorian5
Queen Anne5
Italianate4
Romanesque3
Eastlake3
★ Landmark
John Harris MansionGeorgian
★ Landmark
Harrisburg Central Railroad Station and TrainshedBuilt 1887
★ Landmark
State Capitol Building, PennsylvaniaGreek Revival · Built 1906
★ Landmark
Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex (Boundary Revision)District
Walnut Street BridgeBuilt 1890
Broad Street MarketBuilding
Salem United Church of ChristClassical
German Evangelical Zion Lutheran ChurchGothic
All 37 listings
Harrisburg Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1976William R. Griffith HouseBuilding · listed 1976Keystone BuildingBuilding · listed 1979William Seel BuildingBuilding · listed 1980Camp Curtin Fire StationBuilding · listed 1981Colonial TheatreBuilding · listed 1982Kunkel BuildingBuilding · listed 1982Harrisburg Technical High SchoolBuilding · listed 1982Midtown Harrisburg Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1983Old Downtown Harrisburg Commercial Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1983Mount Pleasant Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1985Harrisburg CemeteryDistrict · listed 1985Cameron, Simon, SchoolBuilding · listed 1986Market Street BridgeStructure · listed 1988Soldiers and Sailors Memorial BridgeStructure · listed 1988Old Uptown Harrisburg Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1990Sheffield ApartmentsBuilding · listed 1990William Donaldson HouseBuilding · listed 1990Harrisburg 19th Street ArmoryBuilding · listed 1991Harrisburg Military PostDistrict · listed 1991Dauphin County CourthouseBuilding · listed 1993Harris Switch Tower, Pennsylvania RailroadBuilding · listed 1994Harrisburg Polyclinic HospitalBuilding · listed 2004Camp Curtin Memorial Methodist Episcopal ChurchBuilding · listed 2010Penn, William, Memorial Museum and State Archives BuildingBuilding · listed 2014Zembo ShrineBuilding · listed 2024Craig Family CemeterySite · listed 2024Finney HouseBuilding · listed 2026Harrisburg Federal BuildingBuilding · listed 2026

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

On the map

Harrisburg on the map, 1892 to 1993

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Harrisburg. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Harrisburg on the 1892 USGS mapHarrisburg on the 1924 USGS mapHarrisburg on the 1947 USGS mapHarrisburg on the 1956 USGS mapHarrisburg on the 1963 USGS mapHarrisburg on the 1974 USGS mapHarrisburg on the 1987 USGS mapHarrisburg on the 1993 USGS map1892Harrisburg sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Harrisburg.

The story

How Harrisburg came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Harrisburg.

Read it all →

Harrisburg's site along the Susquehanna River is thought to have been inhabited by Native Americans as early as 3000 BC. Known to the Native Americans as "Peixtin", or "Paxtang", the area was an important resting place and crossroads for Native American traders with trails leading from the Delaware to the Ohio rivers and from the Potomac to the Upper Susquehanna intersecting there.

The first European contact with Native Americans in Pennsylvania was made by Englishman Captain John Smith, who journeyed from Virginia up the Susquehanna River in 1608 and visited with the Susquehanna tribe.

ChaptersFounding17th century18th century19th century20th century21st century

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Harrisburg, 1719 to 1976

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 18th century
  2. 1719
    FoundingHarrisburg is established
  3. 19th century
  4. 1803In the archiveSampler by Elizabeth Stine
  5. 1848In the archiveRecto Harrisburg Bank (Pennsylvania) 5 dollars 1848
  6. 1854In the archiveView of the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
  7. 1860In the archiveThe grave of John Harris, with the Susquehannah [sic] in the background
  8. 1887BuiltHarrisburg Central Railroad Station and Trainshed is built
  9. 1887In the archivePennsylvania Railroad : Old Harrisburg Depot
  10. 1890BuiltWalnut Street Bridge is built
  11. 1890In the archiveGreenawalt Building
  12. 1892On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  13. 20th century
  14. 1906BuiltState Capitol Building, Pennsylvania is built
  15. 1910BuiltCamp Curtin Fire Station is built
  16. 1943Born hereNewt Gingrich is born here
  17. 1948Born hereGlenn Branca is born here
  18. 1950CensusPopulation peaks at 89,544
  19. 1971Born hereEric Mabius is born here
  20. 1975LandmarkJohn Harris Mansion named a National Historic Landmark
  21. 1976LandmarkHarrisburg Central Railroad Station and Trainshed named a National Historic Landmark
By decade

Harrisburg, decade by decade

6 decades in the archive, from the 1800s to the 1890s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1800s1 item
Sampler by Elizabeth Stine1803Sampler by Elizabeth StineDocument
1840s–1860s11 items
Recto Harrisburg Bank (Pennsylvania) 5 dollars 18481848Recto Harrisburg Bank (Pennsylvania) 5 dollars 1848View of the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania1854View of the city of Harrisburg, PennsylvaniaThe grave of John Harris, with the Susquehannah [sic] in the backgroundc. 1860The grave of John Harris, with the Susquehannah [sic]…The grave of John Harris, with the Susquehannah [sic] in the backgroundc. 1860The grave of John Harris, with the Susquehannah [sic]…WilliamHKepner1860WilliamHKepnerHarrisburg, Pa1860Harrisburg, PaPanorama of Camp Curtin 13 sep 18621862Panorama of Camp Curtin 13 sep 1862The Invasion of the North - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania1863The Invasion of the North - Harrisburg, PennsylvaniaBatteries for Entrenchment at Harrisburg, Susquehanna Riv. South sie. [Panel of plans and sections.]c. 1864Batteries for Entrenchment at Harrisburg, Susquehanna…Deserter reward notice 201st Pennsylvania1864Deserter reward notice 201st PennsylvaniaAbraham-Lincoln-funeral-train1865Abraham-Lincoln-funeral-train
1880s–1890s4 items
Pennsylvania Railroad : Old Harrisburg Depot1887Pennsylvania Railroad : Old Harrisburg DepotThe New administration-visitors paying their respects to President Harrison at the White House. The presidential train …1889The New administration-visitors paying their respects…Greenawalt Building1890Greenawalt BuildingMarket Square Harrisburg 18901890Market Square Harrisburg 1890
1900s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Every building

Harrisburg, building by building, 1884–1929

Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.

Harrisburg fire insurance map, 1884, sheet 21884Sheet 2 of 28
Edition
BrickWoodStone

Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Recto Harrisburg Bank (Pennsylvania) 5 dollars 1848
Retake this viewRecto Harrisburg Bank (Pennsylvania) 5 dollars 1848, 1848

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Harrisburg’s page.

Retake this view · +15
People over time

Harrisburg, census by census

020,00040,00060,00080,000100,00018001850190019502000Peak: 89,544

Peaked at 89,544 in 1950; 50,099 people lived here in 2020.

24 censuses, 1790–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Harrisburg’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

36 famous people were born in Harrisburg

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Newt GingrichAmerican politician and former speaker of the U… · b. 1943
Eric MabiusAmerican actor · b. 1971
Glenn BrancaAmerican composer and guitarist · b. 1948
Jennifer BradyUS American tennis player · b. 1995
Jean ShileyAmerican athletics competitor · b. 1911
R
Ryan WhitingAmerican shot putter · b. 1986
Places that used to be

Old corners, places now gone and burying grounds

Old hamlets and crossroads still carry their names on the map.

Hamlets and corners on the map
Fox Ridge CourtHillside VillageJackson Lick
Gone or out of use
Boas Schoolschool
4cemeteries and burying grounds inside Harrisburg
CalvaryHarrisHarrisburgProspect Hill

Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Help out

Finish Harrisburg’s story

Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewRecto Harrisburg Bank (Pennsylvania) 5 …: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Susquehanna Township4 historic placesA−East Pennsboro TownshipIts storyCWormleysburg1 historic placeA−West FairviewIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townLemoyneIts storyB−Swatara Township2 historic placesB−PaxtangIts storyANew Cumberland1 historic placeA−

Questions about Harrisburg’s history

What year was Harrisburg founded?

In 1719, according to Wikidata. the first U.S. census counted 875 people here in 1790.

How does Harrisburg rank for history?

Harrisburg is among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns, #14 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

What is on the National Register in Harrisburg?

37 listings, 4 of them National Historic Landmarks: 25 buildings, among them the John Harris Mansion (a National Historic Landmark since 1975), 8 historic districts with 3,796 contributing buildings, 1 site, and 3 structures. 3,827 historic buildings in all.

How old are the homes in Harrisburg?

43% of Harrisburg’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.2 points), against a typical 18% for a Pennsylvania town; the median home was built in 1947.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (12), the Library of Congress (4), Wikidata (2), the National Register of Historic Places (37), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.