Dauphin, Pennsylvania Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools
Dauphin, Pennsylvania is a small town in Dauphin County, located about 6 miles north of Harrisburg, the state capital. The town was founded in 1785 and named after Louis-Joseph, the Dauphin of France. It is a quaint town with a population of around 5,500 people and a total area of 3.2 square miles.
The town is known for its historic sites, including the Susquehanna Valley Railroad Station which dates back to 1867 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The train station was once an important hub for freight and passenger service and it remains one of the oldest standing railway stations in Pennsylvania. Other attractions include Fort Hunter Mansion and Park, which offers visitors a glimpse into the past with its restored 18th-century mansion; City Island, a recreational area located on the Susquehanna River; and Paxtang Park, which features an outdoor swimming pool, playgrounds and picnic areas.
Dauphin has several interesting shops and restaurants to explore as well as various events throughout the year such as “Dauphin Days” in July which celebrates local artisans with live music and entertainment; “Lights on Dauphin” during December with festive decorations; and the annual spring “Rendezvous at Fort Hunter” living history event which reenacts colonial life along the Susquehanna River.
The local school district serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade at both public and private schools in Dauphin County. There are also several post-secondary institutions nearby such as Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC), Shippensburg University, Messiah College, Penn State Harrisburg Campus, Central Penn College, Widener University School of Law, Elizabethtown College’s Center for Continuing Education & Workforce Development (CCEWD), York Technical Institute (YTI), South Hills School of Business & Technology (SHSBT), Wilson College’s Graduate Programs in Education & Counseling Psychology (GPECP) , Hussian School of Art (HSA) , Central Penn Business School (CPBS) , Lancaster Bible College/Capital Seminary & Graduate School (LBC/CSGS) , Dickinson Law School (DLAW) , US Army War College’s Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) , Messiah University’s Physician Assistant Program(MUPAP). All these institutions provide students with excellent opportunities to further their education or pursue professional career paths within their chosen fields.
Overall Dauphin is an ideal place to live or visit due to its rich history and culture as well as its proximity to major cities such as Philadelphia or Baltimore while still maintaining that small-town charm. With its variety of educational opportunities available nearby along with its charming downtown area full of unique shops and eateries it can be considered an attractive destination for travelers looking for something different than what they may find in larger cities nearby.
Population: 773. Estimated population in July 2024: 725 (-6.2% change)
Males: 381 (49.3%), Females: 392 (50.7%)
Dauphin County
Zip code: 17018
Demographics
Median resident age: 39.2 years
Median household income: $44,219
Median house value: $92,200
Population by Race
Races in Dauphin:
- White Non-Hispanic (97.8%)
- Two or more races (1.0%)
- Hispanic (0.5%)
Ancestries: German (42.8%), Irish (12.0%), Dutch (9.7%), United States (9.7%), Italian (8.8%), English (5.4%).
Elevation: 375 feet
Land area: 0.4 square miles
Population by Education
For population 25 years and over in Dauphin
- High school or higher: 83.3%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.8%
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.7%
- Unemployed: 2.2%
- Mean travel time to work: 21.3 minutes
For population 15 years and over in Dauphin borough
- Never married: 25.2%
- Now married: 58.2%
- Separated: 0.3%
- Widowed: 5.0%
- Divorced: 11.3%
1.6% Foreign born
Population change in the 1990s: -148 (-16.1%).
Hospitals
Hospitals/medical centers near Dauphin:
- SCCI HOSPITAL HARRISBURG (about 6 miles; HARRISBURG, PA)
- HARRISBURG STATE HOSPITAL (about 8 miles; HARRISBURG, PA)
- PINNACLE HEALTH SYSTEM (about 9 miles; HARRISBURG, PA)
Airports
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Dauphin:
- HARRISBURG INTERNATIONAL (about 18 miles; HARRISBURG, PA; Abbreviation: MDT)
- LANCASTER (about 48 miles; LANCASTER, PA; Abbreviation: LNS)
- WILLIAMSPORT RGNL (about 60 miles; WILLIAMSPORT, PA; Abbreviation: IPT)
Other public-use airports nearest to Dauphin:
- CAPITAL CITY (about 12 miles; HARRISBURG, PA; Abbreviation: CXY)
- CARLISLE (about 21 miles; CARLISLE, PA; Abbreviation: N94)
- KAMPEL (about 24 miles; WELLSVILLE, PA; Abbreviation: 2N5)
Amtrak station near Dauphin:
- 9 miles: HARRISBURG (4TH & CHESTNUT STS.). Services: ticket office, fully wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, snack bar, ATM, paid short-term parking, paid long-term parking, call for car rental service, taxi stand, intercity bus service, public transit connection.
Colleges and Universities
Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Dauphin:
- HARRISBURG AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE-HARRISBURG (about 6 miles; HARRISBURG, PA; Full-time enrollment: 4,653)
- MESSIAH COLLEGE (about 16 miles; GRANTHAM, PA; Full-time enrollment: 2,761)
- PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY-PENN ST HARRISBURG (about 18 miles; MIDDLETOWN, PA; Full-time enrollment: 2,064)
- DICKINSON COLLEGE (about 22 miles; CARLISLE, PA; Full-time enrollment: 2,098)
- YORK COLLEGE PENNSYLVANIA (about 34 miles; YORK, PA; Full-time enrollment: 4,541)
- BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY (about 42 miles; LEWISBURG, PA; Full-time enrollment: 3,534)
- GETTYSBURG COLLEGE (about 43 miles; GETTYSBURG, PA; Full-time enrollment: 2,216)
Public primary/middle school in Dauphin:
- MIDDLE PAXTON EL SCH (Students: 351; Grades: KG – 06)