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Moving to Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

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Mechanicsburg is located in the Susquehanna Valley of Central Pennsylvania, approximately 10 miles west of the capital city of Harrisburg. The city has a humid continental climate, with hot summers and cold winters. Average temperatures range from 25°F to 85°F throughout the year.

The history of Mechanicsburg dates back to the late 1700s, when it was founded by a local blacksmith named Jacob Mechling. It quickly became an important center for trade and transportation in the region and was incorporated as a borough in 1828. In the early 1900s, many industries began to move into Mechanicsburg, leading to rapid population growth and urbanization.

Politically, Mechanicsburg is part of Cumberland County and is represented by two state senators and two state representatives in Harrisburg. The mayor of Mechanicsburg serves as president of council and is directly elected every four years. The current mayor is Tim Greenlee who has been in office since 2013.

Economically, Mechanicsburg relies on a diverse mix of industries including manufacturing, retail trade, healthcare services, financial services and education/research services. The largest employers are Pinnacle Health System, Letterkenny Army Depot and UPMC Pinnacle West Shore Hospital.

The school district for Mechanicsburg consists of seven elementary schools (K-5), one middle school (6-8) and one high school (9-12). There are also several private schools located within the city limits including Messiah College (a Christian college affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church) and Cumberland Christian School (an accredited K-12 institution).

There are many landmarks within Mechanicsburg to explore including historic sites such as Fort Couch State Park which served as an important Civil War fortification; shopping centers such as Silver Spring Shopping Center which features a variety of stores; museums such as Rosevelt Historical Society Museum which explores local history; parks such as Memorial Park which boasts picnic areas; churches such as Trinity United Methodist Church; theaters such as Allenberry Playhouse which hosts performances year round; recreational facilities like Yellow Breeches Sports Center which offers indoor sports activities; eateries like Stever’s Bar & Grill; outdoor attractions like Appalachian Trailhead at Boiling Springs Lake; trails like Lower Allen Nature Trail that winds through natural habitats; golf courses like Colonial Golf Course that offers scenic views while playing golf; nature centers such as Gifford Pinchot State Park that offers fishing opportunities along with hiking trails; libraries like Joseph T Dixon Library that houses thousands of books for visitors to explore; art galleries like Hufnagle Gallery & Frame Shop that displays artwork from local artists ;and more!

Population: 9,042. Estimated population in July 2024: 8,818 (-2.5% change)
Males: 4,315 (47.7%), Females: 4,727 (52.3%)

Zip code: 17055

Demographics

Median resident age: 38.9 years
Median household income: $45,200
Median house value: $110,100

Population by Race

Races in Mechanicsburg:

  • White Non-Hispanic (96.5%)
  • Two or more races (1.1%)
  • Hispanic (0.8%)

Ancestries: German (38.8%), Irish (15.0%), United States (7.8%), Italian (7.7%), English (6.9%), Polish (4.2%).

Land area: 2.6 square miles

Population by Education

Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania is a borough located in Cumberland County. The population was 8,981 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. The majority of the population is white, with other races and ethnicities making up smaller percentages. The median age is 39 years old and the median household income is $50,926. There are a variety of educational opportunities available in Mechanicsburg ranging from public schools to private institutions. The Mechanicsburg Area School District serves the borough with three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Several religious schools are also available for those looking for a faith-based education. In terms of higher education, there are several colleges and universities located within a 40-mile radius of Mechanicsburg including Shippensburg University and Penn State Harrisburg. Housing options range from single-family homes to apartments and townhomes with prices ranging from affordable to upscale depending on location and amenities offered. There are also plenty of parks throughout Mechanicsburg offering outdoor recreation such as walking trails, playgrounds, sports fields, picnic areas, and more for residents to enjoy year-round.

For population 25 years and over in Mechanicsburg

  • High school or higher: 88.2%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 26.1%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 7.3%
  • Unemployed: 2.3%
  • Mean travel time to work: 20.3 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Mechanicsburg borough

  • Never married: 26.2%
  • Now married: 55.5%
  • Separated: 1.5%
  • Widowed: 6.0%
  • Divorced: 10.7%

1.6% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: -436 (-4.6%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers in Mechanicsburg:

  • HEALTHSOUTH OF MECHANICSBURG (175 LANCASTER BLVD)
  • HEALTHSOUTH REHAB HOSP FOR SPECIAL SVS (4950 WILSON LANE)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Mechanicsburg:

  • HOLY SPIRIT HOSPITAL (about 6 miles; CAMP HILL, PA)
  • SELECT SPECIALTY HOSPITAL CTR PA (CP) (about 6 miles; CAMP HILL, PA)
  • SCCI HOSPITAL HARRISBURG (about 11 miles; HARRISBURG, PA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Mechanicsburg:

  • HARRISBURG INTERNATIONAL (about 18 miles; HARRISBURG, PA; Abbreviation: MDT)
  • LANCASTER (about 51 miles; LANCASTER, PA; Abbreviation: LNS)
  • HAGERSTOWN REGIONAL-RICHARD A HENSON FLD (about 61 miles; HAGERSTOWN, MD; Abbreviation: HGR)

Other public-use airports nearest to Mechanicsburg:

  • CAPITAL CITY (about 11 miles; HARRISBURG, PA; Abbreviation: CXY)
  • CARLISLE (about 12 miles; CARLISLE, PA; Abbreviation: N94)
  • KAMPEL (about 13 miles; WELLSVILLE, PA; Abbreviation: 2N5)

Amtrak station near Mechanicsburg:

  • 10 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 in Mechanicsburg:

  • ITT TECHNICAL INSTITUTE (Full-time enrollment: 276; Location: 5020 LOUISE DR; Private, for-profit; Website: www.itt-tech.edu)
  • COMPUTER LEARNING NETWORK-RESIDENT SCHOOL (Full-time enrollment: 184; Location: 401 East Winding Hill Road Suite 101; Private, for-profit; Website: www.clntraining.com)
  • EMPIRE BEAUTY SCHOOL (Full-time enrollment: 29; Location: 5103 CARLISLE PIKE; Private, for-profit; Website: www.empirebeauty.com)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Mechanicsburg:

  • MESSIAH COLLEGE (about 5 miles; GRANTHAM, PA; Full-time enrollment: 2,761)
  • HARRISBURG AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE-HARRISBURG (about 11 miles; HARRISBURG, PA; Full-time enrollment: 4,653)
  • DICKINSON COLLEGE (about 14 miles; CARLISLE, PA; Full-time enrollment: 2,098)
  • PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY-PENN ST HARRISBURG (about 19 miles; MIDDLETOWN, PA; Full-time enrollment: 2,064)
  • GETTYSBURG COLLEGE (about 31 miles; GETTYSBURG, PA; Full-time enrollment: 2,216)
  • YORK COLLEGE PENNSYLVANIA (about 32 miles; YORK, PA; Full-time enrollment: 4,541)
  • SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA (about 37 miles; SHIPPENSBURG, PA; Full-time enrollment: 6,330)

Schools

Public high schools in Mechanicsburg:

  • CUMBERLAND VALLEY HS (Students: 2,523; Grades: 09 – 12)
  • MECHANICSBURG AREA SHS (Students: 1,132; Grades: 09 – 12)

Private high schools in Mechanicsburg:

  • EMMANUEL BAPTIST CHRISTIAN ACA (Students: 163; Location: 4681 E TRINDLE ROAD; Grades: KG – 12)
  • FAITH TABERNACLE SCHOOL (Students: 128; Location: 1410 GOOD HOPE ROAD; Grades: 1 – 12)

Biggest public primary/middle schools in Mechanicsburg:

  • EAGLE VIEW MS (Students: 1,063; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • GOOD HOPE MS (Students: 882; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • MECHANICSBURG MS (Students: 875; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • HAMPDEN EL SCH (Students: 613; Grades: KG – 05)
  • GREEN RIDGE EL SCH (Students: 496; Grades: KG – 05)
  • SPORTING HILL EL SCH (Students: 492; Grades: KG – 05)
  • SILVER SPRING EL SCH (Students: 452; Grades: KG – 05)
  • UPPER ALLEN EL SCH (Students: 313; Grades: 03 – 05)
  • SHEPHERDSTOWN EL SCH (Students: 300; Grades: KG – 02)
  • BROAD STREET EL SCH (Students: 284; Grades: KG – 05)

Private primary/middle schools in Mechanicsburg:

  • ST JOSEPH SCHOOL (Students: 501; Location: 400 EAST SIMPSON STREET; Grades: KG – 8)
  • MECHANICSBURG LEARNING CENTER (Students: 17; Location: 841 W TRINDLE RD; Grades: KG – KG)

Libraries

Library in Mechanicsburg:

  • MECHANICSBURG AREA PUB LIBRARY (Operating income: $577,536; Location: 16 N WALNUT ST; 57,457 books; 2,479 audio materials; 3,294 video materials; 251 serial subscriptions)

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