Why is Harrisburg the Capital of Pennsylvania?

The capital of Pennsylvania is Harrisburg, which is a pretty small city as far as capital city standards go. Only 50,000 people live there and nearly 25% of the city is water.

[{"selector":"#anim-4e0e2314-ef3e-4405-93c2-33f9aa99024e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7aa33e64-9e9c-4de6-b294-6a9a6f354675","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 184.77369%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-05d2da72-f1d9-4ed3-b375-2cc5b2357ea4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d34fa285-1962-4c45-8803-7bee9af51c3f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -99.5169%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Harrisburg is an interesting choice, especially considering the history of Philadelphia and Harrisburg wasn’t always the name of the city.

[{"selector":"#anim-15d98228-3f5c-47ca-96ab-16f11cf7adfc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-28c3d0bc-f8e8-4d6b-b5f4-4eaae22ec7ec","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -200.89218%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c1c7e5ec-1778-4c1a-a0be-cd24b92ae83f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-485bc3d0-379d-48bb-9c3b-826da2ee6cf6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Where is the Capital of Pennsylvania Located?

[{"selector":"#anim-75f6d0dd-d739-43a7-905c-16bb4972af4c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-de340e80-dc07-42d5-bf19-3175c3bd700c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.55555%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab4a7da0-111e-4167-be9c-8ff61f0bba59","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c9bfd1cb-7bc4-4501-81cc-db6c8ef7a2d2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.55555%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Harrisburg is sandwiched between two valleys. To the east is the Cumberland Valley and to the west is Lebanon Valley. Learn more

Brief History of Harrisburg

[{"selector":"#anim-f6828ab4-bdc5-4384-a18a-ab75b5f09255","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d7d1785b-66d3-4094-9d79-3d2ff78ca664","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(116.19048%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7d05facd-9e88-43c8-a25b-80b60c280b2f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ae47dbe3-8515-4b2d-b2a8-4122221086ad","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(116.93291%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

When Did Harrisburg Become the Capital of Pennsylvania?

[{"selector":"#anim-82921a67-0a91-4d5b-8139-aa3cf8f1cddb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-60b0e351-4288-48d5-9d84-6ef96fdd4479","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -191.19116%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1a5c3316-8c73-4200-8fa3-66bb631e4f3c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6345717c-3a7f-4726-86eb-002549dd3424","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b49c3bf4-f284-494c-8aa6-8e980b786a57","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-833daf34-208b-4a19-9d88-148338a0718b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -588.44475%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] It wasn’t until 1812 that Harrisburg wrested the capital label from Lancaster. Learn more

Why is Harrisburg the Capital of Pennsylvania?

[{"selector":"#anim-68c391cd-5a84-4819-b7a7-9dbec65cb6e9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":101,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-829543a8-994f-46c9-a696-81267c7663ae","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":101,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-63f02c09-0751-42ed-ba6b-19f5ffb440f6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":101,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d68023c1-4211-4467-b9d3-4c28e7dffdc4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.45741%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":101,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8a1da4fb-0282-45f9-92f5-153bf1a930e3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":101,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-856ba900-19e7-4cad-94e3-2fdd6de4259a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.28664%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":101,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Harrisburg was also the obvious choice for downriver trade, due to the city’s location against the Susquehanna River.

Best Places to Visit in Harrisburg

[{"selector":"#anim-61fde5b9-79b5-4acc-a3ac-25ccd225ef92","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-77b93a0d-4a75-4879-a205-9d6db78833ed","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -218.00281%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-45d5e54e-fcd7-4a88-bbbd-92836c0a080f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4bd0cc7d-d37b-4816-a671-c41df2974eb3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -337.77789%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d7a3fc2c-f54f-4c87-a795-0c8299984006","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10fbc10e-837c-40d0-9dd1-506b7648e4da","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

The Pride of the Susquehanna

[{"selector":"#anim-4271e868-e610-49a2-a4cf-ab4513bc8d8c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-62a48e42-1b1d-4ffa-9f9f-ad6a8db17df2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.55555%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-55f64d1a-bd6b-4349-999e-98d9cac22add","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-15aee3d0-2558-4e4c-a86d-826938911818","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.55555%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Hersheypark

[{"selector":"#anim-28b23654-8d29-4f6c-a406-5f1b2b637e6b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dc7d86fd-85ee-4f40-ac64-568d2b99b216","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(116.50794%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-392210cb-9bb1-4977-b8c8-659cc189c2a5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e9859878-20d1-4299-8688-b3b28fd0efc7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(116.61342%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

SWIPE UP TO DISCOVER MORE ABOUT THE Capital of Pennsylvania!

[{"selector":"#anim-47fb1db5-7cc8-49db-9bd3-5a3bbdd3a22d","keyframes":[{"offset":0,"transform":"translate3d(0, -371.56659%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.29,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.45,"transform":"translate3d(0, -104.48452510800001%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.61,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.71,"transform":"translate3d(0, -35.52176600400001%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.8,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.85,"transform":"translate3d(0, -13.339240581%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.92,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.96,"transform":"translate3d(0, -5.796438804%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":1,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"}],"delay":0,"duration":1600,"fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b3a021d2-6429-4563-80f1-12d5e2933a67","keyframes":[{"offset":0,"transform":"translate3d(0, -317.73173%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.29,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.45,"transform":"translate3d(0, -89.346162476%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.61,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.71,"transform":"translate3d(0, -30.375153388000005%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.8,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.85,"transform":"translate3d(0, -11.406569107000001%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.92,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.96,"transform":"translate3d(0, -4.956614988%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":1,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"}],"delay":0,"duration":1600,"fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1f3bc03d-6a87-4739-bcbd-4231cf37edfb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.808648059514507%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Swipe Up!

Read Our Posts

[{"selector":"#anim-6e89d7dc-dddf-46ba-b601-98ed25c62a4a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b3cdcb05-8f9c-4f5e-97d8-f88ec1501395","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":750,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ce25414c-c5ad-434b-af11-b4f1599c48d2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3d69acfd-5e08-423c-bdb9-d3698b6a79d1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":750,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1fa8f221-7f2e-45cb-8080-bb9d23ae1814","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3733252f-d88a-444f-b10c-927e3e9e317f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":750,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] 1. 2.

Why is Harrisburg the Capital of Pennsylvania?

The capital of Pennsylvania is Harrisburg, which is a pretty small city as far as capital city standards go. Only 50,000 people live there and nearly 25% of the city is water.

Harrisburg is an interesting choice, especially considering the history of Philadelphia and Harrisburg wasn’t always the name of the city.

Where is the Capital of Pennsylvania Located?

Brief History of Harrisburg

The entire reasoning behind the choice of Harrisburg was simple—geographical location. It sits (more or less) in the center of the state.

When Did Harrisburg Become the Capital of Pennsylvania?

Why is Harrisburg the Capital of Pennsylvania?

Best Places to Visit in Harrisburg

If you want to get a true impression of the history of Harrisburg, the capital building is the palace to start.

The Pride of the Susquehanna

The Pride of the Susquehanna offers steamboat tours up and down the river and then there is the John Harris Simon Cameron Mansion.

Hersheypark

Hersheypark is another popular destination, especially if you like Hershey’s chocolate combined with roller coasters and water parks.

SWIPE UP TO DISCOVER MORE ABOUT THE Capital of Pennsylvania!

Read Our Posts

What Is The Capital Of Florida?

What is the Capital of California?