Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

Mechanicsburg is a borough in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, USA, eight miles (13 km) west of Harrisburg. Mechanicsburg was settled in 1806 and incorporated as a borough on April 12, 1828. It is in a rich agricultural region known as the Cumberland Valley, a broad zone between South Mountain and the ridge-and-valley Appalachians. In 1900, 3,841 people lived here; in 1910, 4,469, which increased to 5,709 in 1940. As of the 2000 census, the borough population was 9,042. Mechanicsburg is home of Jubilee Day, the largest one day street fair on the east coast. It is estimated as many as 60,000 people attend Jubilee Day annually. The borough is home to Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School and just outside the borough is Cumberland Valley High School.

Geography

Mechanicsburg is located at 40°12′44″N 77°0′22″W (40.212089, -77.006143)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 6.7 km² (2.6 mi²), all land.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 9,042 people, 4,023 households, and 2,466 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,347.9/km² (3,494.6/mi²). There were 4,169 housing units at an average density of 621.5/km² (1,611.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.97% White, 0.43% African American, 0.09% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 0.28% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.83% of the population.

There were 4,023 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.7% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the borough the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $45,200, and the median income for a family was $54,228. Males had a median income of $37,130 versus $27,940 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $22,812. About 2.4% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.

Famous residents

Mechanicsburg is the home town of:

• Shawn Abner, former professional baseball player
• Karen Bill, olympic athlete, professional boxer
• Josh Gros, professional soccer player.
• Chris Hakel, former professional football player
• Bret Michaels, 'Poison' lead singer
• Jon Ritchie, former professional football player
• Rikki Rockett, 'Poison' drummer
• Tamie Sheffield, professional wrestler, actress
• Andrew Kevin Walker, screenwriter, 8MM and Se7en
• Stacey Williams, supermodel, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
• Charlie Adams, professional football player Houston Texans

Points of interest

• Liberty Forge Arboretum

• Mechanicsburg Area Senior High

• Cumberland Valley High School