Pennsylvania

Dauphin

286,401
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Dauphin

Dauphin, Pennsylvania, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 18,177. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 286,401.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Paxton Boys Massacre, and 77 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020286,401
2010268,100
2000251,798
1990237,813
1980232,317
1970223,834
1960220,255
1950197,784
1940177,410
1930165,231
1920153,116
1910136,152
1900114,443
189096,977
188076,148
187060,740
186046,756
185035,754
184030,118
183025,243
182021,653
181031,883
180022,270
179018,177
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Dauphin

Military engagements that took place in Dauphin, Pennsylvania.

Paxton Boys Massacre
1763

Historic places in Dauphin

National Register of Historic Places listings in Dauphin, Pennsylvania.

B'Nai Jacob Synagogue
Middletown
Harrisburg 19th Street Armory
Harrisburg
Salem United Church of Christ
Harrisburg
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Bridge
Harrisburg
Harrisburg Technical High School
Harrisburg
Cameron, Simon, House and Bank
Middletown
Harris Switch Tower, Pennsylvania Railroad
Harrisbug
Harrisburg Military Post
Harrisburg
Calver Island
Swatara Township
Derry Session House and Enclosure
Hershey
GAR Building
Lykens
Dauphin County Courthouse
Harrisburg
Clemson Island Prehistoric District
Halifax
Camp Curtin Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church
Harrisburg
Harrisburg Central Railroad Station and Trainshed
Harrisburg
Old Uptown Harrisburg Historic District
Harrisburg
Old Downtown Harrisburg Commercial Historic District
Harrisburg
Pennsylvania State Lunatic Hospital
Harrisburg
Harris, John, Mansion
Harrisburg
Rockville Bridge
Marysville
McAllister, Archibald, House
Harrisburg
Allerman, Conrad and Margaret, House
Ebenezer
Bridge in Reed Township
Inglenook
Raymond, Charles and Joseph, Houses
Middletown
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Other counties in Pennsylvania

Explore census history and historic records for more Pennsylvania counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

This page charts the census history of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Dauphin

When does Dauphin first appear in the US census?
Dauphin, Pennsylvania first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 18,177.
What is the population of Dauphin?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Dauphin had a recorded population of 286,401.
Were any battles fought in Dauphin?
1 documented military engagement took place in Dauphin, including Paxton Boys Massacre.
How many historic places are in Dauphin?
77 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Dauphin, Pennsylvania.
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