Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. The city lies along the Susquehanna River, in the south-central part of the state.
The state government is Harrisburg’s largest employer. Harrisburg has been a transportation center since the days of riverboat traffic in the 1800’s.
John Harris, Sr., operated a ferry at Harrisburg in colonial days. His son John laid out the town of Harrisburg in 1785 and gave land to the commonwealth of Pennsylvania that was later used for the Capitol grounds. The city became the state capital in 1812.