A Model Industrial Town
Milton Hershey envisioned more than just a chocolate factory. He wanted to create a “model industrial town,” inspired by English communities that balanced industry with quality of life.
“I am trying to build here a place where people can be happy and contented while they work,” he later told Success Magazine, “and live in pleasant surroundings.”
Original Plans of Hershey, PA
In 1903, Milton Hershey began buying land, gathering more than 1,200 acres. He worked closely with architects, engineers, and surveyors to plot streets and residential lots.
A Town Built Around Chocolate
As Hershey’s chocolate business boomed, the town expanded to accommodate the growing number of workers.
Newsweek Magazine called the town “Candyland, City of Dreams.” The article remarked that Hershey residents “pay no local taxes; a candy factory gives them their jobs and their luxurious clubs, schools, churches, and shady streets.”
Historical Hershey Landmarks
The Chocolate Factory
Construction on the Hershey Chocolate Factory began in 1903. The original building rose from former farmland, built of local limestone and steel. Inside, machinery roasted cacao beans, condensed milk, mixed ingredients, and molded chocolate bars. Today, the factory’s original smokestacks can still be seen across town.
The Streets of Hershey
Milton Hershey approved the town’s street plan before construction began. Chocolate Avenue and Cocoa Avenue formed the main routes through town. They still exist today as the foundational intersection of bustling downtown. Residential blocks extended outward from the factory. Crews lined the sidewalks with trees, and designers shaped lighting fixtures to echo the town’s unique character.
The Homes of Hershey, PA
Milton Hershey oversaw the construction of homes within walking distance of the factory. He did not want the houses to look the same, as in other factory towns. Builders used varied styles so that each home was unique. Tree-lined sidewalks connected each block to the factory and town center. Many of these early houses remain part of Hershey’s neighborhoods today.
The Hershey Trolley
To provide easy access to and from his model town for both workers and visitors, Milton Hershey chartered a trolley system in 1903.
The original line passed through several dairy farms. This made it easy for farmers to deliver fresh milk to the Hershey Chocolate Factory. Heavy subsidies kept the basic fare at five cents.
Hershey Park
From the beginning, Hershey Park (now Hersheypark) was part of Hershey’s plan for the town. He believed workers should have access to recreation and green space as well as steady employment. Set along Spring Creek, the original park offered shaded groves, open lawns, playgrounds for children, and space for picnics and boating. A bandstand and pavilion hosted community performances.
New rides and attractions were added as more people came to visit. Today, that early park has grown into Hersheypark, part of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts. It remains a visible example of how Milton Hershey’s ideas about work, community, and leisure continue to shape the town.
Where Education Meets Care
Milton Hershey supported schools, libraries, and other institutions that expanded opportunities for learning. After his death, others continued that work.
The idea for a medical school and teaching hospital in Hershey, Pennsylvania, took shape in 1963. One of its strongest supporters was Samuel L. Hinkle. The president of Hershey Chocolate Corporation, Hinkle believed a medical school and teaching hospital would continue Hershey’s efforts to improve people’s lives through education and care.
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center welcomed its first patients in 1970, and continues to serve central Pennsylvania today.
Hershey Then and Now
Many of the places from Milton Hershey’s day are still here in Hershey, Pennsylvania. See what’s changed, what’s remained the same, and the fun things you can still experience today.
Hershey, Pennsylvania, Timeline
1891
Milton Hershey purchased his first property in Lancaster, Pennsylvania: the building that housed his caramel factory.
1903
Ground was broken for a chocolate factory on a six-acre tract of land. At the same time, ground was broken for the surrounding community.
1904
Hershey Transit Company trolleys made their maiden voyage.
1905
The Hershey Chocolate Factory was completed and factory operations began.
1906
Hershey Park (now Hersheypark) opened to the public.
1908
Milton and Catherine Hershey moved to High Point Mansion.
1909
Milton and Catherine Hershey executed the Deed of Trust establishing Hershey Industrial School, now known as Milton Hershey School.
1910
The first students enrolled and studied at the Homestead.
1910
Hershey Zoo (now ZooAmerica) formally opened. At the time, it was the largest free, private zoo in the United States.
1918
Milton Hershey placed his entire fortune, his ownership of Hershey Chocolate Company, in a trust for the benefit of the Hershey Industrial School (now Milton Hershey School).
Trivia About Hershey History
1. What two main streets form the center of Hershey?
Correct! Not quite — C is correct!
2. What do many Hershey streetlights resemble?
Correct! Not quite — A is correct!
3. What was the name of Milton Hershey’s mansion overlooking the town?
Correct! Not quite — B is correct!
4. How much did the original trolley rides cost?
Correct! Not quite — A is correct!
5. What was the town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, called before Milton Hershey built his chocolate factory there?
Correct! Not quite — C is correct!
Explore More of The Hershey Legacy
Hershey, PA, Today
Explore what to see, where to go, and how to experience the town of Hershey firsthand.
The Schools
Learn how Milton and Catherine Hershey’s vision became schools that continue to serve students and families today.