Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan statistical area
The Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan statistical area, officially the Harrisburg–Carlisle, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area, and also referred to as the Susquehanna Valley, is defined by the Office of Management and Budget as an area consisting of three counties in South Central Pennsylvania, anchored by the cities of Harrisburg and Carlisle. As of the 2020 census, the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) had a population of 591,712, making it the fourth most populated metropolitan area in Pennsylvania, after the Delaware Valley, Greater Pittsburgh, and the Lehigh Valley. Since 2012, it has been defined as part of the  Harrisburg–York–Lebanon, PA Combined Statistical Area, which also includes York, Lebanon and Adams counties. Components. The Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Area consists of three counties, located entirely within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The following three counties are designated as being part of the greater Harrisburg–Carlisle area: Officially, Lebanon County is not part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan statistical area, and hasn't been since 2003, and is rather part of combined statistical area, however, it is culturally considered to be part of Greater Harrisburg with Harrisburg suburbs extending into the county. Combined Statistical Area. Additionally, three more counties are  included as part of the Harrisburg–York–Lebanon, PA Combined Statistical Area. Collectively, they have a population of 1,271,801 people, making it the 46th most populous combined statistical area (CSA) in the United States, and the 3rd most populous CSA in the state of Pennsylvania. Geography and climate. Geography. Harrisburg–Carlisle is located in the Susquehanna River's valley, which makes the terrain rolling, with occasional flat land and tall hills. The metropolitan area is underlain with limestone, which makes the land ideal for farming. Much of the region is within the piedmont region of the United States. Climate. The  Harrisburg metropolitan area has a humid continental climate, experiencing four mild seasons: summer, autumn, winter, and spring. The average high temperature 62ºF, while the average low is 44ºF. Harrisburg receives about 41 inches of rainfall annually. Communities. Places with more than 40,000 inhabitants Places with 10,000 to 20,000 inhabitants Places with 1,000 to 10,000 inhabitants Places with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants Demographics. As of the census of 2000, there were 509,074 people, 202,380 households, and 134,557 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 86.20% White, 9.39% African American, 0.15% Native American, 1.68% Asian, 0.03% Pacific  Islander, 1.17% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.67% of the population. The median income for a household in the MSA was $43,374, and the median income for a family was $51,792. Males had a median income of $36,368 versus $26,793 for females. The per capita income for the MSA was $21,432. In 2009 the urban population of the MSA increased to 383,008 from 362,782 in 2000, a change of 20,226 people. Transportation. Roads and highways. The Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan area is served by  a number of interstates, US routes, and state highways that help facilitate the movement of people and goods throughout the region. Major routes in the region include: Air. Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) is the primary airport for the Harrisburg–Carlisle area. Located in Middletown, the airport serviced 1.137 million passengers in 2017. It is Pennsylvania's 3rd busiest Airport. It is owned and operated by the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority, which also operates several other airports throughout South Central Pennsylvania. Some residents utilize Baltimore/Washington, Ronald Reagan Washington, and Philadelphia airports for a wider selection of destinations and airlines . Rail. Harrisburg–Carlisle is served by Amtrak's "Keystone Service" and "Pennsylvanian". Amtrak's "Keystone Service", which terminates at Harrisburg Transportation Center, allows for rail trips to points east, including Philadelphia and New York City. The "Pennsylvanian" connects Harrisburg–Carlisle with Pittsburgh and New York City (by way of Philadelphia). Currently, the Harrisburg–Carlisle region is not served by any commuter rail, however, there are plans to bring it to the metropolitan and combined statistical areas. Future plans include a commuter rail line, called the Capital Red Rose Corridor, running from Lancaster to Harrisburg, with a possible extension to Carlisle . Bus. The region is interconnected by bus services, which offer service for local and regional trips, as well as for intercity trips. The primary bus service provider for the region is Capital Area Transit (CAT). CAT provides commuter bus service in eastern Cumberland and southern Dauphin counties. Its services are used by about 8,000 daily riders. Intercity bus service is primarily provided by Greyhound Lines and Fullington Trailways. Colleges and universities. The Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan area is home to several universities. The following is a list of non-profit colleges and universities within Harrisburg–Carlisle: Media. The Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan  area is located entirely within the Harrisburg–York–Lebanon media market. It is the 42nd largest in the United States, with 772,810 households . Television. The Harrisburg TV market is served by: Radio. The Harrisburg area's radio market is ranked 78th in the nation.This is a list of FM stations in the Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan area: This is a list of AM stations in the Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan area: Area codes. The entire Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan area is served by two area codes: