Have you returned your census form? Completing your census form and mailing it in will help South Allison Hill and the City of Harrisburg receive more funds to better our community. A census worker may stop at your house to get the needed information if you did not mail in your census form. The census worker will have identification with him or her, ask for it before giving out your information.
You have chosen a neighborhood that is close to highways, shopping, schools and downtown Harrisburg. We are proud to be part of this neighborhood and we hope you will be too.
There are many exciting things happening in our neighborhood. The neighborhood is a designated Elm Street Community. Through Elm Street, banners have been hung and houses have been repaired. There are also neighborhood activities: Block Parties, a Multi-Cultural Festival coordinated by the Weed and Seed Tall Team held in the spring, a Halloween Party on the Mt. Pleasant Plaza and other activities held at the Heart of the Community lot located at Derry and Kittatinny Streets. We hope you take time to see the mural located at the Heart of the Community lot and the murals on the Mulberry Street Bridge. These are just some of the efforts of your neighbors to make Mt. Pleasant/South Allison Hill a nice neighborhood.
We hope that you find this webpage helpful in finding out what is happening in Mt. Pleasant /South Allison Hill area and locate resources and activities for you and your family.
If you are a new resident and have not received a welcome packet, please email
or call (717) 232.9757 ext. 102 and a welcome packet will be delivered to you.
The History of Allison Hill
Allison Hill developed from about 1870 to 1920, with most development occurring between 1890 and 1910. The Hill got its name from William Allison, an Irish immigrant who owned much of the land included within the area's boundaries. This was the first area to develop east of the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks and the Pennsylvania Canal.
A portion of Allison Hill lies within the original 1860 City boundaries. Most of the area, however, (all that lies east of Thirteenth Street) was not added to the City until 1869 as part of the 1869 City Annexation. Individual tracts of land were laid out on Allison Hill in the 1860's and 1890's.
The completion of the original State Street Bridge in 1873 spurred development on Allison Hill. The completion of the Mulberry Street Bridge in 1890 spurred the development of Mount Pleasant, the southern portion of Allison Hill. Derry Street, which feeds from Mulberry Street was at one time a stage coach route to the east, and State, Walnut and Market Streets were at one time along the City's trolley line.
The development of the Hill area was also unmistakably influenced by the construction of a rail line to the east, which by the 1880's was lined with factories offering work opportunities for both men and women. Local industrialists such as William and John Hildrup, of Harrisburg Car Manufacturing company, Dunkle and Ewing of Harrisburg Manufacturing and Boiler Company and Affleck and Disbrow of Harrisburg Boot and Shoe Manufacturing Company pushed the rail line extension and acquired and subdivided land for housing for their future employees. The Brookwood Neighborhood, within Mount Pleasant, was one of the largest residential developments laid out on the Hill. In 1889 all the land from Derry Street to Berryhill Street, between Fifteenth and Seventeenth Streets were subdivided into lots as part of Brookwood.
The Allison Hill Area, although early tied into the transportation network of Harrisburg's downtown, is clearly separate and district from the government based, riverfront development of Harrisburg City Center. The Allison Hill Area developed as a self contained community, combining work and residence; an important example of the 19th Century Industrial City.
