Concrete Contractors in Hershey, PA

Hershey is not its own municipality, and that is the first thing concrete contractors working here need to keep straight. It is a census-designated place inside Derry Township in Dauphin County, and the township provides its services and handles its permits. The 2020 census counted 13,858 residents and 5,968 housing units in Hershey, with an extremely low homeowner vacancy rate of 1.9 percent. People buy here and stay, so most of our Hershey jobs are replacements and upgrades on homes owners plan to keep for a long time.

Homes from a company town

The town was officially founded in 1903 and completed in 1905, built largely for the chocolate company's workers. Wikipedia notes those houses came with electricity, indoor plumbing and central heating, rare for working-class homes then. Growth followed fast: about 700 people in 1903, about 1,500 by 1920, and more than 7,000 by 1960. Then during the Great Depression came the Great Building Campaign, which produced the Hotel Hershey in May 1933 and the Hershey Theatre that September.

That history leaves a mix of house ages close to the center of town. Older homes often have front walks and steps that have been patched more than once, narrow driveways to rear garages and porch landings that have settled. Newer subdivisions farther out bring two-car driveways and backyard patios. We look at each piece of flatwork on its own and only replace what has failed.

Water from Spring Creek and the Swatara

The original Hersheypark opened in 1906 along the banks of Spring Creek, and Swatara Creek forms the township's northwest border. The National Weather Service gauge on Swatara Creek near Hershey has a flood stage of 7 feet. On September 8, 2011, the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee pushed it to 27.22 feet, by far its highest crest on record; second place, in July 2018, was just over 17 feet. Properties near either creek need a drainage plan before a new patio or driveway goes in, with grade set so water heads away from the house.

Get a Free Estimate

What is under the ground matters

Sinkholes come up in Derry Township. Pennsylvania American Water notes that sinkholes are common in the state's karst areas underlain by limestone and dolostone, and that stormwater and leaking pipes are frequent triggers. In January 2025 a water main break opened a sinkhole on Homestead Road between Hershey Elementary and Hershey Middle schools, closing the road. For homeowners, the lesson is simple: keep downspouts and runoff away from slabs and foundations. When we see a depression or a slab that has dropped suddenly, we look for the water source before quoting a pour.

Climate and finishes

Hershey's January mean low is 20 degrees and annual precipitation runs about 43.45 inches, so exterior concrete has to handle hard freezes and wet springs. We use air-entrained mixes on every outdoor pour, cure them properly, and recommend sealing stamped work every few years. Stamped patios are popular here, and so are plain broom-finish slabs with a decorative border.

• Driveways and aprons for older rear-garage lots and newer two-car homes
• Patios sized for outdoor dining, plain or stamped
• Walks, steps and landings for front entries and side yards
• Repair for settled, cracked or scaled sections

Permits go through Derry Township

Because Hershey has no borough government, Derry Township is the office that matters for any permit or right-of-way question. Voters even turned down a 2002 proposal to rename the township Hershey Township, with 54 percent opposed. We check what your project needs before scheduling. Call (717) 616-2142 to set up a visit.