Shippensburg, PA Demographics

A map of Shippensburg's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	5,174	4,484	92.1%	81.9%
Multiracial	217	295	3.9%	5.4%
Black	212	265	3.8%	4.8%
Hispanic	17	331	0.3%	6.0%
Asian	0	67	0.0%	1.2%
Native American/Other	0	36	0.0%	0.7%

Shippensburg, Pennsylvania has an estimated population of 5,620, a slight increase from the 5,478 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 92.1% White, 3.9% Multiracial, 3.8% Black, 0.3% Hispanic, 0.0% Asian, and 0.0% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Shippensburg, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Shippensburg has become considerably less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Pennsylvania overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Shippensburg, that probability was 32.1% in 2020 and 14.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Shippensburg is ranked the 235th most populous place in Pennsylvania, out of 2,002 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Shippensburg was ranked the 242nd most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Shippensburg's White Population

5,174 residents of Shippensburg, or 92.1% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Shippensburg is significantly higher than in Pennsylvania overall, where 73% of the population is White. Shippensburg ranks 1518th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 2,002 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shippensburg's White population has grown by an estimated 15.4%. White residents' share of Shippensburg's population has increased from 81.9% to 92.1%.

Shippensburg is more White than neighboring Shippensburg University (65.5% White), Newburg borough (Cumberland County) (88.7% White), and Fayetteville (90.6% White). Shippensburg is less White than neighboring Orrstown (97.2% White), and Scotland (93.8% White).

Shippensburg's Black Population

212 residents of Shippensburg, or 3.8% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Shippensburg is lower than in Pennsylvania overall, where 10.3% of the population is Black. Shippensburg ranks 300th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 2,002 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shippensburg's Black population has declined by an estimated 20.0%. Black residents' share of Shippensburg's population has decreased from 4.8% to 3.8%.

Shippensburg is more Black than neighboring Orrstown (0% Black), Newburg borough (Cumberland County) (3.4% Black), and Scotland (0% Black). Shippensburg is less Black than neighboring Shippensburg University (17.1% Black), and Fayetteville (5.9% Black).

Shippensburg's Asian Population

0 residents of Shippensburg, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Shippensburg is slightly lower than in Pennsylvania overall, where 3.8% of the population is Asian. Shippensburg ranks 505th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 2,002 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shippensburg's Asian population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Asian residents' share of Shippensburg's population has decreased from 1.2% to 0.0%.

Shippensburg is less Asian than neighboring Shippensburg University (2.6% Asian), Scotland (1% Asian), and Fayetteville (0.7% Asian).

Shippensburg's Hispanic Population

17 residents of Shippensburg, or 0.3% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Shippensburg is lower than in Pennsylvania overall, where 8.7% of the population is Hispanic. Shippensburg ranks 374th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 2,002 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shippensburg's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 94.9%. Hispanic residents' share of Shippensburg's population has decreased from 6.0% to 0.3%.

Shippensburg is more Hispanic than neighboring Newburg borough (Cumberland County) (0.2% Hispanic), Scotland (0% Hispanic), and Fayetteville (0% Hispanic). Shippensburg is less Hispanic than neighboring Shippensburg University (6.9% Hispanic), and Orrstown (0.7% Hispanic).

Shippensburg's Native American/Other Population

0 residents of Shippensburg, or 0.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Shippensburg is comparable to the share in Pennsylvania overall, where 0.6% of the population is Native American/Other. Shippensburg ranks 449th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 2,002 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shippensburg's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Shippensburg's population has decreased from 0.7% to 0.0%.

Shippensburg is less Native American/Other than neighboring Orrstown (1.4% Native American/Other), Newburg borough (Cumberland County) (2% Native American/Other), and Scotland (2.3% Native American/Other).

Shippensburg's Multiracial Population

217 residents of Shippensburg, or 3.9% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Shippensburg is comparable to the share in Pennsylvania overall, where 3.6% of the population is Multiracial. Shippensburg ranks 236th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 2,002 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shippensburg's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 26.4%. Multiracial residents' share of Shippensburg's population has decreased from 5.4% to 3.9%.

Shippensburg is more Multiracial than neighboring Orrstown (0.7% Multiracial), Scotland (2.9% Multiracial), and Fayetteville (2.8% Multiracial). Shippensburg is less Multiracial than neighboring Shippensburg University (7.9% Multiracial), and Newburg borough (Cumberland County) (5.6% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.