Pennsylvania State University's Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and the Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital are also located on a large tract of land in the township.

The earliest recorded information about the Derry Township area dates back to 1608, when Captain John Smith explored the region.

[4] Leaving Jamestown to search for much-needed food, Smith's journey through the Chesapeake Bay region covered an estimated 3,000 miles.

The number of elected officials in Derry remains five, although the terms are now six years.

The Derry Session House and Enclosure and Quarries of the Hummelstown Brownstone Company are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Swatara and Hockersville are unincorporated communities within the western and southern parts, respectively, of the Hershey CDP.

[8] Derry has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and the hardiness zones are 6b and 7a.

Average monthly temperatures in Hershey range from 30.1 °F in January to 74.8 °F in July.

Derry Township is also home to Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company (HERCO) which owns Hersheypark and other tourist attractions.