Columbia Borough
The history of Columbia Borough can be traced back to pre-historic times when Indians occupied the land area known today as Columbia. The first European settlers in the area arrived in 1726. The families of three men, John Wright, Robert Barber and Samuel Blunston, acquired tracts of land and established permanent homes. John Wright developed a ferry business in 1730, carrying goods and people across the Susquehanna River. Because the ferry was located here, the name Wright’s Ferry was given to the settlement. Wright’s Ferry became well known throughout the middle Colonies.
In 1788, Samuel Wright, grandson of Wright’s Ferry founder, John Wright, laid out 160 lots in what is now the central section of the Borough. Samuel Wright called the town Columbia, naming it after Christopher Columbus. The growing importance of Columbia became evident in 1789 when the town narrowly missed being selected as the site of the nation’s capital. Later, Columbia was considered as the site for the capital of Pennsylvania. Harrisburg was chosen because it was closer to the center of the State.
The 1800s was a period of rapid growth and prosperity for Columbia. The borough was officially incorporated in 1814. During that same year, the first bridge across the Susquehanna River, linking Columbia to York County was completed. In 1830, the Borough became the terminal of the first link of the Pennsylvania Canal system. A large canal basin was constructed at Columbia to facilitate the loading and unloading of canal barges. Later, the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal was built on the west shore of the Susquehanna River linking Wrightsville with the Chesapeake Bay. A low dam was built across the Susquehanna to facilitate the floating of the canal barges across the river and to supply water to this second canal.
By 1834, some of the first rail cars reached the Borough via the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad. This railroad shipped goods and people to and from Philadelphia. The goods were transferred on and off canal barges at the Columbia basin. Other rail lines were soon added to the north and south of the Borough along the banks of the Susquehanna and across the river to Wrightsville where the tracks joined those of the Baltimore and Susquehanna Railroad. In 1857, the Reading and Columbia Railroad was incorporated. The discovery of the Chestnut Hill iron ore deposits let to the beginning of the iron industry in Columbia. Furnaces were erected at Columbia during the 1840’s and 1850’s and rolling mills were added shortly thereafter. The prosperity during the mid part of the nineteenth century resulted in a doubling of the Borough’s population between 1830 and 1850, growing from 2,046 to 4,140 persons.
During the last half of the nineteenth century, Columbia’s industry changed. The iron furnaces were shut down with the depletion of the Chestnut Hill iron ores. Eventually the rolling mills cease operations. The canal operations waned due to
In 1788, Samuel Wright, grandson of Wright’s Ferry founder, John Wright, laid out 160 lots in what is now the central section of the Borough. Samuel Wright called the town Columbia, naming it after Christopher Columbus. The growing importance of Columbia became evident in 1789 when the town narrowly missed being selected as the site of the nation’s capital. Later, Columbia was considered as the site for the capital of Pennsylvania. Harrisburg was chosen because it was closer to the center of the State.
The 1800s was a period of rapid growth and prosperity for Columbia. The borough was officially incorporated in 1814. During that same year, the first bridge across the Susquehanna River, linking Columbia to York County was completed. In 1830, the Borough became the terminal of the first link of the Pennsylvania Canal system. A large canal basin was constructed at Columbia to facilitate the loading and unloading of canal barges. Later, the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal was built on the west shore of the Susquehanna River linking Wrightsville with the Chesapeake Bay. A low dam was built across the Susquehanna to facilitate the floating of the canal barges across the river and to supply water to this second canal.
By 1834, some of the first rail cars reached the Borough via the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad. This railroad shipped goods and people to and from Philadelphia. The goods were transferred on and off canal barges at the Columbia basin. Other rail lines were soon added to the north and south of the Borough along the banks of the Susquehanna and across the river to Wrightsville where the tracks joined those of the Baltimore and Susquehanna Railroad. In 1857, the Reading and Columbia Railroad was incorporated. The discovery of the Chestnut Hill iron ore deposits let to the beginning of the iron industry in Columbia. Furnaces were erected at Columbia during the 1840’s and 1850’s and rolling mills were added shortly thereafter. The prosperity during the mid part of the nineteenth century resulted in a doubling of the Borough’s population between 1830 and 1850, growing from 2,046 to 4,140 persons.
During the last half of the nineteenth century, Columbia’s industry changed. The iron furnaces were shut down with the depletion of the Chestnut Hill iron ores. Eventually the rolling mills cease operations. The canal operations waned due to
Listing Details
Telephone
717-684-2467
Fax
717-684-7764
Image
Map
