East Hempfield Township
When Lancaster County was formed in 1729, one of the original townships was Hempfield. The township included the areas now known as Columbia, Mountville and East Petersburg boroughs and Manor, West Hempfield and East Hempfield townships. Around 1740 Manor Township was separated from Hempfield Township. Later, in 1814, additional land was separated from Hempfield when Columbia was incorporated as a Borough. In 1818 Hempfield was divided into East and West Hempfield Townships.
The first settlers in East Hempfield Township were Swiss and German Mennonites. One of the earliest settlements, about 1708, was in the vicinity of what is now Rohrerstown. These first settlers were soon followed by members of other religious groups. The early settlers were hard-working and thrifty farmers who found the rich, fertile soil very amenable to agriculture. The abundance of streams provided water for their livestock and convenient locations for grist mills.
By the early part of the nineteenth century, the Township was traversed by several important roads or “turnpikes”. One led from Lancaster to Columbia. Another connected Lancaster with Mount Joy. Others led from Lancaster to Anderson’s Ferry on the Susquehanna River (this later became the Marietta Pike) and from Lancaster to Manheim. Many of the present towns sprang up along these roads. Some of the earliest of these places were Landisville, Rohrerstown, and Petersburg.
Landisville was initially the site of a hotel on the turnpike to Mount Joy. With the addition of homes a small village was started. Rohrerstown, originally named Hempfield Village, was laid out in 1812. It possesses most of its original street layout and street names to this day. Petersburg, which eventually incorporated as East Petersburg borough in 1947, was laid out in 1812 at a crossroads on the turnpike to Manheim. These towns became the place of residence of retired farmers and the sites of hotels, fairs, polling places, churches, and post offices. Later in the nineteenth century, railroads passed through or nearby them as lines were constructed through the Township from Reading to Columbia and Lancaster and from Philadelphia to Columbia and Harrisburg.
Of historical note are the various mineral deposits which were once worked in the Township. A famous deposit of lead and zinc was mined off-and-on from around 1847 until 1883. It was located at a place about one-half mile east of Landisville. The town of Bamford sprung up about the mines. After rather extensive operations no rich ore veins were discovered and the mine was closed. Iron ore was mined near Bamford and at other places in the Township. Fire sand was dug in the vicinity of chestnut Hill and used in the making of iron and steel furnaces. Both the iron ore and fire sand operations, however, have long since been abandoned.
The first settlers in East Hempfield Township were Swiss and German Mennonites. One of the earliest settlements, about 1708, was in the vicinity of what is now Rohrerstown. These first settlers were soon followed by members of other religious groups. The early settlers were hard-working and thrifty farmers who found the rich, fertile soil very amenable to agriculture. The abundance of streams provided water for their livestock and convenient locations for grist mills.
By the early part of the nineteenth century, the Township was traversed by several important roads or “turnpikes”. One led from Lancaster to Columbia. Another connected Lancaster with Mount Joy. Others led from Lancaster to Anderson’s Ferry on the Susquehanna River (this later became the Marietta Pike) and from Lancaster to Manheim. Many of the present towns sprang up along these roads. Some of the earliest of these places were Landisville, Rohrerstown, and Petersburg.
Landisville was initially the site of a hotel on the turnpike to Mount Joy. With the addition of homes a small village was started. Rohrerstown, originally named Hempfield Village, was laid out in 1812. It possesses most of its original street layout and street names to this day. Petersburg, which eventually incorporated as East Petersburg borough in 1947, was laid out in 1812 at a crossroads on the turnpike to Manheim. These towns became the place of residence of retired farmers and the sites of hotels, fairs, polling places, churches, and post offices. Later in the nineteenth century, railroads passed through or nearby them as lines were constructed through the Township from Reading to Columbia and Lancaster and from Philadelphia to Columbia and Harrisburg.
Of historical note are the various mineral deposits which were once worked in the Township. A famous deposit of lead and zinc was mined off-and-on from around 1847 until 1883. It was located at a place about one-half mile east of Landisville. The town of Bamford sprung up about the mines. After rather extensive operations no rich ore veins were discovered and the mine was closed. Iron ore was mined near Bamford and at other places in the Township. Fire sand was dug in the vicinity of chestnut Hill and used in the making of iron and steel furnaces. Both the iron ore and fire sand operations, however, have long since been abandoned.
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717-898-3100
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717-898-9486
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