Wrightsville Borough

York County, Pennsylvania

Wrightsville Borough Hall is located at 209 Willow Street, Wrightsville PA 17368.
Phone: 717‑252‑3814.

Neighborhoods

First settled around 1811, Wrightsville was formed from Hallam Township in 1834.

It is related by historians that Wrightsville narrowly escaped being made the Capital of the United States. General Washington, who frequently crossed at Wright's Ferry, impressed with the natural beauty of the location, picturesque surroundings and security from foes, strongly urged upon Congress the advantages to be gained. Other prominent men advocated the town on the Susquehanna, but a small majority prevailed against and in favor of the present city on the Potomac. [1]

Wrightsville, on the west bank of the Susquehanna, is an industrial miniature of Columbia and virtually shares the latter's history. In 1730 surveyors from Maryland attempted to set up a ferry here in opposition to the existing one. Benjamin Chambers was one of the principal persons to turn off ... Lord Baltimore's surveyors, who were chaining up the river side on John Wright's land with a possey of men not less than thirty ... which possey was ordered to "take up the compass and begone, or we would break it and make them begone to their cost". For this and other services to the proprietary government, Chambers was rewarded in 1736 with a gift of 400 acres on "Falling Spring on Cannogogige," now Chambersburg. [2]

1. Gray, Zenas J., ed., Prose and Poetry of the Susquehanna and Juniata Rivers, 1893, Harrisburg Publishing Co., Harrisburg PA
2. Writers Project, Works Project Administration, Pennsylvania, A Guide to the Keystone State, 1940, Federal Works Agency, John M. Carmody, Administrator

Nearby Towns: Columbia Boro • East Donegal Twp • East Prospect Boro • Hallam Boro • Lower Windsor Twp • Marietta Boro • Mount Joy Boro • Mountville Boro • Windsor Twp • Yorkana Boro •