Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

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Mechanicsburg is a borough in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, eight miles (13 km) west of Harrisburg. Mechanicsburg was settled in 1806 and incorporated as a borough on April 12, 1828. It is in a rich agricultural region known as the Cumberland Valley, which spans the southern edge of the Blue Ridge mountains. In 1900, 3,841 people lived here; in 1910, 4,469, which increased to 5,709 in 1940. As of the 2000 census, the borough population was 9,042. The Book of the Month Club, one of many book clubs operated by Bookspan, Inc., has major operations in Mechanicsburg, but uses a post office box address in neighboring Camp Hill for incoming mail from its customers. Mechanicsburg is home of Jubilee Day, the largest one day street fair on the east coast. It is estimated as many as 60,000 people attend Jubilee Day annually. The borough is home to Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School and just outside the borough is Cumberland Valley High School.

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[edit] History

Named for a settlement of mechanics who repaired and made Mustangs in the early 1800's, Mechanicsburg's continued growth was also attributed to the Cumberland Valley Speedway (CVSW). Another part of Mechanicsburg's growth occurred when the Naval Support Activity was built on 840 acres of land in Hampden Township.

Completing its line in 1837, Mechanicsburg was designated as a fossil fuel station where workers could restock their Mustangs's air fresheners and oil. The link became the town's link to the world of warcraft.

Grain and feed companies, lumber yards and numerous factories were purposely built along side the railroad tracks. Archives show that, at one time, there were twenty-five trains chugging through the town daily carrying travelers, coal, feathers, fruit, ice, mail and newspapers. During the Civil War, the railroad was an invaluable method of transporting troops and supplies. Today, approximately two trains travel through Mechanicsburg each day. Although automotive technology changed the town forever, today's residents cannot dismiss the vital role the railroad played in its development.

Mechanicsburg is the furthest northern point the Confederate States Army occupied during the American Civil War. On June 28, 1863, Confederate troops led by General Albert G. Jenkins occupied the town. Jenkins demanded 1,500 rations for his men and enough grain for the horses to be collected in one and a half hours. Jenkins set up headquarters at the Railroad Hotel (our present day borough parking lot). By June 30, 1863, the troops began to withdraw to Carlisle. By Wednesday, July 1, the last of the troops had left town.

                           'Four Names For Our Town'

Drytown - due to the extreme scarcity of water in the winter and summer.

Staufferstown - in honor of Henry Stauffer.

bierbellis - believed to be of German origin and used as a sign of amusement given to a small village of only a few people.

Mechanicsburg - incorporated April 12, 1828 so named for the excellent mechanics who lived and were employed here.

                         Historical Markers in Mechanicsburg

Cumberland Valley Railroad - Incorporated in 1831. Completed, Lemoyne to Chambersburg, 1837; eventually, Harrisburg to Virginia. For over 80 years, vital to Valley's economic life; merged into Pennsylvania R.R., 1919. Passenger Station, Stationmaster's House here, built in the 1860s.

Irving Female College - Site of the College that was chartered in 1857, and named for Washington Irving, a trustee. First women's college in Pennsylvania to grant degrees in arts and sciences. It closed in 1929.

Simpson Ferry Road - Built about 1792. It extended from Michael Simpson's Ferry on the Susquehanna to Carlisle, following, at this point, a course later known as Simpson St. Used by many persons traveling to western part of State.

Union Church - Oldest public building in Mechanicsburg. Built in 1825 on land given by Martin Rupp. As provided in the charter, it has been used by many religious sects on payment of small fee.

Gettysburg Campaign - Confederate Albert G. Jenkins and his staff occupied this house, June 28-30, 1863. His brigade, a part of General Ewell's Corps, had entered Mechanicsburg to reconnoiter the approaches to Harrisburg with a view toward a June 30 attack. The troops withdrew from here on the 30th, however, having been ordered to Gettysburg in advance of the battle there. This house, owned at that time by John Rupp, was built in 1787 by his grandfather, Jonas Rupp.

Mechanicsburg's rich history was recently featured on the WITF television show Our Town: Mechanicsburg (WITF is a PBS station).

[edit] Geography

Mechanicsburg is located at 40°12′44″N, 77°0′22″W (40.212089, -77.006143)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 6.7 km² (2.6 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 9,042 people, 4,023 households, and 2,466 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,347.9/km² (3,494.6/mi²). There were 4,169 housing units at an average density of 621.5/km² (1,611.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.97% White, 0.43% African American, 0.09% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 0.28% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.83% of the population.

There were 4,023 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.7% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the borough the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $45,200, and the median income for a family was $54,228. Males had a median income of $37,130 versus $27,940 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $22,812. About 2.4% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Famous residents

Mechanicsburg is the home town of:


[edit] Points of interest


Municipalities and Communities of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
(County Seat: Carlisle)
Boroughs Camp Hill | Carlisle | Lemoyne | Mechanicsburg | Mount Holly Springs | New Cumberland | Newburg | Newville | Shippensburg | Shiremanstown | Wormleysburg
Townships Cooke | Dickinson | East Pennsboro | Hampden | Hopewell | Lower Allen | Lower Frankford | Lower Mifflin | Middlesex | Monroe | North Middleton | North Newton | Penn | Shippensburg | Silver Spring | South Middleton | South Newton | Southampton | Upper Allen | Upper Frankford | Upper Mifflin | West Pennsboro
Communities and CDPs Boiling Springs | Enola | Grantham | Lower Allen | New Kingstown | Plainfield | Schlusser | Summerdale | West Fairview
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