Mechanicsburg | |
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 Flag  Seal | |
| Motto: "A good place to live since 1828" | |
 Location of Mechanicsburg in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. | |
  Mechanicsburg Location in Pennsylvania and the United States Show map of Pennsylvania Mechanicsburg Mechanicsburg (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:40°12′44″N77°00′22″W / 40.21222°N 77.00611°W /40.21222; -77.00611 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Cumberland |
| Settled | 1806 |
| Incorporated | 1828 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough Council |
| • Mayor | Jack Ritter |
| • Council President | Kyle Miller |
| • Council Vice President | John Anthony |
| • Borough Manager | Layne Thompson |
| • Borough Solicitor | Michael Cassidy |
| Area | |
• Total | 2.41 sq mi (6.25 km2) |
| • Land | 2.41 sq mi (6.24 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 446 ft (136 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 9,311 |
| • Density | 3,862.7/sq mi (1,491.39/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 17055, 17050 |
| Area code | 717 |
| FIPS code | 42-48376 |
| Website | www |
Mechanicsburg is aborough inCumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The borough is eight miles (13 km) west ofHarrisburg. It is part of theHarrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan statistical area. As of the2020 census, the population was 9,311, up from 8,981 recorded at the2010 census.[3]
Mechanicsburg is located in eastern Cumberland County at40°12′44″N77°00′22″W / 40.212089°N 77.006143°W /40.212089; -77.006143.[4] It is in a rich agricultural region known as theCumberland Valley, a broad zone betweenSouth Mountain and theRidge-and-Valley Appalachians.
Mechanicsburg is bordered bySilver Spring Township to the northwest,Monroe Township to the southwest,Upper Allen Township to the south,Lower Allen Township to the east, andHampden Township to the northeast.Pennsylvania Route 641 (Trindle Road) is the main east–west street through the borough, leading east 4 miles (6 km) toCamp Hill and west 10 miles (16 km) toCarlisle, thecounty seat.Pennsylvania Route 114 leads north out of town on York Street and south on Market Street. ThePennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) passes just south of Mechanicsburg, with access to the southeast of town via Exit 236 (U.S. Route 15).
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.41 square miles (6.25 km2), of which 1.1 acres (4,478 m2), or 0.07%, is water.[3] It has a hot-summerhumid continental climate (Dfa) and monthly average temperatures range from 29.9 °F (−1.2 °C) in January to 74.8 °F (23.8 °C) in July.[5] Thehardiness zone is borderline between 6b and 7a, meaning that the annual average absolute minimum temperature is approximately 0 °F.[6]
In 1900, 3,841 people lived here; in 1910, the population was 4,469, which increased to 5,709 in 1940. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 8,981.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1830 | 534 | — | |
| 1840 | 670 | 25.5% | |
| 1850 | 888 | 32.5% | |
| 1860 | 1,939 | 118.4% | |
| 1870 | 2,569 | 32.5% | |
| 1880 | 3,018 | 17.5% | |
| 1890 | 3,691 | 22.3% | |
| 1900 | 3,841 | 4.1% | |
| 1910 | 4,469 | 16.3% | |
| 1920 | 4,688 | 4.9% | |
| 1930 | 5,647 | 20.5% | |
| 1940 | 5,709 | 1.1% | |
| 1950 | 6,786 | 18.9% | |
| 1960 | 8,123 | 19.7% | |
| 1970 | 9,385 | 15.5% | |
| 1980 | 9,487 | 1.1% | |
| 1990 | 9,452 | −0.4% | |
| 2000 | 9,042 | −4.3% | |
| 2010 | 8,981 | −0.7% | |
| 2020 | 9,311 | 3.7% | |
| Sources:[7][8][9][2] | |||
As of thecensus[8] of 2000, there were 9,042 people, 4,023 households, and 2,466 families residing in the borough. Thepopulation density was 3,494.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,349.3/km2). There were 4,169 housing units at an average density of 1,611.3 units per square mile (622.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.97%White, 0.43%African American, 0.09%Native American, 1.15%Asian, 0.28% fromother races, and 1.08% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.83% of the population.
There were 4,024 households, out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% weremarried couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.7% were non-families. Of all households, 32.8% 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. Theper capita income for the borough was $22,812. About 2.4% of families and 4.2% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
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Mechanicsburg was named after a settlement of mechanics who made and repairedConestoga wagons in the early 19th century.
In 1837, when theCumberland Valley Railroad (CVRR) completed its line, Mechanicsburg was designated as a water station, where workers could restock the locomotive with firewood and water. This proved especially useful for those traveling between Carlisle and Harrisburg, two large cities at the time. This important function also contributed to the town's growth. The train became the town's link to the world of business and industry. Grain and feed companies, lumber yards and numerous factories were purposely built alongside the railroad tracks. Archives show that, at one time[when?], there were 25 trains chugging through the town daily carrying travelers, coal, feathers, fruit, ice, mail and newspapers. During theAmerican Civil War, the railroad was a valuable method of transporting troops and supplies.
On June 28, 1863, Confederate troops led by Brig. Gen.Albert G. Jenkins raided Mechanicsburg, and two days later, met with Union forces in theSkirmish of Sporting Hill, just east of town. Following the Skirmish of Sporting Hill, the Confederate forces retreated south into the little town ofGettysburg where theBattle of Gettysburg would be fought.[10]
The oldest building in Mechanicsburg is the Frankeberger Tavern. One of Mechanicsburg's first residents was George Frankeberger, who in 1801 applied for a license to open his newly built log home for the "convenience" of travelers. In exchange for a small fee, Mr. Frankeberger offered cattle drivers a warm meal and a place to sleep. This proved to be rather lucrative, as many people were making the two-day trek between Harrisburg (the state capital) and Carlisle (Cumberland County's county seat).
Approximately six trains travel through Mechanicsburg presently, which has increased due to new operations on the local sub-line owned byNorfolk Southern. Although automotive technology changed the town forever, today's residents cannot dismiss the vital role the railroad played in its development.[10]
Mechanicsburg's contemporary growth has also included the building of the Naval Support Activity on 840 acres (340 ha) of land inHampden Township, Pennsylvania. NSA Mechanicsburg continues to serve as one of the Defense Department's major logistics sites.
Mechanicsburg is centered on 100 acres (40 ha) that Leonard Fisher purchased from Joseph Heynes' tract (No. 1442 of an original grant of 267 acres (1.08 km2) fromWilliam Penn. Before becoming incorporated on April 12, 1828, the town went by several different names. First, Drytown, because of the extreme scarcity of water during the winter and summer. It was also known as Pinchgut, aGerman name used as a sign of amusement given to a small village of only a few people. Some also referred to the town as Staufferstown, in honor of Henry Stauffer, the owner of much of the land in the center of town, or briefly as Creekville during the Colonial Era.
Mechanicsburg is home to many historic markers, such as Irving Female College (named forWashington Irving, a trustee), the first women's college in Pennsylvania to grant degrees in arts and sciences.[10]
TheMechanicsburg Commercial Historic District,Irving Female College,Cumberland Valley Railroad Station and Station Master's House,Adam Orris House, andSimpson Street School are listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[11]
ThePennsylvania Department of Corrections has its headquarters inHampden Township,Cumberland County, near Mechanicsburg.[12][13] Mechanicsburg lies in the center of a regional transportation crossroads, withInterstate 81,Interstate 76,Interstate 83,US Route 11, andUS Route 15 passing in close proximity to the borough. TheAppalachian Trail passes through Pennsylvania a few miles west of Mechanicsburg, in nearbyBoiling Springs. TheNaval Support Activity Mechanicsburg is located off the Carlisle Pike just outside of Mechanicsburg.
The school district for the borough isMechanicsburg Area School District.[14] The district operatesMechanicsburg Area Senior High School, with Joseph Reidy as the principal of the school within the Mechanicsburg borough.
Messiah University is in nearbyUpper Allen Township.[15]
Cumberland Valley High School ofCumberland Valley School District is inSilver Spring Township,[16] with a Mechanicsburg postal address.[17] That district does not cover Mechanicsburg borough.[14]
6746 CARLISLE PIKE MECHANICSBURG, PA 17050
Born August 18, 1934 in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, he received Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Dartmouth College in mathematics (1956, 1958).
Mechanicsburg travel guide from WikivoyageMunicipalities and communities ofCumberland County, Pennsylvania,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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