A description of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, in 1805 is included within a book entitled, History of the Counties of Dauphin and Lebanon, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Biographical and Genealogical, by William Henry Egle. Published by Everts and Peck of Philadelphia, 1883.
Note: This book is available on the web as a free download from the Internet Archive.
The following is a transcription of a small portion of the history (pages 118-119) in which Egle presents the text of a book written by Joseph Scott in 1805 describing the geography of Dauphin and Lebanon counties including the towns that were in existence in 1805. Where Egle has provided the notes that correct Scott’s text, the note is presented in this blog post in brackets, with credit to Egle. Other bracketed material such as current names of towns, is provided for the benefit of the blog readers. In the case of “sic,” the information provided by Egle and/or Scott appears to be in error.
Lebanon County was not created until 16 February 1813 from parts of Dauphin County and Lancaster County, so the 1805 text names communities currently not in Dauphin County. Note also, that the text does not mention the community of Gratz, or Gratztown as it was referred to in its early years, for it apparently was not in existence at the time in 1805 when Scott described the area now known as Upper Dauphin County; the only community named by Scott was Halifax, indisputably the first settled town.
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From Egle:
In 1805, Joseph Scott published A Geographical Description of Pennsylvania: also the counties respectively in the order in which they were established by Legislature, with an alphabetical list of the townships in each county, and their population in 1805. The account of Dauphin at this period is worth reproducing in this connection, as it contains facts nowhere else found:
Dauphin County – A mountainous county, established by the legislature, the 4th of March of 1785. It was taken from Lancaster County. Dauphin is bounded north by Mahantongo Creek, which separates it from Northumberland; northeast by Berks; southeast By Lancaster; west, and southwest by the Susquehanna, which divides it from Mifflin on the northwest, by Northumberland on the west, and York on the southwest It is 45 miles in length and 45 in breadth.
The principal waters are Swatara and its numerous branches, Paxtang, Fishing, Stony, Clark’s, Powell’s, Armstrong’s, Wikinisky [Wiconisco] Creeks, also Manada and Beaver Creeks, both important streams flowing into the Swatara from the east side of the county, besides Mahantongo, which is the north boundary of the county, and Conewego, which is its south boundary; all of which flow westerly, and fall into the Susquehanna.
The principal mountains, beginning north are Mahantongo, Wikiniski [Wiconisco]. Peters Little, Second and the Blue Mountain, besides the Conewego Hills, partly in this, and Lancaster County. The lands south of the Blue Mountain, including about one-half of the county, are considerably fertile, and not inferior to the lands generally in Lancaster County.
The valleys between the mountains are very narrow, except Lykens Valley south of Mahantongo Mountain, and a large triangular valley, on each side of Armstrong Creek, between Wikinisky [Wiconisco] Mountain on the north and Peters’ on the south.
Abundance of iron ore is found in some of the mountains. Two furnaces and 2 forges nave been erected; they manufacture pig, cast-iron, holloware, &c. This county contained in 1805, 72 gristmills, 77 sawmills, 6 oil-mills, 4 fulling mills, 2 hemp-mills, 1 paper mill, 127 distilleries, a boring and powder mill.
Dauphin contained in 1790. 17,965 free inhabitants, and 212 slaves; and in 1800, 22,177 free inhabitants and 193 slaves. It sends 3 representatives to the general assembly, and in 1805, gave, on the election of governor, 3,151 votes.
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[Table of Townships: 1800 Free Population, 1800 Slave Population]
- Anvil —– 1485 —– 0
- Bethel —– 1837 —–2
- Derry —– 1636 —– 10
- East Hanover —– 1272 —– 10
- Harrisburg —– 1462 —– 10
- Heidelberg —– 1990 —– 0
- Lebanon —— 2876 —– 8
- London Derry —– 1570 —– 7
- Lower Paxton & Swatara —— 3180 —– 28
- Middle Paxton —– 722 —– 5
- Upper Paxton —– 2274 —– 0
- West Hanover —— 1849 —— 13
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HARRISBURG, a borough, and post town, in which the courts of Justice are held for the county. It is generally situated on the east side of the Susquehanna, in a large fertile valley, between the Conewego Hills in the south and Blue Mountain on the north. It was regularly laid out in 1785, and consists of 4 streets, which extend parallel to the river, as Front, Second &c intersected by 6 others at right angles, called Mulberry, Chestnut, Market, Walnut, Locust, and Pine Streets, with an alley 20 feet wide, extending both ways, through the middle of each square, parallel to the streets. Market and Second Street, are each 90 feet wide and all the others 52 1/2 feet. [Egle’s Note: Second and Market are 80 feet wide]. At the intersection of Market and Second Street is an oblong square, 520 feet long, by 150 feet broad, in which are two brick market- houses. The town is built upon ground about 60 feet above the level of the river. The rising ground from the river to Front Street, several hundred feet in breadth, belongs to the public. It can only be built upon one side. The river, up and down, with Maclay’s Island in treat, presents to the eye a beautiful view form this point. It serves for piling the large quantities of lumber, which is annually brought in rafts down the river. The trade in lumber contributed to the rapid improvement, which continued for 6 years, when a mill-dam was erected in the neighborhood. The place soon became extremely sickly, which obliged the inhabitants to purchase the mill, and clear out the dam, which has restored its ancient salubrity; and it is now improving with its former rapidity. Harrisburg contains about 400 houses; about one-third are of brick. The public buildings are an elegant brick court-house, 91 feet in front, including the offices and 50 feet deep; with an elegant cupola, a large hall, and town clock. The offices at each end, which contain the records of the county, and the public library, are fire-proof. A stone jail, two stories high, with a spacious yard surrounded by a stone wall, 18 feet in height; a brick and a log meeting house. An elevated piece of ground, containing about 4 acres, which commands a beautiful view of the town and neighborhood, is reserved for the accommodation of the general assembly, in case they fix on that as their permanent seat of government. In several parts of the town are several wells of excellent water. The inhabitants may also be supplied from several streams, that issue from the heights, behind the town, and which may be conveyed, at a small expense, through every street, except for the lot appropriated for the legislature.
Harrisburg was erected into a borough the 13th of April, 1791. It is 107 miles northwest of Philadelphia and 142 miles from Washington City [D.C.]. Lat. 40º16″N, Lon. 18 [sic]º42″W. [Egle’s Note: Harrisburg is 126 miles from the city of Washington].
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Campbell’stown [Campbellstown, Lebanon County], a small town, situated near a branch of the Quitipahilla, on the lower road between Harrisburg and Reading. It 13 miles east of Harrisburg, and 96 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
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Easterton [Estherton, Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County], a village on the east side of the Susquehanna, 4 miles above Harrisburg.
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Halifax [Dauphin County], a small post-town, on the east side of the Susquehanna, 18 miles above Harrisburg and 160 miles from Washington City [D.C.].
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Hummel’s-town [Hummelstown, Dauphin County], a handsome post-town on the south side of Swatara River, 6 miles north of Middletown and 10 east by north of Harrisburg. It contains about 100 houses.
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Jones’-town [Jonestown, Lebanon County], a small post-town, situated in the forks of Swatara and Little Swatara, 23 miles northeast by east of Harrisburg and 174 from Washington City. It has a German Calvinist church.
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Lebanon [Lebanon County], a handsome borough post-town, agreeably situated on the e side of the Quitipahilla Creek. The plan of the town is regular. It contains about 300 houses; a German Lutheran and a German Calvinist church. About a mile and a half east of the town is the Susquehanna and Schuylkill canal, connecting the waters of the Tulpehocken, a navigable branch of the Schuylkill with the Quitipahilla, a navigable branch of the Swatara.
Lebanon was incorporated 28 March, 1799. It is 25 miles east by north of Harrisburg, 82 northwest by west of Philadelphia and 167 from Washington City.
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Middletown [Dauphin County], a considerable post-town, situated near the northwest branch of the Swatara, about 2 miles above its confluence with the Susquehanna. The inhabitants carry on a brisk trade, in wheat and flour, by means of the Susquehanna, and its east and northwest branches. Contiguous to the town is one of the largest merchant-mills in the United States. Middletown is 15 miles southeast of Harrisburg, 92 west by north of Philadelphia, and 142 from Washington City. [Egle’s Note: Middletown is 9 miles from Harrisburg and at the junction of the Swatara and Susquehanna.]
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Myers’-town [Myerstown, Lebanon County], a village on the Tulpehocken, a few miles below the canal. It is 32 miles east by north of Harrisburg, 77 from Philadelphia.
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Neumann’s-town [Newmanstown, Lebanon County], a small town on the east side of Mill Creek, containing about 40 houses, It is 39 miles east by north of Harrisburg.
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Palm’s-Town [now Palmyra, Lebabon County] , a small post-town, 157 miles from Washington City.
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Stump’s-town [now Fredericksburg, Lebanon County], a village situated on a branch of Little Swatara, containing about 25 houses, and a German Lutheran and Calvinist church. It is 27 miles wast northeast of Harrisburg.
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Heidelberg [now Schaefferstown, Heidelberg Township, Lebanon County], a handsome town, situated at the head of Hammer Creek, a branch of Cocalico Creek, which joins the Conestoga. It contains about 100 houses, a German, Lutheran and Calvinist Church. It is 33 miles east by north of Harrisburg, and 74 northwest by west of Philadelphia.
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Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.