AREA HISTORY:  Borough of York, Municipal History, York County, PA

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY – Page 519

The corporate history of York dates from September 24, 1787, when by an act of the general 
assembly, approved by the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania, it became the borough of 
York, which title it still holds, and is now one of the largest and most important boroughs in 
the State.  Two years more will complete a century of corporate existence.  Our enterprising 
local journals are wont to denominate York a city.  The historian must confine himself to 
facts, and hence must call it a borough, which it really is, but probably no more suitable time 
for the stable old town on the Codorus to assume the airs of a city, would be during 1887, the 
centennial year of its municipal history.

Gen. Henry Miller, the Revolutionary hero, was chosen the first chief burgess, and David 
Candler, son of Pastor Candler, of the First Lutheran Church, assistant.  The other members of 
the first council were, Hon. James Smith, Col. David Grier, Col. Michael Doudel, Baltzer 
Spangler, Christian Laumaster and Peter Mundorf.  The first clerk was George Lewis Leofler, and 
the first high constable, Christian Stoehr (Stair).

The records of the borough council from 1787 to 1848 could not be found, possibly they are 
lost.  The following is a list of names of the chief burgesses in the order of succession since 
1848:  R. C. Woodward resigned March 17, 1849; Francis Koch succeeded until May 1849; Jacob 
Barnitz, elected May 12, 1849; David G. Barnitz, 1850; Daniel Kraber, 1851-52-53; Abraham 
Forry, 1854-55-56; Peter McIntrye, 1857, Abraham Forry, 1858-59; Henry Lanius, 1860-61; David 
Small served from 1862 to 1871; Daniel Stillinger, 1871; John M. Deitch, 1872-73-74; Jere Carl, 
1875-76; F. C. Polack, 1877; Jere Carl, 1787; Henry J. Gresly, 1879.

Alexander Duncan, 1880; Francis M. Dick, 1881; Henry J. Gresly, 1882; Luther A. Small, 1883-84; 
George W. Heiges, 1885.  The borough council for the year 1885, is as follows:  First Ward, 
William A. Mitzel and William Whare; Second Ward, Jacob Kuehn and W. H. Lanius; Third Ward, H. 
C. Adams and Jonathan Owen; Fourth Ward, Luther A. Small and Jacob Stager; Fifth Ward, A. H. 
Seiffert and Mr. Kottkamp; Sixty Ward, Henry Heffner and Eli Sprenkle; Seventh Ward, John 
Zimmerman and Frank R. Stenger; Eighth Ward, John Allen and A. Steckler; Ninth Ward, G. W. Bell 
and Charles Denues; John H. Gibson, clerk to council; Frederich Zorger elected high constable 
in 1863 and held the same office continuously to date.

Dr. W. J. McClure is health officer.

The first government census was taken in 1790 when York had a population of 2,076; in 1800 it 
had 2,503; in 1810, 3,201; in 1820, 3,545; in 1830, 4,772; in 1840, 5,480; in 1850, 6,963; in 
1860, 8,605; in 1870, 4,301; in 1880, 13,971.  Since the census of 1880 was taken, three 
densely populated sections have been added to the borough, thus causing a great increase of 
population which at present, 1885, in not less than 20,000.

The number of taxable inhabitants in 1883 was 4,444.  The valuation of real estate for the same 
year was $6,844,725.