AREA HISTORY:  Township Formed, Fairview Township, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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THE TOWNSHIP FORMED – Page 641

In the years 1801 and 1802 several petitions, signed by a large number of 
citizens, were presented to the court at York, asking for the formation of a new 
township out of “the upper end of Newberry,” stating further that “said township 
was too large for the convenience of the inhabitants.”

The court appointed on the third Monday of November, 1802, as viewers:  John 
Heckert, John Forsythe, Valentine Emig, Col. Henry Reisinger, Rudolph Spangler, 
Esq., and Peter Hoke, Sr.  The surveyor’s draft, made by Gen. Jacob Spangler, 
represents the dividing line to begin “opposite the mouth of the Swatara at 
Joseph Glancy’s ferry, through lands of John Nicholas (now Silas Prowell’s), 
nearly in a direct course to Lewisberry; thence in a southwesterly direction to 
Leeche’s Fording on Stony Run.  The report of these viewers was confirmed at 
February term of the court of quarter session in the year 1803.

The following significant paragraph was published in the columns of many papers 
a year ago:

Fairview, one of the most flourishing townships in York County, is peculiar in 
many respects.  There is not a postoffice or a hotel within its borders.  It has 
one distillery, but persons who wish to imbibe spirituous liquors must go to 
some other place to be accommodated.  It has thirteen school districts, and 
eight churches belonging to various religious denominations, but no preachers, 
and no physicians who reside in the township.  The justices of the peace and 
constables have not enough business to keep a record, and are compelled to make 
a living at some other business.  It is very seldom the sheriff has any official 
business in Fairview, except it is to make an appraisement in the settlement of 
an estate.  It is pronounced the “Eden” of York County.

In 1884 the township had 631 taxable inhabitants, with a property valuation of 
$1,045,381.  Population, 1880, was 2,164; State tax, $267; county tax,$3,651.  
There are postoffices around its borders at New Cumberland, Lisburn, Lewisberry, 
Yocumtown and Goldsboro.  The business interests of this township largely center 
at Harrisburg, being near that city.