AREA HISTORY:  Topography, West Manchester 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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TOPOGRAPHY – Page 621

The township thus laid off is the form of an irregular triangle, with the 
northeast border as a base, resting on Manchester Township.  The western boundary 
is nearly a perpendicular line resting against Dover and Jackson Townships.  The 
southeastern boundary line follows the sinuous course of the placid Codorus, and 
forms a very crooked hypothenuse for our hypothetical triangle.

The land of this township has long been noted for its fertility and 
productiveness, and is part of the limestone belt which diagonally crosses York 
County.  Nearly every acre of this township is under the highest state of 
cultivation, and all kinds of cereals grow luxuriantly.  The characteristic large 
bank barns and brick houses, which indicate the prosperity of the Pennsylvania 
German farmer, are very thickly set.  During the months of May and June it is one 
continuous garden of beauty and plenty.

The York & Gettysburg Turnpike crosses this township, as did also the old 
“Monocacy Road” laid out in 1739, passing through Wrightsville, York and Hanover 
to Maryland.  The Hanover & York Railroad also traverses it.  A considerable 
business is done at Graybill’s and Bear’s Stations.  There are a number of large 
flouring-mills and one flint-mill within its boundaries.  Since the annexation to 
York of Smysertown, with a population of 998, and Bottstown with 401, there are 
now no villages in the township.

The original settlers were largely German Lutheran, Reformed, German Baptist and 
Mennonites, many of whose descendants now occupy the lands taken up by their 
worthy ancestors a century and a half ago. There were, however, some English 
settlers, as the above letter indicates.