AREA HISTORY:  West Manheim 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 OF WEST MANHEIM – Page 696

THIS township was formed by a division of Manheim in 1858.  It is situated in 
the extreme southwestern part of the township, bordering on the State of 
Maryland to the south, Adams County to the west, Penn Township to the north, and 
Manheim to the east.  Most of the land in it is quite fertile, though for a 
century, a large section of the township was known as “the Barrens.”  Improved 
methods of agriculture, and a careful use of fertilizers, has greatly increased 
the value of the land and made it more productive, so that it now yields as 
abundant crops as the limestone land north of it.  Iron ore has been taken out 
at a few places.  The history of Mary Ann Furnace, an early industry of this 
township, will be found in an article in this book on “Early Iron Industries,” 
page 484.

The Hanover & Maryland Line Turnpike diagonally crosses West Manheim and divides 
it into two equal parts.  This road follows a height of land which separates the 
head waters of the Codorus from the head waters of the south branch of Conewago.  
The township is therefore drained by both these streams.  The population in 1880 
was 1,194; value of real estate in 1884 was $415,686.  There are no villages in 
this township and no postoffices.