Campbelltown, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Campbelltown, Pennsylvania
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Village Sign
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 Campbelltown, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Campbelltown, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Lebanon |
| Township | South Londonderry |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.22 sq mi (8.33 km2) |
| • Land | 3.22 sq mi (8.33 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 450 ft (140 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,922 |
| • Density | 1,840.27/sq mi (710.54/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
17010
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| Area code(s) | 717 |
| FIPS code | 42-10960 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1171142 |
Campbelltown is a small community in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States. It's known as a census-designated place (CDP), which means it's an area identified by the government for statistics. In 2020, about 5,922 people lived here.
Campbelltown is located east of Hershey. It sits where two main roads, U.S. Route 322 and Pennsylvania Route 117, meet. This community is part of the larger Harrisburg metropolitan area.
Contents
Where is Campbelltown Located?
Campbelltown is in the southwestern part of Lebanon County. It shares a border with Hershey, which is in Dauphin County.
Roads and Travel
U.S. Route 322 goes right through the middle of Campbelltown. This road leads west to Harrisburg, the state capital, which is about 18 miles away. If you go east on US-322, you'll reach Ephrata in Lancaster County, about 24 miles away.
Pennsylvania Route 117 crosses US-322 on the eastern side of Campbelltown. It goes north to Palmyra, about 2 miles away. To the southeast, PA-117 leads to Mount Gretna, about 7 miles away.
Natural Features
Campbelltown covers an area of about 7.6 square kilometers (about 3 square miles), and it's all land. A stream called Spring Creek starts here. It flows northwest and eventually joins Swatara Creek, which then flows into the Susquehanna River.
History of Campbelltown
The first European settlers in the Lebanon Valley area were mostly from Scotland and Ireland, and Germany. They came to this new land for various reasons, including political, economic, and religious freedom.
Founding the Village
In 1751, a man named John Campbell, who was from Scotland or Ireland, moved to Pennsylvania. He settled in an area then called Derry Township. John Campbell was a farmer. In 1752, he bought 100 acres of land from Thomas and Richard Penn. They were the sons of the famous William Penn, who founded Pennsylvania.
John Campbell's land grew to 352 acres. He officially owned it in 1759. After that, he divided the land into smaller lots. This is how the village of Campbelltown, originally called "Campbell's Town," began.
Changes in Ownership and Government
After John Campbell passed away around 1775, his land went to his brother Patrick. Later, in 1779, Peter Grubb, who owned the Cornwall Furnace, bought the land. He then sold it to Robert Coleman.
In 1785, Philip Wolfersberger bought the 352 acres from Coleman. In 1809, the Campbelltown land was split among Wolfersberger's four sons. Around 1811, a U.S. Post Office opened in the village, and Wolfersberger became the first postmaster.
Campbelltown's local government has always been part of a larger township. It started in Derry Township, then moved to Londonderry Township. When Lebanon County was formed in 1813, Campbelltown became part of Londonderry Township within the new county. In 1894, Londonderry Township was divided into North and South. Campbelltown became part of South Londonderry Township.
Education in Campbelltown
In the early days, churches provided education in Campbelltown. Public schools started after the Free School Act of 1834. The local school closed in 1972. Since 1962, students in Campbelltown have been part of the Palmyra Area School District.
Transportation History
Campbelltown was an important stop on a main trolley line that connected Philadelphia and Harrisburg. The Downingtown, Ephrata, and Harrisburg Pike, also known as the Horseshoe Pike, was completed in 1819. This road later became part of US 322. Many travelers passed through the village and stayed at its hotels.
In 1908, thanks to Milton S. Hershey, a street railway came to Campbelltown. This allowed people to travel easily beyond the village. They could go to cities like Harrisburg and Lebanon.
Population of Campbelltown
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 5,922 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 2,415 people living in Campbelltown. There were 900 households, with many being families. Most residents were White (97.1%). About 27% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age was 37 years.
Campbelltown Tornadoes
Campbelltown has experienced tornadoes.
2004 Tornado
On July 14, 2004, an F3 tornado hit the southeastern part of the village. It had very strong winds, over 160 miles per hour. Luckily, no one died, but some people had minor to moderate injuries. This was the largest and most damaging tornado in Lebanon County's history.
2010 Tornado
On June 22, 2010, a weaker EF0 tornado touched down in Campbelltown. It did not cause as much damage as the 2004 tornado.
Village Square Project
On October 23, 2023, a company called Ethos Residential announced plans for a new village square project in Campbelltown. This project will be built on 15.15 acres of land along U.S. Route 322. This land was once known as the Alger Farm.
The new buildings will look like the historic architecture of Campbelltown. The goal is to create a traditional town square for the community.
HMS Campbeltown Connection
There's a special connection between Campbelltown, Pennsylvania, and a British warship!
A Ship's Story
During World War II, the United States and the United Kingdom made a deal called the Lend-Lease agreement. The U.S. gave 50 Navy destroyer ships to the UK. In return, the UK gave the U.S. leases for British military bases.
One of these ships, originally named USS Buchanan, was launched in 1919. It became HMS Campbeltown for the British Royal Navy. It was named after Campbeltown in Scotland. Because of this, the ship also shared a name with Campbelltown, Pennsylvania.
The Bell's Journey
After the war, the ship's bell stayed in Scotland. But in 1950, the British consul-general decided to give the bell to the city of Lebanon, Pennsylvania. This was to honor the special bond between the town and the United Kingdom.
Today, the bell is kept in the South Londonderry Township municipal building. It is a symbol of Campbelltown. In 1988, the people of Campbelltown voted to lend the bell to a new ship, HMS Campbeltown (F86), for as long as it was in service. The bell was returned to the town on June 21, 2011, when the ship was taken out of service. A new ship, a Type 31 called HMS Campbeltown, was announced in 2021.
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Palmdale | Palmyra | Annville | |
| Hershey |  |
Mount Pleasant | ||
 Campbelltown  |
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| Derry Township, Dauphin County, Conewago Township, Dauphin County | Plainville, Bachmanville | Colebrook, Mount Wilson |
See also
In Spanish: Campbelltown (Pensilvania) para niños
