Fort Hunter, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fort Hunter, Pennsylvania
Unincorporated community
Fort Hunter, Pennsylvania Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Fort Hunter, Pennsylvania Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Dauphin
Townships	Middle Paxton, Susquehanna
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)

Fort Hunter is a small community in Middle Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. This means it is part of a larger area that includes Harrisburg and Carlisle.

Fort Hunter: A Glimpse into History

Fort Hunter is not just a modern community. It is also the name of an important historical fort. This fort played a key role in the early history of Pennsylvania. It helped protect settlers during a time of conflict.

The Original Fort Hunter

The original Fort Hunter was built about six miles north of Harrisburg. It stood on the south bank of Fishing Creek. This creek meets the Susquehanna River nearby, close to a place called Rockville. The fort was named after Robert Hunter, an early pioneer who had settled in the area.

Building the Fort

Settlers likely started building the fort around October or November 1755. This was right after a terrible event known as the Penn's Creek Massacre. The massacre made people realize they needed better protection. Government troops took over and finished the fort's construction in January 1756.

What the Fort Looked Like

Fort Hunter was built as a "block-house." A block-house is a strong, small fort, often made of logs. It was surrounded by a "stockade," which is a fence made of tall, pointed wooden stakes. There were also extra barracks outside the main fort. These barracks were for new soldiers on their way to another important fort called Fort Augusta.

Who Was in Charge?

The fort was usually led by Captain Thomas McKee and Captain James Patterson. They were part of Lt. Colonel William Clapham's Augusta Regiment. Fort Hunter was special because it was not directly under the command of Colonel Conrad Weiser. Most other forts in the area were.

The Fort's Importance

Fort Hunter was in a very important location. It helped protect the frontier settlers. The fort was used for many years, until all fighting ended in 1764. It served as a vital defense point during a challenging time in Pennsylvania's history.

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