Greencastle, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Greencastle, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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Bank Clock tower on the square
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Location of Greencastle in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
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 Greencastle, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Greencastle, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Franklin |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.59 sq mi (4.11 km2) |
| • Land | 1.59 sq mi (4.11 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 587 ft (179 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,251 |
| • Density | 2,676.95/sq mi (1,033.89/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
17225
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| Area code(s) | 717 and 223 |
| FIPS code | 42-30896 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1215244 |
Greencastle is a small town, called a borough, located in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. In 2020, about 4,251 people lived there. This town is nestled in the beautiful Cumberland Valley of Pennsylvania.
Contents
History of Greencastle
Early Inhabitants
Long ago, the area where Greencastle now stands was home to Native American tribes. These tribes, part of the Six Nations, hunted and lived throughout Franklin County, Pennsylvania. The Shawnee and Seneca tribes were especially important in this region.
European Settlement
The first European settlers arrived in the area thanks to James Patton. He came to America when he was 17. In 1793, he moved to North Carolina. Patton described the early settlement as having "moral and orderly people."
Greencastle was officially founded in 1783 by John Allison. He named the town after Greencastle, County Antrim, in Northern Ireland. The town started with 246 plots of land. By 1790, Greencastle had about 60 houses and around 400 people. By the mid-1800s, the population grew to 1,125 residents.
Latter Day Saint Community
In 1845, after a leadership change in the Latter Day Saint movement, Sidney Rigdon brought his followers to Pennsylvania. They created a settlement near Greencastle and Mercersburg. About 200 followers lived there. They even started a newspaper in Greencastle. This community lasted only a few years. Some followers later moved to Utah.
Greencastle During the Civil War
During the American Civil War, Greencastle and nearby communities formed the 126th Pennsylvania Infantry to fight. In the summer of 1863, the war came very close to home. Confederate General Robert E. Lee and his army invaded southern Pennsylvania. From mid-June to early July, Greencastle residents lived under Confederate control.
On July 2, 1863, during the Battle of Gettysburg, a Union cavalry patrol rode into Greencastle. They surprised and captured several Confederate soldiers. These soldiers were carrying important messages. After the Battle of Gettysburg, Lee's army began to retreat on July 4 and 5. They sent a long wagon train, carrying wounded soldiers, through Greencastle. Some townspeople attacked the wagons with axes, disabling several before being chased away.
Modern Greencastle
After the Civil War, Greencastle grew a lot during the Industrial Revolution. Many factories were built in town. One example was the Crowell Manufacturing Company, which made farming equipment.
In 1902, a local businessman named Philip Baer started a special tradition. Every three years, Greencastle holds an event called "Old Home Week." In August, current and former residents gather for a week-long reunion. The most recent celebration happened in 2022. The next one is planned for 2025.
Several historic places in Greencastle are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Greencastle Historic District, the Mitchell-Shook House, and Martin's Mill Bridge. Greencastle also has many Christian churches with long histories. The local Methodist church, for example, dates back to 1805.
Geography and Location
Greencastle is located in southern Franklin County, Pennsylvania. It is surrounded by Antrim Township. U.S. Route 11 runs through the western part of town. It goes north 11 miles to Chambersburg and south 11 miles to Hagerstown, Maryland.
Pennsylvania Route 16 passes through the center of Greencastle. It leads east 8 miles to Waynesboro and west 10 miles to Mercersburg. Interstate 81 is just east of the town. You can get on I-81 from Exit 3 (US-11) or Exit 5 (PA 16). I-81 goes northeast 64 miles to Harrisburg and south 53 miles to Winchester, Virginia.
The United States Census Bureau states that Greencastle covers about 4.1 square kilometers (1.59 square miles) of land. There is no water area within the borough limits.
Population and Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1840 | 931 | — | |
| 1850 | 1,125 | 20.8% | |
| 1860 | 1,399 | 24.4% | |
| 1870 | 1,650 | 17.9% | |
| 1880 | 1,735 | 5.2% | |
| 1890 | 1,525 | −12.1% | |
| 1900 | 1,463 | −4.1% | |
| 1910 | 1,919 | 31.2% | |
| 1920 | 2,271 | 18.3% | |
| 1930 | 2,557 | 12.6% | |
| 1940 | 2,511 | −1.8% | |
| 1950 | 2,611 | 4.0% | |
| 1960 | 2,988 | 14.4% | |
| 1970 | 3,293 | 10.2% | |
| 1980 | 3,679 | 11.7% | |
| 1990 | 3,600 | −2.1% | |
| 2000 | 3,722 | 3.4% | |
| 2010 | 3,996 | 7.4% | |
| 2020 | 4,251 | 6.4% | |
| Sources: | |||
In 2010, Greencastle had 3,996 people. By the 2020 census, the population grew to 4,251. In 2000, there were 3,722 people living in 1,661 households. The town had a population density of about 2,371 people per square mile.
Most residents were White (96.72%). Other groups included African American (1.34%), Asian (0.62%), and Native American (0.19%). About 0.97% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
In 2000, about 11.5% of households had children under 18. Many households (52.0%) were married couples. The average household size was 5.87 people. The average family size was 2.83 people.
The median age in Greencastle was 41 years old. About 4.3% of the population was under 18. About 20.6% were 65 years or older. For every 100 females, there were about 93.6 males.
The median income for a household in Greencastle was $58,031. For families, it was $86,250. About 8.9% of families and 17.7% of the total population lived below the poverty line.
Parks and Community Places
Greencastle has several great places for recreation and learning.
- Jerome King Park: This playground was built in 1923 by David D. King. He created it in memory of his brother for the Old Home Week celebration.
- Antrim Township Park: This park opened in the early 2000s. It has trails that connect to the historic Martin's Mill Bridge.
The Martin's Mill Bridge had a major repair in 2016. This project cost a million dollars. The goal was to protect the bridge from weather and decay. The restoration efforts won an award for their artistic merit and innovation.
Next to the Greencastle-Antrim School District campus is Tayamentasachta, also known as the "school farm." The school district bought this land to expand. However, they decided to use it for student and community learning instead. In 1970, it was officially named Tayamentasachta, which is the traditional Native American name for the nearby stream.
Greencastle also has many historical buildings and community groups. These include the Alison-Antrim Museum and the Greencastle Area Youth Foundation (GAYF). The GAYF uses the High Line Train Station to host clubs and youth groups like Scouts BSA.
Notable People
Many interesting people have connections to Greencastle:
- Henry P. Fletcher (1873–1959), a veteran of Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders.
- Mary Alice Frush, a nurse during the American Civil War.
- David Fullerton (1772–1843), who served in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- George Kunkel (1823–1885), an American theatre manager.
- Thomas Grubb McCullough (1785–1848), who also served in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- James Xavier McLanahan (1809–1861), another Member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Jared Smith (1990–), a member of the 2013 Seattle Seahawks football team.
- Jacob Snively (1809–1871), a surveyor and civil engineer who was an officer in the Army of the Republic of Texas.
- John C. Young (1803–1857), who was the President of Centre College.
See also
In Spanish: Greencastle (Pensilvania) para niños
