Tartown, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Remains of a stone wall at the Tartown site

Tartown was once a small community in Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is now an "extinct community," which means it no longer exists as an active place where people live.

Tartown: A Lost Community

Tartown was a small community that used to be in Adams County, Pennsylvania. Today, it's known as a "ghost town" because it's no longer an active place where people live. You can find what's left of Tartown on land owned by the Waynesboro Borough Authority and in the nearby Michaux State Forest. These areas are located in Hamiltonban Township.

The Story of Tartown

Why Was It Called Tartown?

The name "Tartown" comes from something important that people used to make there: pine tar. Pine tar was made from pine trees and used for many things, like sealing boats or treating wood. Another name for the area was "Wagamansville."

The Dam and the Reservoir

Part of Tartown is now covered by water. This happened when the Waynesboro Dam was built on the East Branch of the Antietam Creek. The dam created a large lake called a reservoir. This reservoir now covers some of the land where Tartown used to be.

Images for kids

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  The Waynesboro Reservoir, which covers part of old Tartown.