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History of Dauphin, (Dauphin County) PennsylvaniaOur database does not include an historic photo for Dauphin, (Dauphin County) Pennsylvania, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us! 15% - 35% off all Products ยป The Ready Store Local History Notes:The 1854 Gazetteer of the United States by Thomas Baldwin shows: DAUPHIN, a county in the S. E. central part of Pennsylvania, has an area of 530 square miles. Susquehanna river forms its entire boundary on the W. and S.W., Mahantango creek washes its northern border, and the county is traversed by Swatara river, and by Wiconisco, Powell's, Clark's, and Paxton creeks. The surface is mostly occupied by parallel mountain ridges and intervening valleys, the general direction of which is N. E. and S.W. The Kittatinny, or Blue mountain, raises its crest across the middle of the county; the ridges which traverse the N. W. part bear the local names of Second, Third, Peter's, Berry's, and Mahantango mountains. South mountain extends along the S. border of the county. The soil has almost every variety; the valley in the southern part is of limestone formation, and is extremely fertile. Indian corn, wheat, oats, potatoes, hay, and butter are the staples. In 1850 there were raised 340, 755 bushels of corn; 308,879 of wheat; 370,027 of oats; 115,827 of potatoes; 27,814 tons of hay, and 575,668 lbs, of butter. There were 37 flour and grist mills, 2 coal mines, 8 manufactories of agricultural implements, 4 iron furnaces, 2 foundries, 2 forges, 1 rolling mill, 1 powder mill, 5 woollen factories, and 15 tanneries. It contained 84 churches, and 7 newspaper offices. There were 6333 pupils attending public schools, and 36 attending academies or other schools. Extensive mines of anthracite coal are worked in the N. part of the county. Iron is also found. The Susquehanna canal extends along the W. border of the county, and the Union canal passes through the S. part. It is traversed by the Lancaster and Harrisburg railroad, and by another, not yet finished, connecting Harrisburg with Reading. The county was organized in 1785, and named as a compliment to the Dauphin of France, afterwards called Louis XVII Harrisburg is the county seat and capital of the state. |
Pennsylvania Facts: Dauphin County Facts: Seat: HarrisburgEstablished: 1785 Formed from: Lancaster Dauphin is situated 111 meters above sea level. |