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Chambersburg, the county
seat of Franklin County, is the historic and commercial center
of the region characterized by varied small and medium industrial
enterprises. It is a rich agricultural and residential area.
It was settled by Benjamin Chambers, who in 1730 with his brother
crossed the Susquehanna River and headed southwestward to his
final destination at the confluence of the Conococheaque Creek
and the Falling Spring. This location provided him with the
water power necessary for a gristmill and a sawmill which operated
there for many years.
The Community was formally laid out in 1764 by the then Colonel
Chambers extending south and east from the fort that had been
built for protection against Indian raids.
Chambersburg grew in importance as a crossroad where the travel
east to west toward the frontier crossed the travel north and
south within the great valley.
The municipal government was established through a state granted
charter as a borough in 1803. During the Civil War, Chambersburg
played a significant role in the Shenandoah and Cumberland Valley
theater of operation. It was occupied three times by Confederate
Forces. In the center of town, at the diamond which is now referred
to as Memorial Square, General Robert E. Lee, after consulting
with his associates, made the fateful decision to move east
resulting in the Battle of Gettysburg which was the turning
point of the war. Finally, on July 30, 1864, Confederate troops
under General J.A. McCausland of the General Jubal Early Army
burned down the center of the town when ransom was not paid
for alleged outrages committed by Union Troops in the Shenandoah
Valley. Since then the Borough was rebuilt and has grown.
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