West Hempfield Town Hall is located at 3476 Marietta Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17601.
Phone: 717‑285‑5554.
Neighborhoods
West Hempfield Township [1] is in west-central Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, about six miles west of the city of Lancaster along U.S. Route 30. It covers 20.9 square miles, with 18.8 square miles of land and 2.1 square miles (9.89%) water, primarily the Susquehanna River, which forms part of its boundary. The township is bordered by the boroughs of Mountville to the southeast and Columbia to the southwest. It lies between the cities of Lancaster and York, offering a mix of suburban and rural living with productive farmland and a preserved rural character.
West Hempfield Township traces its origins to 1729, when Lancaster County was established, and Hempfield was one of its original townships. Initially, Hempfield Township encompassed what is now East Hempfield, West Hempfield, Manor Townships, and the boroughs of Columbia, Mountville, and East Petersburg. The name "Hempfield" comes from the hemp fields cultivated in the area, derived from Hempfield Township in Lancaster County, formed in 1729 as an English place name. In 1818, Hempfield was divided into East and West Hempfield.
Settlement began around 1718-1720, with Scotch-Irish pioneers from the Donegal region and Germans from East Hempfield. Agriculture was the economic backbone, with early settlers operating stills and distilleries to process grain. A quartzite ridge running through the township supported iron ore mining in the early 19th century, particularly on Chestnut Hill, where hematite was extracted, supplying furnaces along the Susquehanna River. The archaeological remains of one such furnace are visible at Chickies Rock County Park. Abandoned mine pits, like Grubb Lake, remain near Ironville.
Key historical developments include:
Villages like Mountville, Kinderhook, Salunga, and Ironville emerged, with Mountville being the principal village, situated along the Lancaster and Columbia Turnpike. Kinderhook, named in 1840 after a political jest tied to Martin Van Buren's presidential campaign, and Salunga, laid out by Colonel Jacob Hostetter, were smaller but notable settlements. The township also features historic sites like the Chickies Historic District and Forry's and Siegrist's Mill Covered Bridges, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
By the 20th century, West Hempfield modernized with a township police department formed in 1960 and a professional township manager hired in 1989 after expanding the board of supervisors from three to five. Efforts to preserve farmland and manage growth continue, including a Transfer of Development Rights program to protect agricultural land and sensitive areas.
The township remains a blend of historical significance, agricultural heritage, and suburban development, with landmarks like covered bridges over Chickies Creek and a focus on balancing growth with preservation.
Beginnings [2]
Erected from the original Hempfield Township in August, 1818. Scotch-Irish settled along Big Chickies Creek in 1718. They were closely followed by Mennonites. The history of Hempfield is eventful. Hempfield Manor was laid out for John, Thomas and Richard Penn; the township was the scene of action in "Cresap's War," 1735-1738; and many of the patriots played prominent roles in pubic affairs. The Bethels, Barbers, Wrights, Sticklers, Garbers, Bachmans and Kauffmans were early and prominent settlers. Population n 1940 was 2,747.
Nearby Towns: Hempstead Town • Lynbrook Vlg • North Hempstead Town • Westbury Vlg •