Chambersburg, PA 17240 Is a Great Place to Live and Raise a Family

A quaint and friendly community, Chambersburg Pennsylvania offers a small-town lifestyle with all the amenities of a larger city. The town operates under the CouncilManager form of government. The Borough Manager is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Chambersburg Council, a group of ten elected officials serving four-year terms.

Business and Economy

Chambersburg Pennsylvania is situated on Interstate 81, just a few miles from the major metropolitan centers of Washington, DC and Baltimore, Maryland. Its proximity to these two cities encourages trucking and distribution businesses. Many of the companies that serve these areas employ Chambersburg residents.

Tourism & Hospitality

As one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region, Chambersburg is known for its historic downtown area and charming Victorian homes. The town also offers a wide variety of museums, historical sites and other attractions.

Civic and Community Affairs

Chambersburg is a vibrant community that consists of a wide range of businesses and organizations. The business district is dominated by the downtown commercial and retail areas, which offer many shops and restaurants for residents to enjoy.

The Chambersburg Museums & Heritage Center features many exhibits and interactive displays that highlight the unique history of this area. Explore the Civil War History exhibit to learn how this area played a role in the sectional issues that led to the American Civil War.

A Frontier Heritage: The History of the Chambersburg Area

In the 1700s, people came to the Cumberland Valley for religious freedom, personal freedom and a better way of life. The area was lush and beautiful, with fertile valleys, abundant water, wildlife and game. The Indians were a constant threat to the new settlers, so many private and provincial forts were built to protect the settlers from attack.

Religion was a significant part of the early settlers' lives. Benjamin Chambers, founder of Chambersburg, recognized the importance of religion and devoted plots of land to three congregations--Falling Spring Presbyterian, First Lutheran, and Zion Reformed. In return, each church paid Chambers a yearly rent of one rose.

This custom continues today and is an integral part of the Chambersburg community.

The City of Chambersburg is an inclusive and diverse community that exemplifies the values of hard work, honesty, compassion, generosity and service to others. Its unique history and beautiful surroundings make it an ideal place to live, raise a family and build a business.

Throughout the history of the Chambersburg area, it has been the site of numerous battles and other important events. For example, during the French and Indian War, George Washington traveled through Chambersburg during his scouting trip in 1776.

Chambersburg was also a hotbed of Civil War activity in 1864. Confederate cavalrymen, riding through the night, arrived on July 30, 1864 and unlimbered their four-gun horse artillery batteries in the outskirts of the town, causing the fire that destroyed much of the downtown. After the fire, the city was able to recover its economic health and quickly grew into one of the most populous cities in the area.