Editing Mercersburg, Pennsylvania (section)

==History==
The land currently known as Mercersburg was previously territory of the [[Massawomeck people]] who were part of the [[Iroquois]] Nation. <ref>https://cimlg.org/about-us/the-conococheague-institute-at-rock-hill-farm/</ref>

Mercersburg was [[plat]]ted in 1780.<ref>{{cite book|last=M'Cauley|first=I. H.|title=Historical Sketch of Franklin County, Pennsylvania|url=https://archive.org/details/historicalsketch00mcaul|year=1878|publisher=Patriot|page=[https://archive.org/details/historicalsketch00mcaul/page/213 213]}}</ref> The borough was named after [[Hugh Mercer]], a general and hero in the [[American Revolutionary War]].<ref>{{cite book| last=Gannett| first=Henry| title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States| url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ| year=1905| publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office| page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n204 205]}}</ref> A post office has been in operation at Mercersburg since 1812.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=PA&county=Franklin | title=Franklin County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=19 June 2017}}</ref>

Located near the southern border of Pennsylvania, the rural community became a place of refuge during the antebellum years for escaped African Americans who had been enslaved in the South. Some came to the area via the [[Underground Railroad]]. After the American Revolution, Pennsylvania had abolished slavery. In this area were communities of free [[African Americans]] who had worked in agriculture. It was relatively easy for refugees to join their communities after passing over the border of Maryland.<ref name="wingert"/>

This settlement was called "Black Town" in early years, before being incorporated in 1831. The rural area outside of town was referred to by locals as "Little Africa" because of its relatively large concentration of African Americans in this time period. Some were refugees who had settled here after escaping from slavery in the South.<ref name="wingert">{{cite book|last=Wingert|first=Cooper H.|title=Slavery and the Underground Railroad in South Central Pennsylvania}}</ref>

In later years, black folks moved away from here as they were at risk from [[slavecatchers]], especially after passage of the [[Fugitive Slave Act]] in 1850, which had more stringent rules against free states. Many African Americans moved to Philadelphia, which had a large and free black community, which helped new arrivals get settled. Philadelphia also provided more job opportunities.{{citation needed|date = April 2025}}

In 2010, 6.49% of the population was of African American descent, a total of 1,561 persons.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4248704| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Mercersburg borough, Pennsylvania| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American FactFinder| access-date=July 29, 2016| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213054755/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4248704| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Mercersburg Historic District]], [[Lane House (Mercersburg, Pennsylvania)|Lane House]], and [[Mercersburg Academy]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>