Editing Campbelltown, Pennsylvania (section)

== History ==
The first European settlers to the Lebanon Valley area were namely Scotch-Irish and German Palatinate immigrants who left their homelands due to a number of political, economic and religious reasons. The Scotch-Irish in particular were also politically minded, and became involved in local governments quickly after settling in the area.<ref>Carmean, Edna J. (1976). ''Lebanon County, Pennsylvania - A History''.</ref>

In 1751, a Scotch-Irish immigrant by the name of [[John Campbell (patentee)|John Campbell]] came to Pennsylvania and settled in the area then known as Derry Township in [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Lancaster County]]. Campbell, who was a farmer, initially obtained a 100 acre warrant from [[Thomas Penn|Thomas]] and [[Richard Penn Sr.|Richard Penn]], proprietors of the [[Province of Pennsylvania]] in 1752 and sons of the famous [[William Penn]]. After returning his survey, which grew to 352 acres, he [[Patent|patented]] the property on August 6, 1759. Campbell then laid out various lots subject to the ground rent system, and the village of Campbelltown, then named "Campbell's Town" was thus established.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Rhoads, Jr. |first=Donald |title=Campbelltown Pennsylvania, A Historical Review in Words and Photographs |publisher=Lebanon County Historical Society |year=2001}}</ref>

After John Campbell's death between 1775 and 1776, the land transferred to his brother Patrick who was from [[Cumberland County, Pennsylvania|Cumberland County]]. [[Peter Grubb Jr.|Peter Grubb]], Iron master of the [[Cornwall Iron Furnace|Cornwall Furnace]], purchased the same tract and ground rents in 1779, which was later sold to [[Robert Coleman (industrialist)|Robert Coleman]] along with many of Grubb's other properties. Eventually, Philip Wolfersberger purchased the same 352 acres from Coleman in 1785, and in 1809, the Campbelltown tract was split into four parcels amongst his sons Peter, John, Frederick and Philip.<ref name=":0" />

A branch of the U. S. Post Office was established in the village in about 1811 with Wolfersberger serving as the first postmaster.<ref name=":0" />

Campbelltown's government has always lied with the township. Originally part of Derry Township, Lancaster County, it became part of Londonderry Township, Lancaster County in 1768, and then Londonderry Township, Dauphin County in 1785. After the formation of Lebanon County in 1813, the village became part of Londonderry Township.<ref name=":0" />

In 1894, Londonderry Township was divided into North and South, and Campbelltown became part of [[South Londonderry Township, Pennsylvania|South Londonderry Township]] along with [[Colebrook, Pennsylvania|Colebrook]] and [[Lawn, Pennsylvania|Lawn]].<ref name=":0" />

=== Education ===
Education in early Campbelltown was handled by the churches of the area until the enactment of the Free School Act in 1834 when public schools began to be established. Under the direction of the Londonderry Township School Board, the location closed during the 1972-73 school year. Since the merger of the Palmyra Area Joint School District ([[Palmyra, Pennsylvania|Palmyra Borough]] and [[North Londonderry Township, Pennsylvania|North Londonderry Township]]) and the South Londonderry Township School District in 1962, education has been served by the [[Palmyra Area School District]].<ref name=":0" />
[[File:Dissinger's Store.png|thumb|320x320px|Frank R. Dissinger's store delivery wagon, 1908]]

=== Transportation ===
Early Campbelltown served as a stop on the main trolley en route connecting Philadelphia and Harrisburg.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rooney |first=Leilani |title=Campbelltown |url=https://visitlebanonvalley.com/campbelltown/#:~:text=Campbelltown%20was%20founded%20in%201759,and%20a%20lot%20of%20charm. |website=Visit Lebanon Valley}}</ref> The [[Downingtown, Pennsylvania|Downingtown]], [[Ephrata, Pennsylvania|Ephrata]] and Harrisburg Pike, which was commonly known as the Horseshoe Pike, was chartered in 1803 and completed 1819, which later became part of [[US 322]]. Many people found themselves traveling through the village and staying at its few hotels.<ref name=":0" />

Thanks to [[Milton S. Hershey]], the arrival of public transportation in the form of a street railway in 1908 provided the citizens with the chance to travel beyond the boundaries of the village, including to the cities of Harrisburg, Lebanon, and beyond.<ref name=":0" />