Orrstown was founded in 1919 by the Orr brothers. It is surrounded by Southampton Township in Franklin County, on the old state road from Shippensburg to Upper Strasburg. Settlements were made in that neighborhood as early as 1738. Before the completion of the Pennsylvania Railroad, horses and cattle were annually driven down the state road (now Pennsylvania Route 533/Orrstown Road) to eastern markets. The town was laid out in 1833, by John, William and James Orr. At first, they called it "Southampton", after the township; but in 1835, when application was made for a post office to be called Southampton, the Post Office Department refused because there was already a post office of that name. George Chambers, who represented the area in Congress, named the post office "Orrstown", and the name has since been attached to the town.
Passages that mention Orrstown, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of Franklin county, Pennsylvania1887 · page 595Read the page →
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Orrstown lies five miles west of Shippensburg, on the old State road. Until the building of the railroad it was the scene of many of the merry old stirring times of coaching and teaming days. The town was founded by John and William Orr, in 1833, aud named Southampton, but in 1835 application for a postoffice in the place was made and the department demurred to the name as there was already a postoffice in the State by that name. The Hon. George Chambers was then in Congress, and the matter being referred to him he gave it the name of Orrstown. It was incorporated as a borough in 1847; has a
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History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania1887 · page 595Read the page →
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Orrstown lies five miles west of Shippensburg, on the old State road. Until the building of the railroad it was the scene of many of the merry old stirring times of coaching and teaming days. The town was founded by John and William Orr, in 1833, and named Southampton, but in 1835 application for a postoffice in the place was made and the department demurred to the name as there was already a postoffice in the State by that name. The Hon. George Chambers was then in Congress, and the matter being referred to him he gave it the name of Orrstown. It was incorporated as a borough in 1847; has a
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History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania1887 · page 672Read the page →
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lage should be called ‘‘Southampton;’’ and, in their application for a postoffice, that name was given to the locality. For some reason the postoffice ‘department disapproved the name, and then Hon. George Chambers, then in Congress, suggested the name of ‘‘Orrstown,’’ which was at once adopted by the Postmaster-general. Orrstown was incorporated as a borough in 1847, and William Orr was chosen its first burgess. About this date the ‘‘ Orrstown Savings Fund’’ was established, of which William Orr was one of the founders. This institution continued in successful operation for a period of eleven
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Franklin county, Pennsylvania1887 · page 672Read the page →
Read the text
lage should be called "Southampton;" and, in their application for a postoffice, that name was given to the locality. For some reason the postoffi.ce department disapproved the name, and then Hon. George Chambers, then in Congress, suggested the name of ' ' Orrstown, ' ' which was at once adopted by the Postmaster-general. Orrstown was incorporated as a borough in 1847, and William Orr was chosen its first burgess. About this date the " Orrstown Savings Fund" was established, of which William Orr was one of the founds ers. This institution continued in successful operation for a period of eleven
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Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →
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