West Manchester Township dates to 1735, and 1 of its places is on the National Register
More historic than 78% of U.S. towns · #359 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. What drives it
Most of West Manchester Township was built recently: 8% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1977. Its Register listing is the Samuel Stoner Homestead. Below: maps from 1920 on and the census since 2000.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1875.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives West Manchester Township’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, West Manchester Township is more historic than 78% of U.S. towns, #359 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Its age holds the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
A−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of West Manchester Township’s overall grade.
Pennsylvania towns list about as much on the Register as the country (a typical Pennsylvania town has 2.1 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so West Manchester Township’s 2.1 sits near the middle of its state (57% of Pennsylvania towns have fewer) while its 4 historic buildings outnumber those of 68% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1735.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B− to A. The pre-1940 share (±2.4 points) is firm at this size.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about West Manchester Township’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
In 1799, West Manchester Township was formed from part of the western portions of Manchester Township. Farming, weaving, and milling were among the major occupations.
During the 1863 Gettysburg campaign of the American Civil War, the township was a main thoroughfare for two invading forces of the Confederate Army. On June 28, 1863, Major General Jubal A. Early's division marched east–west through the township en route to seize York. On July 1, J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry rode north–south through the township following the Battle of Hanover on their way to Dover. West Manchester Township farmers and residents lost horses and mules to the Confederates.
The Samuel Stoner Homestead was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of West Manchester Township. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1920Hanover sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of West Manchester Township.
On the National Register
1 historic place in West Manchester Township
The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.
Questions about West Manchester Township’s history
What year was West Manchester Township founded?
In 1735, according to Wikidata. West Manchester Township’s post office opened in 1875, and the census of 2000 counted 17,035 people here.
How does West Manchester Township rank for history?
West Manchester Township is more historic than 78% of U.S. towns, #359 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in West Manchester Township?
One place: the Samuel Stoner Homestead (listed 1976).
How old are the homes in West Manchester Township?
8% of West Manchester Township’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±2.4 points), against a typical 18% for a Pennsylvania town; the median home was built in 1977.
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).
From the National Register of Historic Places (1), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
