History
Founding
Waynesboro was founded in 1749 by Scotsman John Wallace. Wallace held title to 633 acres, often referred to as, Wallacetown. His son, John, later inherited the land after fighting in the Revolutionary War. In 1797, John mapped out a town of 90 lots, which he named Waynesburgafter his admired commander, General “Mad” Anthony Wayne. The town was later incorporated as Waynesborough, which in 1831 was shortened to present day “Waynesboro.”
On The Frontier
Waynesboro quickly became a crossroads town and prospered by providing goods and services for the wagon trains traveling west into the frontier of the Appalachian and Allegheny Mountains.
Civil War
Because of its strategic location along the Mason-Dixon Line, in June 1863, Confederate troops preparing for the battle of Gettysburg captured the town and for 15 days forced citizens to provide food to soldiers and fly the Confederate flag. The Battle of Monterey Pass (the second largest battle to take place in Pennsylvania) occurred in nearby Blue Ridge Summit just days after the battle of Gettysburg. It was during this battle that George Armstrong Custer and his Michigan Calvary brigade attacked and captured large parts the retreating wagon train of General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia.
Economy
Building on the agrarian roots of its founders, Waynesboro’s industrial activity was laid by George Frick, whose invention of a small steam engine for farm use replaced cumbersome horsepower. He founded Frick Company, now known as Johnson Controls-Frick, in 1873. Today Johnson Controls-Frick is a leader in the manufacture of industrial chillers, compressors, and control units. Waynesboro brothers Abraham and Franklin Landis followed in inventive footsteps of Frick and in 1883 manufactured the first cylindrical grinding machines which later resulted in the formation of the Landis Tool and Landis Machine family of companies. The Landis companies provided employment for thousands of Waynesboro residents well into the early 2000’s, only Landis Machine remains today as part of the Kennametal, Inc.
In 2016, the greater Waynesboro area enjoys a highly diversified economy including other local industrial operations such as Beck Manufacturing, maker of pipe nipples and couplings, T.E. Connectivity, Magnum Carbide, and Manitowoc Crane Group. Formerly known as Grove Worldwide, Manitowoc is the world’s largest manufacturer of mobile cranes employing more than 1,200 people. Manitowoc is located within 4-miles of Waynesboro. JLG Industries, a global leader in the manufacture of hydraulic man-lifts is located within 20 miles of Waynesboro. The community also boasts a strong agricultural, healthcare, education, and professional services sectors.
Recreation
Quality-of-Life matters and the greater Waynesboro area provides an abundance of recreational opportunities that are sure to satisfy. Those opportunities include hiking on the Appalachian Trail which traverses eastern portions of the Community. The Waynesboro-Washington Township Community is designated an official “Appalachian Trail Community.” Other amenities include;
The Battle of Monterey Pass Battlefield Interpretive Center;
The Renfrew Institute for Cultural and Environmental Studies;
The Waynesboro Industrial Heritage Museum;
The Michaux State Forest and state game lands;
Camp Penn and Old Forge Picnic area;
Destination ARTS! (seasonal downtown activities)
System of local municipal parks with swimming, walking, ball fields, and dog park amenities; and
The greater Waynesboro area is also within 30-minutes of the Gettysburg and Antietam National Military Parks and is within 90-minutes of the Baltimore/Washington D.C. metro areas providing significant more opportunities for recreation and cultural events.
Waynesboro was founded in 1749 by Scotsman John Wallace. Wallace held title to 633 acres, often referred to as, Wallacetown. His son, John, later inherited the land after fighting in the Revolutionary War. In 1797, John mapped out a town of 90 lots, which he named Waynesburgafter his admired commander, General “Mad” Anthony Wayne. The town was later incorporated as Waynesborough, which in 1831 was shortened to present day “Waynesboro.”
On The Frontier
Waynesboro quickly became a crossroads town and prospered by providing goods and services for the wagon trains traveling west into the frontier of the Appalachian and Allegheny Mountains.
Civil War
Because of its strategic location along the Mason-Dixon Line, in June 1863, Confederate troops preparing for the battle of Gettysburg captured the town and for 15 days forced citizens to provide food to soldiers and fly the Confederate flag. The Battle of Monterey Pass (the second largest battle to take place in Pennsylvania) occurred in nearby Blue Ridge Summit just days after the battle of Gettysburg. It was during this battle that George Armstrong Custer and his Michigan Calvary brigade attacked and captured large parts the retreating wagon train of General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia.
Economy
Building on the agrarian roots of its founders, Waynesboro’s industrial activity was laid by George Frick, whose invention of a small steam engine for farm use replaced cumbersome horsepower. He founded Frick Company, now known as Johnson Controls-Frick, in 1873. Today Johnson Controls-Frick is a leader in the manufacture of industrial chillers, compressors, and control units. Waynesboro brothers Abraham and Franklin Landis followed in inventive footsteps of Frick and in 1883 manufactured the first cylindrical grinding machines which later resulted in the formation of the Landis Tool and Landis Machine family of companies. The Landis companies provided employment for thousands of Waynesboro residents well into the early 2000’s, only Landis Machine remains today as part of the Kennametal, Inc.
In 2016, the greater Waynesboro area enjoys a highly diversified economy including other local industrial operations such as Beck Manufacturing, maker of pipe nipples and couplings, T.E. Connectivity, Magnum Carbide, and Manitowoc Crane Group. Formerly known as Grove Worldwide, Manitowoc is the world’s largest manufacturer of mobile cranes employing more than 1,200 people. Manitowoc is located within 4-miles of Waynesboro. JLG Industries, a global leader in the manufacture of hydraulic man-lifts is located within 20 miles of Waynesboro. The community also boasts a strong agricultural, healthcare, education, and professional services sectors.
Recreation
Quality-of-Life matters and the greater Waynesboro area provides an abundance of recreational opportunities that are sure to satisfy. Those opportunities include hiking on the Appalachian Trail which traverses eastern portions of the Community. The Waynesboro-Washington Township Community is designated an official “Appalachian Trail Community.” Other amenities include;
The Battle of Monterey Pass Battlefield Interpretive Center;
The Renfrew Institute for Cultural and Environmental Studies;
The Waynesboro Industrial Heritage Museum;
The Michaux State Forest and state game lands;
Camp Penn and Old Forge Picnic area;
Destination ARTS! (seasonal downtown activities)
System of local municipal parks with swimming, walking, ball fields, and dog park amenities; and
The greater Waynesboro area is also within 30-minutes of the Gettysburg and Antietam National Military Parks and is within 90-minutes of the Baltimore/Washington D.C. metro areas providing significant more opportunities for recreation and cultural events.
Population
Franklin County is one of the fastest growing counties in Pennsylvania. From 2000-2010, the County population grew at an unprecedented 16%, ranking it as the 4th fastest growth rate in the state. In 2014, the US Census Bureau estimated the county population to be 152,892, up from 149,600 during the 2010 census. The greater Waynesboro area’s population is estimated to be more than 32,000 people. The area has grown by 1.5% since 2010.
Education and Healthcare
The Waynesboro Area School District provides primary and secondary education for the greater Waynesboro area. Total districtwide enrollment is approximately 4,400 students. On average, 75% of students graduating from the District are bound for some type of post-secondary education, including four-year colleges as well as technical education.
The Waynesboro area is also served by the Franklin County Career and Technology Center (CareerTech). The CareerTech has an annual enrollment of more than 1,200 and provides career and technical training in 21 different specializations including pre-engineering, machining, graphic design, electrical, maintenance, diesel mechanics, among many others. CareerTech also provides non-degree and certificate continuing education and training for adults.
Franklin County is also home to Penn State Mont Alto Campus, a branch of the Penn State University System, as well as Wilson College and Shippensburg University. The Hagerstown Community College is within 30 minutes of Waynesboro and the Harrisburg Area Community College is within 70 minutes.
The Community is served by the Waynesboro Hospital which is owned and operated by Summit Health. The hospital is a 56 bed facility providing acute and critical care services including diagnostic, therapeutic, and surgical services with a 24-hour emergency room. Summit Health recently completed construction of a $16 Million medical office building adjacent to the hospital. The new facility includes a walk-in clinic and specialty medical practices. Additionally, the Chambersburg Hospital (also Summit Health affiliated) and Hagerstown, MD-based Meritus Medical Center are within 30-minutes of Waynesboro.
The Waynesboro area is also served by the Franklin County Career and Technology Center (CareerTech). The CareerTech has an annual enrollment of more than 1,200 and provides career and technical training in 21 different specializations including pre-engineering, machining, graphic design, electrical, maintenance, diesel mechanics, among many others. CareerTech also provides non-degree and certificate continuing education and training for adults.
Franklin County is also home to Penn State Mont Alto Campus, a branch of the Penn State University System, as well as Wilson College and Shippensburg University. The Hagerstown Community College is within 30 minutes of Waynesboro and the Harrisburg Area Community College is within 70 minutes.
The Community is served by the Waynesboro Hospital which is owned and operated by Summit Health. The hospital is a 56 bed facility providing acute and critical care services including diagnostic, therapeutic, and surgical services with a 24-hour emergency room. Summit Health recently completed construction of a $16 Million medical office building adjacent to the hospital. The new facility includes a walk-in clinic and specialty medical practices. Additionally, the Chambersburg Hospital (also Summit Health affiliated) and Hagerstown, MD-based Meritus Medical Center are within 30-minutes of Waynesboro.
Workforce and Labor
The Chambersburg-Waynesboro Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) has a labor force of more than 76,000 and consistently ranks as one of the lowest county-wide unemployment rates in the entire state. Together with our neighbors of Washington County, MD, Berkeley County, WV, Frederick County, VA, and Cumberland County, PA, the region boats a labor force of more than 450,000 highly skilled and dependable workers...all located within 40 minutes of Waynesboro.
Click here for the latest Unemployment and Labor Information provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.
Click here for the latest Unemployment and Labor Information provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.
Area Maps
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Waynesboro
Washington Township
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Mont Alto
Quincy Township
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