History 204 Sp 08

History 204 Sp 08 | Political Life | Cultural Life | Economic Life

The purpose of this wiki is to provide an academic perspective of Carlisle and Cumberland County in 1876, the year of the nation’s centennial. This was a time when the scars from the Civil War were beginning to fade and the country was on the cusp of major economic, cultural and political transitions. Cumberland County is located in south central Pennsylvania and was established in 1750, one year before the founding of Carlisle. In 1870, Cumberland County had a population of 43,912. In 1880, it was 45,997. In Cumberland County the white population was 43,807 and the black population was 2,167 in 1880. The Japanese population was three. There were 2,983 farms in Cumberland County. The value of farms, including land, fences, and buildings, was $19,776,980. In Cumberland County lies Carlisle. Carlisle is the oldest borough in Cumberland County with the exception of York and Shippensburg, and it is the oldest town in Pennsylvania west of Susquehanna. The town was laid out in 1751 and its name derives from the Carlisle in Cumberland County, England. In the year 1870, the population of Carlisle was 6,650. In addition, Carlisle is situated at 40* 12' North Longitude and 77*10; West Latitude, 18 miles west of Harrisburg. At the time, the town is supplied with pure limestone water from the reservoir on Conodoguinet Creek. In 1880, the population of Carlisle was 6,209.