Lewisburg History
Lewisburg Borough, bordered on the East by the West Branch of the
Susquehanna River, began its origination in 1769. The town was
connected with the more populated areas of the state via the
Tolpehocken Road from the south, and by new roads that developed
in the early 1800’s. On March 13, 1812, ‘Derrstown’ passed an act
incorporating the directors of streets, lanes and alleys, and the
town became known as Lewisburg. The incorporation of Lewisburg as
a Borough occurred on March 31, 1812.
In 1869, the first train chugged across the new St. John’s Street
Bridge into Lewisburg. This marked the end of the canal era and
the beginning of a more sophisticated era on wheels. A
characteristic of the railroad era was Lewisburg’s appetite for
worldly things: new goods, elegant clothing and culture. This
attitude also found expression in the buildings and fine houses
that were designed and constructed during these years.
During the early 1900’s, one particular point of interest was the
introduction of street lighting. The Borough of Lewisburg holds a
unique patent on the design of its streetlights that includes a
cast iron standard with two arm lights and one top light,
originally enclosed in round glass globes.
Lewisburg was originally called
Derrstown by the founder, Ludwig Derr, But renamed Lewisburg
because the German name Ludwig when Anglesized becomes Lewis.
The street plans were laid out in
1785, and within three years contained 17 log cabins. It was a
typical river town on the west branch of the Susquehanna, with no
noticeable growth for more
than 40 years.
Following the completion of the
Pennsylvania Canal, a dam in the river and a 5/8 mile cross cut
canal to join it in 1833 opened a new market for farmers,
manufacturing and travel.
The founding of the university,
later renamed Bucknell, in 1846, and the county seat being moved
to Lewisburg in 1856, entered the town on a new era of
prosperity... and a bawdy river town was being transformed into
Victorian elegance.
In later years, the United States
Middle District Court House and the United States Federal Prison
opened in 1932 which aided in the towns survival during the
depression years.
Last fall numerous homes and sites
in Lewisburg's historic district were accepted for inclusion on
the National Register for Historic Places.
Representing almost every
architectural style, 646 buildings were constructed between 1773
and 1910. Examples found here are: Federal, Queen Anne, Tuscan
Villa, Italianate, Gothic, Greek Revival, Georgian, English Manor
and Colonial Revival.
The town is considered to be one of
the best preserved 19th century communities in the nation.
Lewisburg Present
Lewisburg is a small Borough (approximately one-and-a-half square
miles) with a population of 5,620, based on the 2000 available
Census Data. In addition, Lewisburg remains the County seat of
Union County, a still largely rural but fast growing County that
extends to the west. Lewisburg is also the primary commercial
center of the area, with the greatest density of persons anywhere
in the County. From its earliest days, the Borough served as the
area’s commerce and service center. With the influence of Bucknell
University and well-preserved architectural housing styles, the
community is vibrant, as well as charming. A 1995 publication, The
100 Best Small Towns in America, listed Lewisburg as one of the
day’s most livable small towns; coast to coast.
On another environmental front, the Borough has been designated as
part of the Tree City USA recognition by the USDA Forest Service
and the National Arbor Day Foundation for the last 19 years
because of its efforts to promote street trees.
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