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About West Donegal Township
West Donegal Township is a township in northwestern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Governed by a five member Board of Supervisors the 2020 census indicates the Township has 8,950 residents.
Settled in 1719 and incorporated in 1838 ,West Donegal Township is named after County Donegal in Ireland. Located west and south of Elizabethtown, in Lancaster County, West Donegal Township comprises an area of 15.6 square miles in land size.
The original township of Donegal was organized by the court of Chester County in 1722, and was one of the two townships which composed Lancaster County at the time of its erection in 1729. On the 24th of June, 1838, a division was effected, whereby the old township was constituted into two townships, to be separately and distinctly recognized as East Donegal and West Donegal.
The settlers of West Donegal were of Scots-Irish descent and were primarily farmers who were drawn to the area by the rich soils and plentiful streams. Thus the abundant produce provided by the land was able to be made into flour by the many mills which sprang up in the area.
Early settlers, Arthur Patterson and others, organized a Presbyterian Church at Donegal in 1726, and erected the old church edifice at that time. The first three pastors of it were from Scotland. Bartram Galbraith, grandson of James Galbraith, was Lieutenant for Lancaster County, the first three years of the Revolution, and many members of that family served in various official positions, as also did Alexander Lowrey and several of that family.
The Township is part of the Elizabethtown Area School District. Located between Harrisburg and Lancaster, West Donegal Township provides residents employment and recreation opportunities with additional amenities in the larger cities.
Located within the Township is the Village of Rheems and the 1400 acre campus of Masonic Village. Masonic Village with a population of over 1,800 residents which provides retirement homes and other health care facilities as well as recreation opportunities for the community.
A variety of housing types and areas are available for prospective residents. They range from agricultural, in the many farmsteads, to single and duplex units, apartments and condominiums.
The northwest corner of the Township provides the area of the Conewago Industrial Park. This industrial park, developed over the last 30 years, is the home of a variety of businesses including American Air Filter, Dupont – Pioneer, Crowe Transportation, Penn Tank Truck Wash, Walker Sales, Western Power Sports, Seedway, Harrington Hoists, DAS, Angleboard, Amazon, Nordstrom and Grove Collaborative.
Also located in the northwest corner of the township is Stone Gables Estate which contains the Star Barn and Ironstone Ranch event venues in two wonderfully restore barns.
A number of other businesses are found throughout the Township providing services and employment to residents of the Township and individuals from the region. The wide range of businesses and housing provides a varied opportunity allowing residents to live and work within the Township.