Harrisburg Borough, now the city of Harrisburg, was formed in 1791, and Swatara Township was created in 1799. What remained in 1767 was then renamed Lower Paxton Township. Hanover Township was cut off to the east in 1736, and Upper Paxton Township was cut off to the north in 1767. In the years after Dauphin County was established, the township was slowly divided. About two years later in August 1787 the legislature began to splinter Paxtang Township, first into Upper Paxtang, Middle Paxtang and Lower Paxtang. 'Dauphin' refers to the Dauphin of France, heir apparent to the French throne, whose country the area government wanted to honor for its assistance in the Revolutionary War. On March 4, 1785, the boundaries of Paxtang Township also became the borders of Dauphin County, split from Lancaster County. Today the word 'Paxton' is used instead of Paxtang.

The spelling 'Paxtang' is from the original American Indian name Peshtank, which meant 'standing water'.

In 1729, the Paxtang Township was established within Lancaster County. See also: Pennsylvania in the American Revolution and Pennsylvania in the American Civil War

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