Every town name is a clue to the past. Names carry stories and power. In Pennsylvania Place Names, Abraham Howry Espenshade patiently unravels the origins of Pennsylvania towns, boroughs, counties, rivers and hills, creating a richly detailed historical gazetteer of Pennsylvania. Drawing on archives, maps and early records, he deciphers Pennsylvania county name origins, colonial Pennsylvania town names, and Native American place names that preserve older landscapes and languages. The result stands as a classic Pennsylvania toponymy reference and a uniquely engaging American place name dictionary for the Keystone State.
For anyone tracing family lines or reconstructing early Pennsylvania settlements history, this volume functions as an invaluable Pennsylvania genealogy research guide, linking surnames, parishes and vanished communities. It is equally rewarding for curious travellers who relish local lore, and for local history researchers Pennsylvania wide, offering concise explanations that illuminate how migration, industry and belief shaped the map. Long regarded as a trusted Pennsylvania historical society reference, it remains indispensable for anyone interested in US geographic names history. Republished by Alpha Editions in a careful modern edition, this volume preserves the spirit of the original while making it effortless to enjoy today - a heritage title prepared for readers and collectors alike.
