Wrightsville 1876 Map

Wrightsville Incorporation.  Until 1834 when Wrightsville was incorporated, that area was Hellam Township.  In 1811 there were 101 lots laid out by William Wright in the area north of the current Hellam Street. which was the Monocacy Trail (Later known as the Susquehanna Turnpike, the Lincoln Highway, Route 30 and currently route 462).  This was known as  Wrights Ferry  but it was not officially recorded as a town.   Then in 1812 Susanna Wright Houston laid out 273 lots south of the Monacacy Trail, which area became known as Westphlia.  But again it was not officially recorded as a town.   There was also an area that is currently Columbia that was known as Wrights Ferry.  For the purposes of this document, the area on the west bank of the river will be referred to as Wrights Ferry (West).  Wrights Ferry (West), in the 1700s consisted of the ferry and a few business operations. The ferry began operation by John Wright Jr in 1730 but was not licensed until 1733.  John Wright the elder never lived on the west side of the River nor did his son.  However, they did own land on the west side.