Pennsylvania Route 340
Encyclopedia
Pennsylvania Route 340 (PA 340) is a 30 miles (48.3 km) long state highway
located in Lancaster
and Chester
counties in Pennsylvania
. The western terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 462
in Lancaster
. The eastern terminus is at U.S. Route 30 Business in Thorndale
.
, White Horse, Compass, Wagontown, and Thorndale
.
to US 30
north of Gap
via White Horse
. In 1936, PA 340 was extended northwestward to US 22
(Herr Street) east of Harrisburg
and eastward from White Horse to US 30 in Coatesville
. The former alignment of PA 340 between White Horse and Gap became part of an extended PA 897
. PA 340 was extended eastward to Thorndale
in 1946 and truncated to US 422
near Hershey
in 1955. It was truncated three more times during the 1960s, eventually moving the western end of the route to its current location. The first of these came in 1961 when the route was cut back to PA 441
east of Marietta
. In 1967, it was truncated and slightly realigned to follow Prospect Road to a new terminus at US 30 west of Mountville
. PA 340 was reduced to its current length in 1970.
The former routing of PA 340 in Dauphin County
between US 22 near Harrisburg and Nyes Road in Lower Paxton Township
became State Route 3020 (SR 3020), an unsigned quadrant route, in 1987. The highway, named Canby Street and Union Deposit Road, is 5.27 miles (8.48 km) in length. From Nyes Road to Union Deposit
, old PA 340 is now SR 2010. Farther southeast, the former alignment of PA 340 from Hershey to Marietta is now part of PA 743
while the section from Marietta to Lancaster is part of PA 23
.
Several of the buildings along this route were established under British rule, and were built as early as 1714 as part of the King's Highway(see Compass Inn).
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
located in Lancaster
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County, known as the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county located in the southeastern part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010 the population was 519,445. Lancaster County forms the Lancaster Metropolitan Statistical Area, the...
and Chester
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
counties in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The western terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 462
Pennsylvania Route 462
Pennsylvania Route 462 is a long east–west running local route in central Pennsylvania. The western terminus is west of York. The eastern terminus is east of Lancaster. At both ends, PA 462 terminates at U.S. Route 30, and all of the route was signed as U.S. Route 30 before a freeway was...
in Lancaster
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
. The eastern terminus is at U.S. Route 30 Business in Thorndale
Thorndale, Pennsylvania
Thorndale is a census-designated place in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,407 at the 2010 census. Thorndale is the commercial and administrative center of Caln Township. The community's main street is Business U.S. Route 30...
.
Route description
PA 340 runs parallel to US 30 for most of its length, and serves as an alternate route that bypasses much of the development along US 30. Several villages exist along the route, including, from west to east: IntercourseIntercourse, Pennsylvania
Intercourse, Pennsylvania is an unincorporated village in Leacock Township, Lancaster County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, ten miles east of Lancaster on PA 340. As with the nearby towns of Bird-in-Hand, Blue Ball, and Paradise, Intercourse is a popular site for tourists because of its...
, White Horse, Compass, Wagontown, and Thorndale
Thorndale, Pennsylvania
Thorndale is a census-designated place in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,407 at the 2010 census. Thorndale is the commercial and administrative center of Caln Township. The community's main street is Business U.S. Route 30...
.
History
PA 340 was assigned in 1928 to an alignment extending from US 222 east of LancasterLancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
to US 30
U.S. Route 30 in Pennsylvania
In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, U.S. Route 30 runs east–west across the southern part of the state, passing through Pittsburgh and Philadelphia on its way from the West Virginia state line east to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge over the Delaware River into New Jersey...
north of Gap
Gap, Pennsylvania
Gap is a census-designated place and town in Salisbury Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania with a zip code of 17527. The population was 1,611 at the 2000 census...
via White Horse
White Horse, Pennsylvania
White Horse, Pennsylvania is a small unincorporated community located within Salisbury Township in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.White Horse sits at the junction of the Philadelphia Pike , west of the village of Intercourse and Pennsylvania Route 897.-External links:*...
. In 1936, PA 340 was extended northwestward to US 22
U.S. Route 22 in Pennsylvania
U.S. Route 22 is an east–west route stretching from Cincinnati, Ohio in the west to Newark, New Jersey in the east. In Pennsylvania, the route runs for between the West Virginia state line at Washington County, where it is a limited-access expressway-grade route through the western suburbs...
(Herr Street) east of Harrisburg
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
and eastward from White Horse to US 30 in Coatesville
Coatesville, Pennsylvania
Coatesville is the only city in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 13,100 at the 2010 census. Coatesville is approximately 39 miles west of Philadelphia....
. The former alignment of PA 340 between White Horse and Gap became part of an extended PA 897
Pennsylvania Route 897
Pennsylvania Route 897 is a long north–south route in eastern Pennsylvania, United States. The southern terminus is at an intersection with U.S. Route 30 in Gap. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 422 east of Lebanon. Like most Pennsylvania highways, PA 897 has no expressway...
. PA 340 was extended eastward to Thorndale
Thorndale, Pennsylvania
Thorndale is a census-designated place in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,407 at the 2010 census. Thorndale is the commercial and administrative center of Caln Township. The community's main street is Business U.S. Route 30...
in 1946 and truncated to US 422
U.S. Route 422
U.S. Route 422 is a long spur route of US 22 split into two segments in the U.S. states of Ohio and Pennsylvania. The western spur begins in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, and ends at Ebensburg, Pennsylvania...
near Hershey
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Hershey is a census-designated place in Derry Township, Dauphin County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The community is located 14 miles east of Harrisburg and is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Hershey has no legal status as an incorporated municipality...
in 1955. It was truncated three more times during the 1960s, eventually moving the western end of the route to its current location. The first of these came in 1961 when the route was cut back to PA 441
Pennsylvania Route 441
Pennsylvania Route 441 is a long state route in central Pennsylvania and mostly parallels the Susquehanna River. The southern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 999 in the Manor Township hamlet of Washington Boro...
east of Marietta
Marietta, Pennsylvania
Marietta is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,689 at the 2000 census. It is located on the east bank of the Susquehanna River just north of Columbia.-Geography:Marietta is located at ....
. In 1967, it was truncated and slightly realigned to follow Prospect Road to a new terminus at US 30 west of Mountville
Mountville, Pennsylvania
Mountville is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,444 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mountville is located at ....
. PA 340 was reduced to its current length in 1970.
The former routing of PA 340 in Dauphin County
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Dauphin County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of the three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 census, the population was 268,100. The county includes the city of Harrisburg, which has served as the state capital...
between US 22 near Harrisburg and Nyes Road in Lower Paxton Township
Lower Paxton Township, Pennsylvania
Lower Paxton Township is a township in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The township was incorporated in 1767 from Paxton Township...
became State Route 3020 (SR 3020), an unsigned quadrant route, in 1987. The highway, named Canby Street and Union Deposit Road, is 5.27 miles (8.48 km) in length. From Nyes Road to Union Deposit
Union Deposit, Pennsylvania
Union Deposit is an unincorporated community in South Hanover Township Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area.-See also:*Hoernerstown, Pennsylvania*Sand Beach, Pennsylvania...
, old PA 340 is now SR 2010. Farther southeast, the former alignment of PA 340 from Hershey to Marietta is now part of PA 743
Pennsylvania Route 743
Pennsylvania Route 743, PA 743, is a north–south state route located in central Pennsylvania. The northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 443 one mile west of the East Hanover Township hamlet of Grantville. The southern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 441 in Marietta...
while the section from Marietta to Lancaster is part of PA 23
Pennsylvania Route 23
Pennsylvania Route 23 is a state highway in southeastern Pennsylvania. The route begins at Pennsylvania Route 441 in Marietta and heads east to U.S. Route 1 in Philadelphia.-Marietta to Valley Forge:...
.
Several of the buildings along this route were established under British rule, and were built as early as 1714 as part of the King's Highway(see Compass Inn).