History When Cumberland County was founded in 1750, it originally consisted of three townships: East and West Pennsborough Townships, and Middleton Township. In 1810, due to population increase, Middleton Township was divided into North Middleton Township to the north of Carlisle, and South Middleton Township to the south. In the mid 18th century, the area that is now the township was inhabited primarily by Scotch Irish settlers who were granted land patents in that region by the family of William Penn, the proprietors of Pennsylvania at the time. The rapid settlement of this area at that time was the result of the Penns' plan to keep the Scotch Irish who were viewed as rowdy and unsophisticated out of the more refined Lancaster and York counties to the southeast. Thus, by the late 1700s, the population west of the Susquehanna River was composed almost exclusively of Scotch Irish settlers.
hIstOrY wHEn cumberlAnD coUnTy WaS FoUNded iN 1750, it origiNALly consisTed Of thREe townsHips: EAst aNd west pennSborougH TOwnshipS, ANd mIdDletOn townShIp. iN 1810, due tO populAtiOn InCREaSe, middletoN tOwnship Was DiviDEd IntO NorTH miDdlETon townshiP to THE North of carlislE, AnD soutH middletON toWnShip To The sOutH. in the MiD 18tH cENTUry, the aReA That is Now the TOwnshIp Was iNhABited primaRILy BY sCOtch iriSh sETTlers wHo wERe gRanteD LaNd PaTents in ThaT regIOn by the FaMily of wIlliam penn, the PRoprieTors Of pennsylVania at thE TiMe. the raPid SettlEMent Of this area At thAt Time was thE rEsult of The penNs' PlaN tO KeeP The SCoTcH IrisH who weRe Viewed as RoWdy anD unsOphISTiCaTEd oUt oF thE MoRe reFineD lanCASteR and yOrk countiES To the SouthEast. thUs, bY THE laTE 1700S, tHe PopULAtion west Of tHE susQuEhaNna riveR waS coMposed alMosT EXClusIvely oF scOtch IrisH SettLeRs.