Heckton is an

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...

Middle Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Middle Paxton Township is a township in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,046 at the 2020 census. History In 1729 Paxtang Township of Lancaster County was established. The spelling "Paxtang" is from the original I ...

, United States. It lies near the east bank of the

Susquehanna River The Susquehanna River (; Lenape: Siskëwahane) is a major river located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, overlapping between the lower Northeast and the Upland South. At long, it is the longest river on the East Coast of the ...

, north of

Fort Hunter Fort Hunter is a hamlet in the Town of Florida in Montgomery County, New York, United States, west of the capital at Albany, on the south bank of the Mohawk River and on the northeast bank of Schoharie Creek. The hamlet developed around a fort of ...

. It is part of the

Harrisburg Harrisburg is the capital city of the Pennsylvania, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Dauphin County. With a population of 50,135 as of the 2021 census, Harrisburg is the List of c ...

–

Carlisle Carlisle ( , ; from xcb, Caer Luel) is a city that lies within the Northern England, Northern English county of Cumbria, south of the Anglo-Scottish border, Scottish border at the confluence of the rivers River Eden, Cumbria, Eden, River C ...

Metropolitan Statistical Area In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally Incorporated town, incorporate ...

. The community was named for Dr. Lewis Heck. Reared in Shippensburg, Dr. Heck settled here in 1832. He practiced medicine and served as a Representative in the

Pennsylvania General Assembly The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the legislature of the U.S. commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times (1682–1776), the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. He also operated a large steam sawmill nearby from 1843 until 1890, and that specific area was known as Heckton Mills. By 1899 the entire little community was known as Heckton.Pennsylvania, U.S., Marriages, 1852-1968 for Jennie E. Norton
accessed 29 November 2020. She was born in "Heckton Mills" and married in Heckton (misspelled as "Hecton"). U.S. Routes 22 and

322 __NOTOC__ Year 322 ( CCCXXII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Probianus and Iulianus (or, less frequently, year 1075 ' ...

pass through Heckton as a four-lane expressway, close to the Susquehanna River, with full access from PA 443 (Fishing Creek Valley Road). US 22/322 leads south, approximately to

and northwest, about to the borough of Dauphin. Years ago, Heckton could be reached by travelling N Front Street/River Road (Old 22), about from Harrisburg to Heckton Road; however, Heckton Road was bisected when U.S. Routes 22 and 322 were expanded to a limited access expressway. So the Heckton Cemetery (old Riverview Cemetery) and Cemetery Road, which parallels US 22/322 can be accessed from PA 443, just northeast of the US 22/322 interchange. The historic Heckton Church was erected in 1885 for use by

Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's b ...

s. In 2009, it was moved by Fort Hunter Mansion and Park to its current location at 5264 North Front Street.Fort Hunter Mansion and Park: Heckton Church.
Accessed 23 January 2022. The church is available for weddings.

References

Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan statistical area Unincorporated communities in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Unincorporated communities in Pennsylvania {{DauphinCountyPA-geo-stub