Who do we serve?
The Pioneer District covers the Camp Hill, Carlisle, Cumberland Valley, East Pennsboro, Mechanicsburg, Northern York and South Middleton, West Shore, Northern York County School Districts. It is also home to the council’s Mechanicsburg Service Center, as well as Camp Tuckahoe.
Where does our name come from?
The name Pioneer was chosen not only due to the fact that the area served as a “window to the west” during our nation’s expansion in the 1800’s, but more importantly, due to the importance of the area in the railroads of the same era.
The Pioneer was a steam locomotive, purchased and placed into operation, by the Cumberland Valley Railroad in 1851. It remained in service until 1890. Hauling both passenger and work trains throughout the area, including Carlisle, Dillsburg and Mechanicsburg, the Pioneer has quite a storied history. Confederate General J.E. B. Stuart caused serious damage to the locomotive in October 1862 as he burned the Chambersburg rail yards, but it was repaired and returned to service.