Gettysburg was founded in 1883 by Civil War veterans who set out to establish a colony for Union soldiers, naming it after the famous battle at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, its sister city since June 1991. They organized Meade Post # 32, a chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic made up exclusively of Union soldier veterans whose primary goal was to promote patriotism and doing good to others. Attracted by free land, over 200 former boys in blue and at least one Confederate veteran came to this area. They surveyed land and laid out towns, roads, and townships. Names such as Appomatox, Lincoln, and Shiloh reflect their Civil War experiences. They held county and state offices, established schools, churches, farms, and businesses, and developed a rich heritage to uphold and continue.