 PA 72 was extended south from Lancaster to US 222 in Wakefield in the 1930s, following US 222 along Prince Street in Lancaster and between Lancaster and Willow Street before continuing south on a straight alignment through Buck to Wakefield.Also, the route was realigned to head north to PA 443 near Green Point, following its current alignment between south of Jonestown and PA 343.In the 1950s, PA 72 was shifted to its current alignment between Quentin and Lebanon.