Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Lancaster County
Lancaster County Courthouse in Lancaster
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°02′N 76°15′W / 40.04°N 76.25°W / 40.04; -76.25
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
FoundedMay 10, 1729
Named afterLancaster, England
SeatLancaster
Largest cityLancaster
Area
 • Total
984 sq mi (2,550 km2)
 • Land944 sq mi (2,440 km2)
 • Water40 sq mi (100 km2)  4.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
552,984
 • Estimate 
(2024)[1]
563,293
 • Density597/sq mi (231/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district11th
Websitewww.co.lancaster.pa.us

Lancaster County (/ˈlæŋkɪstər/; Pennsylvania Dutch: Lengeschder Kaundi), sometimes nicknamed the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 552,984, making it Pennsylvania's sixth-most populous county.[2] Its county seat is also Lancaster.[3] Lancaster County comprises the Lancaster metropolitan statistical area. Lancaster County is a tourist destination with its Amish community being a major attraction. The ancestors of the Amish began to immigrate to colonial Pennsylvania in the early 18th century to take advantage of the religious freedom offered by William Penn,[4] as well as the area's rich soil and mild climate.[5] They were joined by French Huguenots fleeing the religious persecution of Louis XIV.[6][7] There were also significant numbers of English, Welsh and Ulster Scots (also known as the Scotch-Irish in the colonies). The county is part of the South Central region of the commonwealth.[a]

  1. ^ "QuickFacts: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania". Census.gov. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference new-census was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Introduction Archived December 8, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Xroads.virginia.edu. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
  5. ^ lancaster, pa. Web.archive.org (March 11, 2007; retrieved December 23, 2010.)
  6. ^ THE PENNSYLVANIA LEFEVRES. History and Genealogy Book accessed May 31, 2009
  7. ^ "Historical papers and addresses of the Lancaster County Historical Society" County Historical Society pages 101–124. pub 1917


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