Lancaster County

Welcome to Lancaster County. Here you will find the heritage of the Pennsylvania Dutch people along with their culture. The county seat of Lancaster is the oldest inland city in the United States. There you can find history of the area, buildings dating back to the 1700′s, as well as cultural centers, museums and pristine restaurants. You can also visit and tour the home of Former President James Buchanan.

However the biggest part of the county’s culture lies in the surrounding countryside. Here you will find land which is rich in minerals, which the original settlers found to be much like their homeland in Europe. Many of the original settlers left Europe to escape religious persecution, and came here hoping to find the freedom to worship as they pleased.

William Penn for whom Penns Woods (Pennsylvania) was named for, parceled out the tracts of land in the county for the settlers. Many of the homesteads you see there today date back to those times. Towns such as Paradise and Strasburg are full of homes made way before current building standards were set. You will see many homes made of stone which was readily available. If you look over many of the doors and windows you will see the ever present keystone, which is the symbol of the state of Pennsylvania.

When people think of Lancaster County, they think of the Amish. The county has been known for it’s conservative way of life coupled with the religious beliefs that make up the biggest part of the culture. Amish live on their own farms or in their own homes, but their culture brings them together in small groups which are knit very tightly within themselves. This includes not only activities such as helping a member in need, but also worshiping together in the families’ homes. If you drive through the county on a Sunday, you may see many buggies gathered at one home. Mid-afternoon after church service, a good home cooked meal and social time, the families go their own way.

Even though people think of Lancaster County as a farming community, there are many other things in the county that are important. You will find the farmers markets year round, where local merchants sell their home grown merchandise. Small shops and bakeries abound in the county, and the baked goods are of a quality that can’t be matched elsewhere.

Enjoy your stay!

The following posts have been written to address specific subjects. You may find them beneficial to you.

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The Amish
Amish – Where did they come from?

Places to Stay
Bed and Breakfast – The Relaxing Way to Visit

Things to Do
Historical Lancaster Central Market
Roots and Green Dragon Farmers Markets

Camping
Seven Ways to go Camping in Lancaster County

Also see the list of posts in the right column for more informative articles.

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