Lancaster County

Lancaster County is an administrative region in south central Pennsylvania that stretches from the Susquehanna River eastward across farmland and low hills. The area includes the city of Lancaster, which serves as the county seat, along with dozens of townships and small boroughs scattered across the countryside.

Colonial administrators created this county in 1729, drawing its name from an English city tied to early settlers who arrived in the region. German-speaking immigrants, including Amish and Mennonite groups, began settling here throughout the 18th century and shaped the rural character that remains today.

Many Amish families run roadside stands where they sell fresh produce, baked goods, and handmade furniture directly to visitors throughout the year. Horse-drawn buggies share the roads with cars, and Amish children attend one-room schoolhouses that dot the countryside between farm fields.

Visitors need a car to explore the rural areas, as public transit mainly serves the city of Lancaster and a few nearby towns. Watch for horse-drawn buggies on narrow country roads, especially during morning and late afternoon hours when Amish families travel between farms and markets.

More than two dozen wooden covered bridges still span creeks and small rivers throughout the area, many of them open to farm vehicles and local traffic. Some date back to the 19th century and preserve traditional timber construction methods that have disappeared from most other parts of Pennsylvania.