Lancaster County is a county in Pennsylvania, United States, about 35 miles southeast of Harrisburg
\nand 70 miles west of Philadelphia. It had a population of 552,984 at the 2020 census, an estimated
\n563,159 by 2025, and covers 984 square miles (2,550 km2), of which 944 square miles are land,
\ncentred near 40\u00b002\u2032N 76\u00b015\u2032W.<\/p>\n
Lancaster is the county seat and the county’s only city; its postal code is 17603. The county
\nholds 1 city, 18 boroughs and 41 townships — 60 municipalities in all — plus dozens of
\nunincorporated villages, and it runs on Eastern Time. Its FIPS code is 42071.<\/p>\n
The table below covers the city, all 18 boroughs and the county’s largest unincorporated Manheim Township and the borough of Manheim are two different places roughly 8 miles apart — Lancaster County has 41 townships, the county’s most common form of local government by count. Several small CDPs — Salunga, Landisville, Gordonville and Reamstown among them — share Lancaster County sits on the Piedmont plateau of south-central Pennsylvania, drained by the Lancaster County borders Lebanon County to the north, Berks County to the northeast, Chester The county had a population of 552,984 at the 2020 census, up from 519,445 in 2010, and an Health care and social assistance is the county’s largest employment sector at 43,416 workers, Lancaster County was organized on May 10, 1729, Pennsylvania’s fourth county, carved out of Interstate 76, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, clips the county’s northeastern corner near Denver and Lancaster Airport (LNS), near Lititz, offers scheduled passenger service; Smoketown Airport Where is Lancaster County, Pennsylvania?<\/strong> What is the population of Lancaster County?<\/strong> How big is Lancaster County?<\/strong> What is the county seat of Lancaster County?<\/strong> How many towns are in Lancaster County?<\/strong> What ZIP codes cover Lancaster County?<\/strong> Is Lancaster County Amish country?<\/strong>
\ncommunities (Census-designated places, or CDPs). Lancaster County has 41 townships in addition to
\nthese — see the Townships table further down. City · seat<\/code> marks the
\ncounty seat; CDP<\/code> marks an unincorporated community with no borough government of its
\nown.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n \nPlace<\/th>\n Type<\/th>\n Pop. (2020)<\/th>\n ZIP<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n Lancaster<\/td>\n City · seat<\/td>\n 58,039<\/td>\n 17603<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Manheim Township<\/td>\n Township<\/td>\n 43,977<\/td>\n 17601<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Ephrata<\/td>\n Borough<\/td>\n 13,794<\/td>\n 17522<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Elizabethtown<\/td>\n Borough<\/td>\n 11,639<\/td>\n 17022<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Columbia<\/td>\n Borough<\/td>\n 10,207<\/td>\n 17512<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Lititz<\/td>\n Borough<\/td>\n 9,381<\/td>\n 17543<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Millersville<\/td>\n Borough<\/td>\n 7,903<\/td>\n 17551<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Willow Street<\/td>\n CDP<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 17584<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Mount Joy<\/td>\n Borough<\/td>\n 8,325<\/td>\n 17552<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Leola<\/td>\n CDP<\/td>\n 7,465<\/td>\n 17540<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n New Holland<\/td>\n Borough<\/td>\n 5,743<\/td>\n 17557<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Manheim<\/td>\n Borough<\/td>\n 5,046<\/td>\n 17545<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n East Petersburg<\/td>\n Borough<\/td>\n 4,573<\/td>\n 17520<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Maytown<\/td>\n CDP<\/td>\n 4,098<\/td>\n 17547<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Akron<\/td>\n Borough<\/td>\n 4,152<\/td>\n 17501<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Denver<\/td>\n Borough<\/td>\n 3,792<\/td>\n 17517<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Reamstown<\/td>\n CDP<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 17567<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Rothsville<\/td>\n CDP<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 17543<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Brownstown<\/td>\n CDP<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 17508<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Strasburg<\/td>\n Borough<\/td>\n 3,117<\/td>\n 17579<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Mountville<\/td>\n Borough<\/td>\n 3,017<\/td>\n 17554<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Salunga<\/td>\n CDP<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 17538<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Marietta<\/td>\n Borough<\/td>\n 2,623<\/td>\n 17547<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Quarryville<\/td>\n Borough<\/td>\n 2,843<\/td>\n 17566<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Gap<\/td>\n CDP<\/td>\n 2,186<\/td>\n 17527<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Landisville<\/td>\n CDP<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 17538<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Adamstown<\/td>\n Borough<\/td>\n 1,938<\/td>\n 19501<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Intercourse<\/td>\n CDP<\/td>\n 1,494<\/td>\n 17534<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Terre Hill<\/td>\n Borough<\/td>\n 1,357<\/td>\n 17581<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Paradise<\/td>\n CDP<\/td>\n 1,305<\/td>\n 17562<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Christiana<\/td>\n Borough<\/td>\n 1,112<\/td>\n 17509<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Gordonville<\/td>\n CDP<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 17529<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Bird-in-Hand<\/td>\n CDP<\/td>\n 427<\/td>\n 17505<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Smoketown<\/td>\n CDP<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 17576<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
\nthe township surrounds Lancaster city on the north side, the borough sits further northwest near
\nManheim Central. Paradise is both a CDP and the name of the surrounding township. Denver, Pennsylvania
\nis unrelated to Denver, Colorado. None of these should be confused with Lancaster, California, a
\ncity of over 170,000 on the other side of the country, or with Lancaster County, South Carolina,
\nNebraska or Virginia — all separate counties with no connection to this one.<\/p>\nTownships<\/h2>\n
\nManheim Township, bordering the city of Lancaster, is the largest by population and the county’s
\nsecond-largest municipality overall.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n \nTownship<\/th>\n Pop. (2020)<\/th>\n Main settlements<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n Manheim<\/td>\n 43,977<\/td>\n Suburban ring north of Lancaster city; no separate village center<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n East Hempfield<\/td>\n 26,350<\/td>\n Salunga, Landisville<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Manor<\/td>\n 21,920<\/td>\n Millersville borough surrounds, Safe Harbor<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n East Lampeter<\/td>\n 17,776<\/td>\n Smoketown, Soudersburg, Bird-in-Hand<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n West Lampeter<\/td>\n 17,365<\/td>\n Willow Street, Refton<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n West Hempfield<\/td>\n 17,047<\/td>\n Rohrerstown, Rossmere<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Warwick<\/td>\n 19,068<\/td>\n Surrounds Lititz borough<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n East Cocalico<\/td>\n 10,808<\/td>\n Reamstown, Schoeneck<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n West Donegal<\/td>\n 8,870<\/td>\n Rheems, near Elizabethtown<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Providence<\/td>\n 7,025<\/td>\n Unionville, near Christiana<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Ephrata<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Surrounds Ephrata borough<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n West Earl<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Brownstown, part of Leola<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Upper Leacock<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Bareville, part of Leola<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Rapho<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Mount Joy borough surrounds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n East Donegal<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Maytown, Marietta borough surrounds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Salisbury<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Gap, part of Intercourse<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Leacock<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Intercourse, Bird-in-Hand vicinity<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Earl<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n New Holland borough surrounds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Bart<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Nickel Mines<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Sadsbury<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Christiana borough vicinity<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Colerain<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Kirkwood<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Little Britain<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Wakefield<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Drumore<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Rural, southern county line<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n East Drumore<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Rural, near Quarryville<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Martic<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Rural, Susquehanna riverside<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Pequea<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Rural, Susquehanna riverside<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Conestoga<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Conestoga village<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Strasburg<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Surrounds Strasburg borough<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Paradise<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Paradise CDP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Eden<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Rural, southeast county<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Caernarvon<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Morgantown vicinity<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Brecknock<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Rural, northeast county line<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n West Cocalico<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Reinholds, Stevens<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Clay<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Clay CDP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Elizabeth<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Brickerville<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Penn<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Rural, north-central county<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Mount Joy<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Rural, distinct from Mount Joy borough<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Conoy<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Bainbridge<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Fulton<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n Rural, southern county line<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n ZIP Codes<\/h2>\n
\n
\na post office town’s ZIP rather than carrying one of their own, since the U.S. Postal Service
\nassigns codes by delivery route, not by census boundary.<\/p>\nGeography<\/h2>\n
\nSusquehanna River along its western edge and the Conestoga River through its middle. The
\nSusquehanna forms the boundary with York County and widens into the Safe Harbor and Holtwood
\nreservoirs in the county’s southwest corner. Land makes up 944 of the county’s 984 square miles;
\nthe remaining 40 square miles (100 km2) is water, about 4.1% of the total.<\/p>\n
\nCounty to the east (no live page on this site links there yet), York County to the southwest,
\nDauphin County to the northwest, and Cecil County and Harford County, Maryland, to the south.<\/p>\nDemographics<\/h2>\n
\nestimated 563,159 by 2025. Lancaster city and Manheim Township, its largest municipalities, together
\nhold roughly 102,000 residents — about a fifth of the county. Median household income was
\n$86,959 in 2024, above the Pennsylvania figure of $77,971. Population density works out to about
\n586 people per square mile of land area. Roughly 42,000 residents belong to Plain Anabaptist
\ncommunities, chiefly Old Order Amish, spread across around 220 church districts — the largest
\nAmish settlement in the United States, concentrated in the townships east and south of Lancaster
\ncity (Leacock, Salisbury, Paradise and East Lampeter).<\/p>\nEconomy & Local Life<\/h2>\n
\nfollowed by manufacturing at 40,347 and retail trade at 33,192, out of roughly 281,000 employed
\nresidents. Manufacturers headquartered or with major plants in the county include Armstrong World
\nIndustries and Conestoga Wood Specialties (both Lancaster area), Dart Container (Leola), Tyson Foods
\n(New Holland) and Turkey Hill Dairy (Conestoga). Agriculture remains central to the county’s
\nidentity: farms here produce about $800 million a year in food, feed and fiber, close to a fifth of
\nPennsylvania’s total farm output, with dairy alone worth $266 million. Lancaster County leads the
\nnation in farmland preserved under conservation easement, more than 100,000 acres. Tourism draws
\nheavily on Pennsylvania Dutch Country — Bird-in-Hand, Intercourse and Paradise are its best
\nknown villages — and on the Strasburg Rail Road, a working 19th-century excursion line that
\nis one of the region’s oldest tourist attractions.<\/p>\nHistory<\/h2>\n
\nChester County. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster in Lancashire, England, the home
\ncounty of early settler John Wright. Lancaster city briefly served as the capital of the United
\nStates for a single day in 1777, when the Continental Congress passed through fleeing Philadelphia,
\nand later served as Pennsylvania’s state capital from 1799 to 1812. German-speaking Mennonite,
\nAmish and Church of the Brethren settlers arrived through the 1700s, giving the county its
\nPennsylvania Dutch character; their descendants still farm much of the land today. In October 2006,
\na gunman killed five girls at the West Nickel Mines Amish School in Bart Township, an attack that
\ndrew international attention to the county’s Amish community and to its response of public
\nforgiveness.<\/p>\nGetting There<\/h2>\n
\nMorgantown; most through traffic instead runs on U.S. Route 30 (the Lincoln Highway, running
\neast–west through Lancaster city) and U.S. Route 222 (running north–south to Reading).<\/p>\n\n
\nhandles general aviation. Amtrak’s Keystone Corridor stops at Lancaster station, with additional
\nstops at Mount Joy and Elizabethtown.<\/p>\nFrequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n
It is in south-central
\nPennsylvania, about 35 miles southeast of Harrisburg and 70 miles west of Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
552,984 at the 2020 census,
\nestimated at 563,159 by 2025.<\/p>\n
984 square miles total, 944 of them land.<\/p>\n
Lancaster, the county’s only
\ncity, with a population of 58,039.<\/p>\n
One city, 18 boroughs and 41
\ntownships — 60 municipalities in all — plus dozens of unincorporated CDPs such as
\nBird-in-Hand and Intercourse.<\/p>\n
Codes run from 17501 (Akron) to
\n17603 (Lancaster city); see the ZIP Codes table above for the full list by town.<\/p>\n
Yes. Around 42,000 residents belong to
\nPlain Anabaptist communities, making it the largest Amish settlement in the United States,
\nconcentrated around Bird-in-Hand, Intercourse and Paradise.<\/p>\n