York County, Pennsylvania

York County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 456,438. Its county seat is York. The county was created on August 19, 1749, from part of Lancaster County and named either after the Duke of York, an early patron of the Penn family, or for the city and county of York in England. The county is part of the South Central region of the state.

York County comprises the York-Hanover, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Harrisburg-York-Lebanon, Pennsylvania combined statistical area. It is in the Susquehanna Valley, a large fertile agricultural region in South Central Pennsylvania.

Based on the Articles of Confederation having been adopted in York by the Second Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, the local government and business community began referring to York in the 1960s as the first capital of the United States of America. The designation has been debated by historians ever since. Congress considered York and the borough of Wrightsville on the eastern side of York County along the Susquehanna River as the nation's permanent capital before Washington, D.C. was selected.

York County is home to Martin's Potato Chips in Thomasville; Utz Quality Foods, Inc., Snyder's of Hanover, and Hanover Foods in Hanover; Gibble's Potato Chips, and Wolfgang Candy in York; the Emigsville Band in Emigsville; a major manufacturing branch of Harley-Davidson Motor Company, the York International brand of refrigeration/HVAC equipment, and York Barbell. York was the home of The Bon-Ton from 1898 to 2018, and Dentsply Sirona until 2019.

Geography


According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 911 sqmi, of which 904 sqmi is land and 6.5 sqmi (0.7%) is water. The county is bound to its eastern border by the Susquehanna River. Its southern border is the Mason–Dixon line, which separates Pennsylvania and Maryland. Within the U.S. piedmont region, York County is generally hilly and rises to the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northwest, where it is bordered by Yellow Breeches Creek. Interior waterways include Codorus and Conewago Creeks, and Lakes Lehman, Kiwanis, Marburg, Pahagaco, Pinchot, Redman, and Williams.

Adjacent counties

 * Cumberland County (north)
 * Dauphin County (northeast)
 * Lancaster County (east)
 * Harford County, Maryland (southeast)
 * Baltimore County, Maryland (south)
 * Carroll County, Maryland (southwest)
 * Adams County (west)

Climate
Most of York County has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and the hardiness zones are 6b and 7a. The latest temperature averages show some low-lying eastern areas of the county to have a humid subtropical climate (Cfa.)

Demographics
As of the 2000 census, there were 381,751 people, 148,219 households, and 105,531 families residing in the county. The population density was 422 /mi2. There were 156,720 housing units at an average density of 173 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 92.76% White, 3.69% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.86% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.39% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.96% of the population. 42.0% were of German, 12.6% American, 7.7% Irish, 6.4% English and 5.1% Italian ancestry. 94.8% spoke English and 2.9% Spanish as their first language.

There were 148,219 households, out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.60% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.80 males.

As of 2006, the York-Hanover Metropolitan Statistical Area was the fastest-growing metro area in the Northeast region, and was ranked among the fastest-growing in the nation, according to the "2006 Population Estimates for Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas" (U.S. Census Bureau). The estimates listed York-Hanover as the 95th fastest-growing metro area in the nation, increasing 9.1 percent between 2000 and 2006.

York city had a 77.3 percent increase in the number of residents of Hispanic or Latino origin, based on a comparison of the 2000 and 2010 U.S. census results. The city's 30.9 percent Hispanic population (as of December 2017) is more than that of other places in the area.

Dialect
The Central Pennsylvania accent and the Susquehanna dialect are the two most commonly heard speech patterns in the county. Many people of Pennsylvania Dutch descent also inhabit the county, who tend to speak with a Pennsylvania Dutch English dialect.

Metropolitan statistical area
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has designated York County as the York–Hanover, PA metropolitan statistical area (MSA). The United States Census Bureau ranked the York–Hanover, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area as the 9th most populous in the state of Pennsylvania, and 115th most populous MSA in the United States as of July 1, 2012.

The Office of Management and Budget has further designated the York–Hanover MSA as a component of the more extensive Harrisburg–York–Lebanon combined statistical area (CSA), the 43rd most populous CSA and the 49th most populous primary statistical area of the United States as of July 1, 2012. As of the 2017 estimates, the CSA's 1.26 million people ranks 5th in the state of Pennsylvania.

Politics and government
Prior to 1952, York County was a Democratic stronghold in presidential elections, voting majority Republican only four times before then. Between the founding of the party in 1828 and 1900, the county voted Democratic every time, one of only a handful of counties in Pennsylvania to do so. Starting with the 1952 election, it has become a Republican stronghold with Lyndon Johnson being the lone Democrat to win the county since. Since then, Jimmy Carter in 1976 and Barack Obama in 2008 are the only Democratic presidential candidates who have received over 40% of the county's vote, and George H. W. Bush in 1992 is the only Republican not to win a majority. The only real pockets of Democratic support are in the city of York, which has long sent Democrats to the state house.


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According to the Secretary of State's office, a majority of voters in York County are registered as Republicans. As of March 4, 2024, there were 310,874 registered voters in the county.


 * Republican: 161,672 (52.00%)
 * Democratic: 96,448 (31.02%)
 * Independent: 43,554 (14.01%)
 * Minor parties: 9,210 (2.96%)

County commissioners

 * Julie Wheeler, President, Republican
 * Scott Burford, Vice President, Republican
 * Doug Hoke, Commissioner, Democrat

Other county offices

 * Clerk of Courts, Dan Byrnes, Republican
 * Controller, Greg Bower, Republican
 * Coroner, Pamela Gay, Republican
 * District Attorney, David Sunday, Republican
 * Prothonotary, Allison Blew, Republican
 * Recorder of Deeds, Laura Shue, Republican
 * Register of Wills & Clerk of Orphans' Court, Bryan Tate, Republican
 * Sheriff, Richard P. Keuerleber III, Republican
 * Treasurer, Barbara Bair, Republican

Public school districts
• Central York School District

• Dallastown Area School District

• Dover Area School District

• Eastern York School District

• Hanover Public School District

• Northeastern York School District

• Northern York County School District

• Red Lion Area School District

• South Eastern School District

• South Western School District

• Southern York County School District

• Spring Grove Area School District

• West Shore School District

• West York Area School District

• York City School District

• York Suburban School District

Vocational school

 * York County School of Technology

Public charter schools

 * Crispus Attucks Youthbuild Charter School (K–6) – York
 * Helen Thackston Charter School (6–12) – York
 * Lincoln Charter School (K–5) – York
 * New Hope Academy Charter School (K–6) – York
 * York Academy Regional Charter School
 * York Adams Academy (formerly York County High School)

Independent schools
• Christian School of York (PreK–12)

• Keystone Christian Academy York (K–8)

• Logos Academy York (K–12)

• St. Joseph School Hanover (PreK–8)

• St. Joseph School (PreK–6)

• St. John the Baptist Catholic School New Freedom (PreK–6)

• Shrewsbury Christian Academy New Freedom (PreK–8)

• Tidings of Peace Christian School York (K–12)

• York Catholic High School (7–12)

• York Country Day School (PreK–12)

Intermediate Unit
Lincoln Intermediate Unit (IU#12) region includes Adams County, Franklin County and York County. The agency offers school districts, home schooled students and private schools many services including: special education services, combined purchasing, and instructional technology services. It runs Summer Academy which offers both art and academic strands designed to meet the individual needs of gifted, talented and high achieving students. Additional services include: Curriculum Mapping, Professional Development for school employees, Adult Education, Nonpublic School Services, Business Services, Migrant & ESL (English as a Second Language), Instructional Services, Management Services, and Technology Services. It also provides a GED program to adults who want to earn a high school diploma and literacy programs. The Lincoln Intermediate Unit is governed by a 13-member Board of Directors, each a member of a local school board from the 25 school districts. Board members are elected by school directors of all 25 school districts for three-year terms that begin the first day of July. There are 29 intermediate units in Pennsylvania. They are funded by school districts, state and federal program specific funding and grants. IUs do not have the power to tax.

Adult education

 * YTI Career Institute
 * Motorcycle Technology Center
 * York Time Institute

Communities
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in only one case, towns. York County has 72 of these. The following cities, boroughs and townships are in York County:

City

 * York (county seat)

Boroughs

 * Cross Roads
 * Dallastown
 * Delta
 * Dillsburg
 * Dover
 * East Prospect
 * Fawn Grove
 * Felton
 * Franklintown
 * Glen Rock
 * Goldsboro
 * Hallam
 * Hanover
 * Jacobus
 * Jefferson
 * Lewisberry
 * Loganville
 * Manchester
 * Mount Wolf
 * New Freedom
 * New Salem
 * North York
 * Railroad
 * Red Lion
 * Seven Valleys
 * Shrewsbury
 * Spring Grove
 * Stewartstown
 * Wellsville
 * West York
 * Windsor
 * Winterstown
 * Wrightsville
 * Yoe
 * York Haven
 * Yorkana

Townships

 * Carroll
 * Chanceford
 * Codorus
 * Conewago
 * Dover
 * East Hopewell
 * East Manchester
 * Fairview
 * Fawn
 * Franklin
 * Heidelberg
 * Hellam
 * Hopewell
 * Jackson
 * Lower Chanceford
 * Lower Windsor
 * Manchester
 * Manheim
 * Monaghan
 * Newberry
 * North Codorus
 * North Hopewell
 * Paradise
 * Peach Bottom
 * Penn
 * Shrewsbury
 * Spring Garden
 * Springettsbury
 * Springfield
 * Warrington
 * Washington
 * West Manchester
 * West Manheim
 * Windsor
 * York

Census-designated places
Census-designated places are unincorporated communities designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. • East York

• Emigsville

• Grantley

• New Market

• Parkville

• Pennville

• Pleasureville

• Queens Gate

• Shiloh

• Spry

• Stonybrook

• Susquehanna Trails

• Tyler Run

• Valley Green

• Valley View

• Weigelstown

• Yorklyn

Other unincorporated communities

 * Accomac
 * Admire
 * Airville
 * Ambau
 * Andersontown
 * Bandanna
 * Bermudian
 * Big Mountain
 * Blackrock
 * Bridgeville
 * Brogue
 * Bryansville
 * Cly
 * Craley
 * Codorus Furnace
 * Conewago Heights
 * Davidsburg
 * Detters Mill
 * Etters
 * Fayfield
 * Fireside Terrace
 * Foustown
 * Fuhrmans Mill
 * Gatchellville
 * Glades
 * Glenville
 * Gnatstown
 * Hametown
 * Hanover Junction
 * Hopewell Center
 * Kralltown
 * Leaders Heights
 * Leibharts Corner
 * Lockport (under Lake Clarke)
 * Mackey Ford
 * Mount Royal
 * Muddy Creek Forks
 * New Bridgeville
 * New Park
 * Nauvoo
 * Ore Valley
 * Porters Sideling
 * Reesers Summit
 * Rossville
 * Saginaw
 * Shenks Ferry
 * Siddonsburg
 * Spring Forge
 * Starview
 * Stoverstown
 * Strickler
 * Strinestown
 * Sunnyburn
 * Thomasville
 * Tolna
 * Valley Forge
 * Violet Hill
 * Wago Junction
 * Woodbine
 * Yocumtown
 * York Furnace

Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of York County.

† county seat

Airports
Although York County has no scheduled passenger air service, it has two general-aviation airports: Capital City Airport in Fairview Township in the extreme north and York Airport near Thomasville, just south of US 30. The county participates in the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority with Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, and Franklin counties. The closest passenger service is at Harrisburg International Airport, Lancaster County Airport, and BWI.

Notable people
• John Andrews, United States Navy sailor awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during the Korean Expedition in 1872; born in York County

• Caitlan Coleman, a hostage in Afghanistan for five years, during which time she gave birth to four children

• Jacob L. Devers, four-star lieutenant general during World War II; commanded the 6th Army Group during the invasion of southern France known as Operation Dragoon

• Hali Flickinger, Olympic swimmer

• Halestorm, rock band hailing from Red Lion

• Mike Hawthorne, comic book artist known for his work on books such as Deadpool

• Bob Hoffman, founder of York Barbell, U.S. weightlifter named "Father of World Weightlifting" by the International Weightlifting Federation

• Steve Hoffman, former NFL coach

• Brian Keene, best-selling novelist

• James Kelly, member of the United States House of Representatives 1805–1809

• Jeff Koons, artist and sculptor

• Tina Kotek, Oregon politician who attended high school in Dallastown

• John Kuhn, NFL football player

• George M. Leader, 36th governor of Pennsylvania

• Live, popular rock band of the 1990s

• Ken Ludwig, playwright and theatre director

• Del McCoury, raised in York County; leader of the Grammy award-winning bluegrass Del McCoury Band; his sons, Ronnie McCoury and Rob McCoury, graduates of Susquehannock High School, also play in the band

• DeWolfe Miller III, vice admiral and Commander, Naval Air Forces

• Cameron Mitchell, actor, born in Dallastown

• Todd Platts, Judge of York County Court of Common Pleas and member of the United States House of Representatives 2000–2012, Republican Party

• H. B. Reese, inventor of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

• Evan Sharp, co-founder of Pinterest

• Jimmy Sheckard, MLB player, 1907 and 1908 World Series Champion

• Craig Sheffer, actor

• James Alonzo Stahle, member of the U.S. House of Representatives 1895–1897

• Jarace Walker, NBA basketball player who grew up in New Freedom

• Tom Wolf, 47th governor of Pennsylvania