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Official County Website
The County of Lancaster is a popular tourist destination, with its Amish community a major attraction. Contrary to popular belief, the word "Dutch" in "Pennsylvania Dutch" is not a mistranslation, but rather a corruption of the Pennsylvania German endonym Deitsch, which means "Pennsylvania Dutch / German" or "German". Ultimately, the terms Deitsch, Dutch, Diets and Deutsch are all cognates of the Proto-Germanic word *þiudiskaz meaning "popular" or "of the people". The continued use of "Dutch" instead of "German" was strengthened by the Pennsylvania Dutch in the 19th century as a way of distinguishing themselves from later (post 1830) waves of German immigrants to the United States, with the Pennsylvania Dutch referring to themselves as Deitsche and to Germans as Deitschlenner (literally "Germany-ers", compare Deutschland-er) whom they saw as a related but distinct group.
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. They were also attracted by the area's rich soil and mild climate. Also attracted to promises of religious freedom, French Huguenots fleeing religious persecution settled this area in 1710. There were also significant numbers of English, Welsh and Ulster Scots (also known as the Scotch-Irish in the colonies).
Adjacent Counties
- Berks County
- Lebanon County
- Chester County
- Cecil County, Maryland
- Harford County, Maryland
- York County
- Dauphin County
Cities & Boroughs
- Adamstown (part)
- Akron
- Christiana
- Columbia
- Denver
- East Petersburg
- Elizabethtown
- Ephrata
- Lancaster (County Seat)
- Lititz
- Manheim
- Marietta
- Millersville
- Mount Joy
- Mountville
- New Holland
- Quarryville
- Strasburg
- Terre Hill
There are 129 other communities in Lancaster County that are not listed here. Please see Wikipedia for a complete list.
Cemeteries
Links
National Register of Historic Places
Genealogical Research Assistance
Lancaster County History Research Center
