City Town Info

Elizabethtown, PA


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Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania

Introduction to Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania

Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, in Lancaster county, is 17 miles NW of Lancaster, Pennsylvania (center to center) and 58 miles N of Baltimore, Maryland. The town, which benefits from easy access to the nearby cities and towns with which it shares the Lancaster metropolitan area, has a population of approximately 11,887.

Elizabethtown History

Thomas Harris, who was the first settler to purchase land in Elizabethtown in 1730, established a trading post which eventually became Bear Tavern. In 1753, this was bought by Barnabas and Elizabeth Hughes, who were originally from County Donegal, Ireland. Hughes laid out the community and christened it "Elizabethtown" after his wife. It was officially incorporated on April 13, 1827. The early settlers were primarily Scots-Irish and Pennsylvania Dutch. The first railroad arrived in the 1830s. Until the early 20th century, it was primarily a rural community, however, post World War II, Elizabethtown experienced significant development and several businesses were established in the area.

Elizabethtown and Nearby Attractions

  • Gates House & Plough Tavern
  • Fulton Opera House
  • North Museum of Natural History & Science
  • Hershey Museum
  • Hershey's Chocolate World
  • Memorial Lake State Park

Things To Do In Elizabethtown

Artifacts reflecting the area's historical and cultural heritage are displayed at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, North Museum of Natural History & Science, North Museum of Natural History & Science, Heritage Center of Lancaster County, and Lancaster Museum of Art. Fulton Opera House dates back to the 1850s, and is one of the oldest theaters in the nation. Cornwall Iron Furnace, which was in operation from 1742 to 1883, is now a preserved iron-making complex. Elizabethtown is home to the Hickory Lane Park, and Community Park, both of which offer various recreational facilities including playgrounds and baseball fields. The town also offers easy access to Hersheypark and Hershey's Chocolate World, which are two other popular destinations. Residents celebrate annual events such as the Elizabethtown Fair, Holiday Parade, Arts in the Park, and the Memorial Day parade.

Elizabethtown Transportation

Harrisburg International Airport is the closest major airport.

Elizabethtown Higher Education

The town is home to the Elizabethtown College. Penn State Harrisburg, Lebanon Valley College, and Millersville University are located nearby.

High Points

Elizabethtown strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Pennsylvania):

CategoryTrophy
Well-Paid Single Women
(vs. State)
Top 7%Elizabethtown Well-Paid Single Women
College Educated Adults
(vs. State)
Top 13%Elizabethtown College Educated Adults
Low Rate of Poverty
(vs. State)
Top 18%Elizabethtown Low Rate of Poverty

Comparative Profile of Elizabethtown, PA

Comparing Elizabethtown to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Pennsylvania (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Female Share of the Population1010
Well-Paid Single Women910
Senior Citizens86
Well-Paid Single Men68
Age of the Population31
Racial Diversity37
Children Under 5 Years Old24
Male Share of the Population11

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Portion of People Married57
Average Household Size35

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
People Above Poverty89
College Educated Adults79
People in Middle Class or Better68
Median Family Income69

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Walking and Biking to Work89
Short Commute Times67
Public Transportation Use56
Working at Home12

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals98
Seasonal and Vacation Housing88
People Living Alone75
Affordability of Rents53
Affordability of Property Taxes53
Housing Recently Built49

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Low Property Crime86
Low Violent Crime77

Detailed pages on related topics: Elizabethtown collegesElizabethtown travel.

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Additional Details

Elizabethtown CollegesElizabethtown Colleges
Elizabethtown colleges and trade schools.
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Elizabethtown hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.

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