Elizabethtown, PA

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):

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

Comparative Profile of Elizabethtown, PA

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

Ratings range from (lowest) to (highest).

The People

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Female Share of the Population
Well-Paid Single Women
Senior Citizens
Well-Paid Single Men
Age of the Population
Racial Diversity
Children Under 5 Years Old
Male Share of the Population

Families

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Portion of People Married
Average Household Size

Wealth

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
People Above Poverty
College Educated Adults
People in Middle Class or Better
Median Family Income

Commute & Sprawl

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Walking and Biking to Work
Short Commute Times
Public Transportation Use
Working at Home

Housing

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals
Seasonal and Vacation Housing
People Living Alone
Affordability of Rents
Affordability of Property Taxes
Housing Recently Built

Crime

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Low Property Crime
Low Violent Crime

Elizabethtown Almanac

Elizabethtown Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

• Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
• Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

Elizabethtown Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Neighborhood and Nearby Area Names

According to the US Postal Service, Elizabethtown, its neighborhoods, and/or surrounding areas are also referred to as:

Note that not all alternate names are acceptable for use in US Post Office addresses.

Nearby Cities and Towns

Elizabethtown Public Libraries

More Information for Librarians

Elizabethtown High Schools (2004)

ELIZABETHTOWN AREA SHS
717-367-1533
Serves 1,314 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 16.5

Elizabethtown Colleges

Click school name for a detailed profile.

Elizabethtown College

(List of All Pennsylvania Colleges)

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