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Elizabethtown, PA

Elizabethtown is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located 18 miles (29 km) southeast of Harrisburg, the state capital. Small factories existed at the turn of the 20th century when the population in 1900 was 1,861. Elizabethtown is commonly referred to in south-central Pennsylvania as "E-Town." This nickname is also used for the local college and high school.

There are two stories about the origin of the town's name. In one version it is named after Elizabeth Reeby, wife of Michael Reeby who sold the first building lots here in about 1795. The officially accepted history is that, in 1753, Captain Barnabas Hughes acquired land and laid out a town, naming it after his wife, Elizabeth. The early settlers were primarily Scots-Irish and Pennsylvania Dutch. In 1758 General John Forbes supplied the expedition to Fort Duquesne with flour and oats and stationed a regiment here to protect his supplies.

Elizabethtown became a borough in 1827, and a railroad was built through the area in the 1830s. The town was primarily agricultural until the early 1900s, when the Klein Chocolate Company (now part of Mars, Inc.) and several shoe factories, the last of which closed in 1979, opened. Elizabethtown College was established in 1899, and the Masonic Homes, now the Masonic Village,) followed in 1910. 

Elizabethtown is located in northwestern Lancaster County at 40°9′12″N 76°36′2″W (40.153207, -76.600431). Pennsylvania Route 230 passes through the center of town, leading northwest 18 miles (29 km) to Harrisburg and southeast 6 miles (10 km) to Mount Joy. Pennsylvania Route 283, a four-lane freeway, touches the northeast boundary of the borough and provides access from an interchange with PA 743. PA 283 leads southeast 18 miles (29 km) to Lancaster and northwest the same distance to Harrisburg. PA 743 leads north 10 miles (16 km) to Hershey and south 8 miles (13 km) to Marietta.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough of Elizabethtown has a total area of 2.7 square miles (6.9 km2), of which 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2), or 0.51%, are water. The borough is drained primarily by Conoy Creek, which flows southwest to the Susquehanna River at Bainbridge.

The borough has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa), and average monthly temperatures range from 30.1 °F (−1.1 °C) in January to 74.9 °F (23.8 °C) in July. The hardiness zone is 6b.

Health and wellness are paramount in Elizabethtown, with several healthcare facilities and wellness centers catering to residents' needs. Lancaster General Health provides comprehensive medical care, including primary care, specialty services, and emergency care. Elizabethtown Fitness Club provides a comprehensive fitness experience with state-of-the-art equipment and personal training. Check out wild + free power yoga for yoga sessions designed to improve flexibility and reduce stress. The Northern Dauphin County YMCA offers comprehensive health and wellness services, including swimming, gym facilities, and wellness coaching. CrossFit Elizabethtown is perfect for those looking for high-intensity training and community support. Elizabethtown Family Chiropractic offers holistic treatments to enhance physical health and alleviate pain. The Dance Centre of Elizabethtown offers dance classes that promote physical fitness.

The top sites in Elizabethtown, PA are Bellaire Woods Nature Preserve, Conewago Recreation Trail, and Winters Heritage House Museum.

Population: 11,943 (2022). ZIP Codes: 17022. Area codes: 717, 223. Elevation: 463 ft (141 m). Area: 2.67 sq mi (6.90 km2).

FAQs

What is Elizabethtown, PA, famous for?

Elizabethtown is a small town in Pennsylvania. The town was mainly agricultural until the 1900s, when Klien Chocolate Company and several shoe factories opened. The town probably best known for the small college in town, Elizabethtown College. Locals and college alumni often refer to the town as "E-town".

Is Elizabethtown PA a nice place to live?

Elizabethtown is in Lancaster County. Living in Elizabethtown offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. Many young professionals live in Elizabethtown and residents tend to lean conservative. The public schools in Elizabethtown are above average.

What is the demographic of Elizabethtown PA?

Elizabethtown is a city located in Dauphin County and Lancaster County Pennsylvania. Elizabethtown has a 2024 population of 12,109. Elizabethtown is currently growing at a rate of 0.91% annually and its population has increased by 3.75% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 11,671 in 2020. According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Elizabethtown was White: 90.25%, Two or more races: 3.79%, Black or African American: 3.67%, Asian: 1.6%, Other race: 0.62%, Native American: 0.08%, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0%.

Sources

Wikipedia

Borough of Elizabethtown

Wikivoyage

Niche

World Population Review

Bellaire Woods Nature Preserve

Conewago Recreation Trail

Winters Heritage House Museum

Lancaster General Health

Elizabethtown Fitness Club

wild + free power yoga

Northern Dauphin County YMCA

CrossFit Elizabethtown

Elizabethtown Family Chiropractic

The Dance Centre of Elizabethtown

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