York
Around York
Metro area · Pennsylvania · 471k people
York
“White Rose City”
York · Hanover
First capital, forever home
greengold
Welcome to York, where the old fairgrounds and the new ballpark sit side by side. Whether you're here for the whoopie pies or the rail trail, you'll find a friendly square to call your own.
Clubs for York
No clubs for York yet.
The room
One room for everyone around York. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around York. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- PeoplesBank Park Home of the York Revolution baseball team.
- York County History Center Local history in a former courthouse.
- Codorus State Park Largest park in York County, with Lake Marburg.
- Rocky Ridge County Park Popular for hiking and mountain biking.
- York Fairgrounds Hosts the York Fair, the oldest in the US.
- Lake Redman Reservoir with trails and fishing.
- Outdoors Hiking at Rocky Ridge County Park
- Outdoors Boating and fishing at Lake Marburg
- With kids Visit the York County History Center
- With kids Attend a York Revolution baseball game
- Evenings Catch a show at the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center
- Evenings Enjoy live music at local breweries
- Locals love Farmers markets
- Locals love Covered bridges
Through the year
- York Fair September Oldest fair in the US, with rides, livestock, and food.
- Yorkfest Fine Arts Festival June Juried fine art show in downtown York.
- First Friday York Monthly Monthly gallery walk and street festival.
- Olde York Street Fair July Craft and food vendors along Market Street.
- Hanover's Apple Harvest Festival October Celebrates the apple harvest with cider and crafts.
York has a four-season climate with hot, humid summers and cold winters. Spring and fall are the most pleasant times to be outdoors. Best: Spring and fall are ideal for outdoor activities, with mild temperatures and low humidity.
Talk like a local
- “The Square”
- Continental Square, downtown York's hub.
- “The Fair”
- The York Fair, a local institution.
Getaways
- Lancaster Amish country and outlet shopping.
- Harrisburg State capital and riverfront.
- Gettysburg Civil War battlefield and museums.
- Baltimore Inner Harbor and aquarium.
Local flavour
Teams
- York Revolution Atlantic League
- York College Spartans NCAA Division III
Eat and drink
- whoopie pie Pennsylvania Dutch classic
- shoofly pie Molasses pie
- pretzels Snyder's of Hanover
- potato chips Utz
- scrapple Pennsylvania Dutch breakfast
Where people go
- farmers markets Fresh produce and local goods
- covered bridges Scenic and historic
- the York Fair Oldest fair in the US
- historic downtown squares Colonial architecture
- Pennsylvania Dutch country
Heritage and traditions
York and Hanover are proud of their deep Pennsylvania Dutch roots, the legacy of York as the first capital of the United States, and the region's enduring small-town charm and agricultural heritage.
This time of year in York
- Apple butter making Fall Stirred in copper kettles at fall festivals.
- York County Studio Tour October Local artists open their studios to the public.
Say it like a local: “schnitz” — dried apples
Festivals
- Hanover Dutch Festival August Celebrates Pennsylvania Dutch culture with food, crafts, and music.
- York County Civil War Weekend June Reenactments and living history at the Battle of Hanover site.
- York's First Capital Day September Commemorates York's role as the nation's first capital.
- York's Winter Market December Holiday market with local crafts and seasonal treats.
- Hanover's Christmas Tree Lighting December Community caroling and tree lighting in the square.
- York County Studio Tour October Local artists open their studios to the public.
Landmarks with a story
- Colonial Courthouse (replica) Marks York's time as the nation's first capital.
- Hanover Square Historic District 18th-century town square with shops and architecture.
- First Moravian Church (York) One of the oldest congregations in the area, founded in 1742.
- Codorus Iron Furnace Early ironworks that powered local industry.
- Stewartstown Railroad Historic short line offering excursions.
- William C. Goodridge House Home of a former slave who became a prominent businessman and abolitionist.
Food traditions
- Chicken pot pie A hearty Pennsylvania Dutch stew with square noodles, not a pie.
- Fastnacht Potato doughnuts eaten on Shrove Tuesday.
- Chow-chow A pickled vegetable relish served alongside meals.
- Red beet eggs Hard-boiled eggs pickled with beets, a Pennsylvania Dutch staple.
- Apple butter Slow-cooked spread made in large kettles at fall festivals.
Music and arts
- Pennsylvania Dutch folk art Hex signs, Fraktur, and quilting traditions.
- York Symphony Orchestra Regional orchestra performing classical and pops concerts.
- Appell Center for the Performing Arts Hosts Broadway shows, concerts, and community events.
- Hanover Symphony Orchestra Community orchestra in Hanover.
A little history
- 1777-78 York served as the temporary capital of the United States; the Articles of Confederation were adopted here.
- 1749 York County was established.
- 1863 The Battle of Hanover was fought during the Gettysburg Campaign.
- 19th century York became a center for the production of rifles and wagons.
- 1900s The pretzel industry flourished in Hanover.
Rivalries
- York Revolution vs. Lancaster Barnstormers Atlantic League baseball rivalry.
- York Suburban vs. Dallastown high school football Local Friday night lights rivalry.
- Game day York Revolution baseball games
- Game day High school football rivalries
- Outdoors Fishing on the Susquehanna River
- Outdoors Canoeing the Codorus Creek
- With kids Riding the Stewartstown Railroad
- With kids Visiting the William C. Goodridge House
Locals speak with a mild Central Pennsylvania accent, influenced by Pennsylvania Dutch (German) heritage. You might hear words like 'outten' for 'out of' and 'redd up' for 'clean up.' The 'o' in 'York' is pronounced with a rounded, short vowel.
Only here
- York is known as the 'White Rose City'—Lancaster is the 'Red Rose'.
- York was the first capital of the United States under the Articles of Confederation.
- Hanover calls itself the 'Snack Food Capital of the World' due to its pretzel and chip industry.
- The York County Heritage Rail Trail runs along a former rail line through the countryside.
New here? A few tips
- Try a whoopie pie and a soft pretzel with mustard—these are local classics.
- Be ready for four distinct seasons; summers are humid and winters can bring snow.
- Traffic can be heavy on Route 30 during rush hour, so plan accordingly.
- Explore the York County Heritage Rail Trail for walking and biking.
- Pronounce 'York' with a short, rounded 'o'—like 'york' but not 'yawk'.
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Part of Harrisburg area
Nearby
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York-Hanover, PA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.