A Brief History of the City of Lancaster, Pennsylvania...my Hometown!

It was an ordinary day.  Checking out some stories about my hometown of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  I have been asked quite a few questions over my lifetime and thought it might be fun to let you know a bit more about the city in which I was born, grew up, and still live in with my wife, Carol, at Woodcrest Villas.   Well, the city is known as the "Red Rose City" sue to its link to Lancaster England.  Lancaster became a Brough in 1742, a charted city on March 10, 1818, and surrendered its ancient city charter and became a Third Class City under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on May 27, 1924.  A few more bits of information follow....

• 1729: James Hamilton laid out the city
• 1742: Lancaster became a borough
• 1818: Lancaster became a charted city 

Lancaster is one of the oldest inland cities in the United States. It's located in south-central Pennsylvania, along the Susquehanna River.

Here are some other notable events in Lancaster's history: 

• 1777: The Continental Congress met in Lancaster for one day to escape the British. Lancaster was the nation's capital for a day. 
   
• 1799–1812: Lancaster was the capital of Pennsylvania. 
   
• 1730: The first court sessions were held in a tavern near the Susquehanna River. 
   
• 1738: The first courthouse was finished in Penn Square. 
   
• 1751: Edward Shippen, a former mayor of Philadelphia, moved to Lancaster. 

The Continental Congress met in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on September 27,  1777.  This was a brief period when Lancaster served as the nation's capital. The Continental Congress members fled Philadelphia and convened in the courthouse at what is now Penn Square.

Lancaster is one of the oldest inland cities in the United States of America. It is 71 miles west of Philadelphia and is snuggled along the north and west by the mighty Susquehanna River.

German immigrants, known as Pennsylvania Dutch (from “Deutsch” meaning German), were the first to settle in the area in 1709. At that time it was known as “Hickory Town”. The Honorable James Hamilton laid it out in building lots, and in May 10, 1729, it became the county seat. John Wright, a prominent citizen, gave it the name “Lancaster” after Lancaster, England where he formerly lived. The city is known as the “Red Rose City” due to its link to Lancaster, England. Lancaster became a borough in 1742, a charted city on March 10, 1818, and surrendered its ancient city charter and became a Third Class City under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on May 27, 1924.

Lancaster was an important munitions center during the Revolutionary war. It was the National Capital of the American colonies on September 27, 1777, when the Continental Congress was fleeing British forces (who had captured Philadelphia). From 1799 to 1812, Lancaster was the capital of Pennsylvania.  So, you see, my hometown of Lancaster carries a bit of history behind it.  Something that not every town in th United States can claim.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.