Portal:Lancaster, Pennsylvania

The Lancaster, Pennsylvania Portal

Lancaster, is a city in the South Central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is the county seat of Lancaster County. With a population of 55,351, it is the eighth largest city in Pennsylvania, behind Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Reading, Bethlehem, and Scranton. The metropolitan area population stands at 494,486 making it the 101st largest metropolitan area in the US. Locally, Lancaster is pronounced /ˈlæŋkɨstər/ LANK-iss-tər, rather than the wider American pronunciation /ˈlæn.kæstər/ LAN-kast-ər.

Named after the English city of Lancaster by native John Wright. Its symbol, the red rose, is from the House of Lancaster. Lancaster was part of the 1681 Penn's Woods Charter of William Penn. Lancaster was laid out by James Hamilton in 1734. During the American Revolution, Lancaster was the capital of the colonies on September 27, 1777, when the Continental Congress fled Philadelphia, which had been captured by the British. After meeting one day, they moved still farther away, to York. Lancaster was capital of Pennsylvania from 1799 to 1812, after which the capital was moved to the Harrisburg. (Read more...).

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Isaac's Restaurant & Deli is a chain of soup and sandwich restaurants in South Central Pennsylvania. The corporate headquarters is located in the city of Lancaster, though the restaurant serves residents of Lancaster County, Chester County, York County, Hershey, Reading, and the Harrisburg area. Isaac's started in 1983 with two college friends named Phil Wenger and Isaac Williams opening the first restaurant in downtown Lancaster. As a tribute to Phil's father, who was an avid bird watcher, they incorporated a pink flamingo in their logo and named all of the sandwiches after birds. Today, the tradition of this kind of sandwich naming continues. Isaac's also serves unique variations of soups, salads, and desserts.

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Thomas Mifflin (January 10, 1744 – January 20, 1800) was an American merchant and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, a member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly, a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania, fifth President of the U.S. Congress under the Articles of Confederation, and a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He served as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, President of the Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council and the first Governor of Pennsylvania.

Did you know...

• With 165 surveillance cameras, Lancaster is the most heavily watched city in the United States.

• The Intelligencer Journal, founded in 1794, is one of the oldest newspapers in the United States.

• The Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, stands on the site of a 1777 Second Continental Congress meeting.

• Lancaster was the capital of the Thirteen Colonies on September 27, 1777.

• The Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike, built in 1795, was the first long-distance, paved road in the United States. It linked Philadelphia to Lancaster.

• Locals can easily spot a visitor by how they pronounce "Lancaster." Locally, "Lancaster" is pronounced as /ˈlæŋk.ɨ.stɚ/, rather than the more common pronunciation /ˈlæn.kæs.tɚ/.

Related portals

Web resources

• Lancaster County, PA
• Lancaster County Convention Center
• Lancaster Township, PA
• Lancaster local information
• Pennsylvania Dutch Country Welcome Center
• Lancaster City Living
• Lancaster city entertainment, dining, shopping & business
• Lancaster Online
• WGAL
• Lancaster history
• Lancaster/ Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13
• Library System of Lancaster County

Lancaster, Pennsylvania news

• April 15: Lionel LLC unveils 'Lindbergh Engine' model at Railroad Museum. (Lancaster Online)

• April 15: Yearlong Central Market renovation almost complete. (Lancaster Online)

• March 16: Maine House puts off debate on bill to make whoopie pie the official state treat.(Lancaster Online)

• March 16: Quilters gather in Lancaster city for convention. (Lancaster Online)

• March 14: Hispanic and Latino population increases.(Lancaster Online)

• March 14: American Spirit Parade attracts a donor.(Lancaster Online)

"Years ago, there's no way we could do this...It brings to mind Big Brother, George Orwell and '1984.' It's just funny how Americans have softened on these issues."

– Police Chief Keith Sadler

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