Ephrata, Pennsylvania
Ephrata, Pennsylvania
Effridaa(Pennsylvania German) | |
|---|---|
 Main Street during the Ephrata Fair, 2007 | |
| Etymology:Ephrath | |
 Location of Ephrata inLancaster County, Pennsylvania | |
  Ephrata Location inPennsylvania  Ephrata Location in theUnited States | |
| Coordinates:40°10′51″N76°10′57″W/ 40.18083°N 76.18250°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Lancaster |
| Incorporated | August 22, 1891 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Ralph Mowen |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.46 sq mi (8.97 km2) |
| • Land | 3.42 sq mi (8.85 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2) |
| Elevation | 358 ft (109 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 13,794 |
| • Density | 4,035.69/sq mi (1,558.18/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5(EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4(EDT) |
| ZIP Code | 17522 |
| Area codes | 717 |
| Website | ephrataboro |
Ephrata(/ˈɛfrətə/EF-rə-tə;Pennsylvania German:Effridaa) is aboroughinLancaster County, Pennsylvania,United States. It is located 42 miles (68 km) east ofHarrisburgand about 60 miles (97 km) west-northwest ofPhiladelphiaand is named afterEphrath,the former name for current-dayBethlehem.[3]In its early history, Ephrata was a pleasure resort and an agricultural community.
Ephrata's population has steadily grown over the last century. In 1900, 2,452 people lived there, and by 1940, the population had increased to 6,199. The population was 13,818 at the2020 census.[4]Ephrata is the most populous borough in Lancaster County.
Ephrata'ssister cityisEberbach,Germany, the city where its founders originated.
History
[edit]
Ephrata is noteworthy for having been the former seat of the Mystic Order of the Solitary, a semimonastic order ofSeventh-Day Dunkers.The community, which contained both men and women, was founded byJohann Conrad Beisselin 1732.
Many of the members were well-educated; Peter Miller, second prior of the monastery, translated theDeclaration of Independenceinto seven languages, at the request of Congress. At the period of its greatest prosperity, the community contained nearly 300 persons.[5][6]
TheEphrata Commercial Historic District,Ephrata Cloister,Eby Shoe Corporation buildings,Connell Mansion,Mentzer Building,andMountain Springs Hotelare listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[7]
Geography
[edit]Ephrata is located in northeasternLancaster County, Pennsylvaniaat40°10′51″N76°10′57″W/ 40.18083°N 76.18250°W(40.17870, −76.17744).[8]U.S. Route 322passes through the center of the borough as Main Street; it leads northwest 28 miles (45 km) toHersheyand southeast 35 miles (56 km) toWest Chester.Pennsylvania Route 272passes through the northwest side of Ephrata, leading northeast 8 miles (13 km) toAdamstownand southwest 13 miles (21 km) toLancaster,thecounty seat.Like the rest of the county, the surrounding land is mostly flat and suitable for farming.[citation needed]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau,the borough has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2), of which 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2), or 1.27%, are water.[9]Cocalico Creekflows through the borough just north of the center of town; it is a southwest-flowing tributary of theConestoga Riverand part of theSusquehanna Riverwatershed.
Ephrata has a hot-summerhumid continental climate(Dfa), and average monthly temperatures range from 30.0 °F (−1.1 °C) in January to 74.6 °F (23.7 °C) in July.[10]Thehardiness zoneis 6b.
Demographics
[edit]| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 392 | — | |
| 1900 | 2,451 | — | |
| 1910 | 3,192 | 30.2% | |
| 1920 | 3,735 | 17.0% | |
| 1930 | 4,988 | 33.5% | |
| 1940 | 6,199 | 24.3% | |
| 1950 | 7,027 | 13.4% | |
| 1960 | 7,688 | 9.4% | |
| 1970 | 3,532 | −54.1% | |
| 1980 | 4,789 | 35.6% | |
| 1990 | 7,116 | 48.6% | |
| 2000 | 13,213 | 85.7% | |
| 2010 | 13,394 | 1.4% | |
| 2020 | 13,794 | 3.0% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 13,736 | [4] | −0.4% |
| Sources:[11][12][13][2] | |||
As of thecensus[12]of 2000, there were 13,213 people, 5,477 households, and 3,565 families residing in the borough. Thepopulation densitywas 3,672.7 people per square mile (1,418.0 people/km2). There were 5,672 housing units at an average density of 1,576.6 per square mile (608.7/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.10%White,0.64%BlackorAfrican American,0.26%Native American,1.06%Asian,0.14%Pacific Islander,0.82% fromother races,and 0.98% from two or more races. 2.75% of the population wereHispanicorLatinoof any race.
There were 5,477 households, out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% weremarried couplesliving together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the borough, the population was spread out, with 24.0% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $41,550, and the median income for a family was $48,213. Males had a median income of $35,095 versus $22,782 for females. Theper capita incomefor the borough was $19,659. About 3.7% of families and 6.2% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
Community pool
[edit]The Borough of Ephrata owns and operates the Ephrata Community Pool at 418 Vine Street.[14]The pool is the oldest continuously operating swimming pool in Lancaster County, finishing its 84th year of operation in September 2015. A newly remodeled pool, opened on May 26, 2012, contains zero-depth entries,flume slides,andclimbing walls,among other features.[15]
Libraries
[edit]Akron borough council cut the line item for the Ephrata Public Library from its $1.9 million proposed general budget for 2023. It has not yet voted to ratify that budget.[16]
Schools
[edit]Schools in Ephrata are part of theEphrata Area School District.
Elementary
[edit]- Akron Elementary School
- Clay Elementary School
- Fulton Elementary School
- Highland Elementary School
Middle
[edit]- Ephrata Middle School
High
[edit]Economy
[edit]![[icon]](/translate/en.wikipedia.org?u=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg&t=hv){kind=small} | This sectionneeds expansion.You can help byadding to it.(April 2009) |
Ephrata has a mix of large and small businesses of many types, including produce distributor Four Seasons Produce, founded in 1976.In August 2011, a luxury rehabilitation center opened, adding over 175 new jobs.[citation needed]
Religion
[edit]Ephrata has a diverse mix of churches and faith groups, primarilyChristian.The countryside surrounding Ephrata is home to a large number ofAmishandOld Order Mennonitefamilies.[17]
Public services
[edit] | This sectionneeds expansion.You can help byadding to it.(April 2009) |
The Ephrata Public Library,[18]on South Reading Road, is a member of theLibrary System of Lancaster County.
Infrastructure
[edit]Transportation
[edit]TheU.S. Route 222freeway passes 2 miles (3 km) southeast of Ephrata, heading southwest toLancasterand northeast toReadingandAllentown.US 222 meets thePennsylvania Turnpike(Interstate 76) at the Reading interchange 6 miles (10 km) northeast of Ephrata.U.S. Route 322passes northwest–southeast through Ephrata along Main Street, with an interchange at US 222 east of the borough. Said interchange was converted to adiverging diamond interchangein 2021.[19]Pennsylvania Route 272passes southwest–northeast through Ephrata along Reading Road, heading through the western part of the borough.[20]TheRed Rose Transit Authority(RRTA) provides bus service to Ephrata along Route 11, which operates from theWalmartin Ephrata through the downtown area and south to downtown Lancaster. There is apark and ridelot at the now formerKmartin Ephrata that is served by RRTA.[21]
TheReading and Columbia Railroadoperated passenger service through downtown Ephrata until 1952. TheEast Penn Railroadcontinues to operate freight service from Ephrata north to Reading on the Lancaster Northern line, while the line between Ephrata andLititz,to the southwest, has been converted into arail trail.[22]
Utilities
[edit]The Borough of Ephrata Electric Division provides electricity to most of Ephrata, withAllentown-basedPPL Corporationproviding electricity to part of it.[23][24][25]The Borough of Ephrata Electric Division dates back to 1902, when the borough purchased it from the Lancaster Valley Electric Company for $7,000. The borough operated a small generating plant on South State Street before the Ephrata Borough Electric Plant was built on Church Avenue in 1924.
The electric plant operated until 1965, when increased demand for electricity led the borough to purchase power from outside sources. The Borough of Ephrata Electric Division provides 140 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually and has $18.6 million in sales.[23]The Ephrata Area Joint Authority (EAJA) provides water to Ephrata along withEphrata TownshipandClay Township,serving 8,222 customers. The agency provides 700 million gallons of water annually, with water coming from theCocalico Creekand groundwater wells. The EAJA operates a filtration treatment plant and has three wells and four storage tanks to store water.[26]Trash and recycling collection in Ephrata is provided by the borough through a contract with Eagle Disposal or residents may choose to have a contract with another trash hauler.[27]Natural gas service in Ephrata is provided byUGI Utilities.[28][29]
Health care
[edit]WellSpan Healthoperates the WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital in Ephrata, which serves the borough and surrounding areas in northern Lancaster County. The hospital has 133 acute care beds and eight acute rehabilitation beds and offers anemergency room,a cancer center, and amaternity unit,among other inpatient and outpatient services.[30]
Law and government
[edit]Ephrata is aborough.The mayor is Ralph Mowen.
"Ephrata" is also used to refer to the surroundingEphrata Township.
Elected officials representing Ephrata
[edit]- Pennsylvania GovernorJosh Shapiro(D)
- Senior United States SenatorBob Casey Jr.(D)
- Junior United States SenatorJohn Fetterman(D)
- United States CongressmanLloyd Smucker(R)
- Pennsylvania State RepresentativeDavid H. Zimmerman(R)
- Pennsylvania State SenatorRyan Aument(R)
- Ephrata Borough Council: Susan Rowe, President; Thomas Reinhold, vice-president; Victor Richard, Melvin Weiler, Tim Barr, Linda Martin, Ricky Ressler, Gregory Zimmerman
- Ephrata Mayor Ralph Mowen (I)
Notable people
[edit]- Michael Akers,film director, producer, screenwriter, and editor
- Evelyn Margaret Ay,Miss America1954
- Guy K. Bard,educator and judge,Attorney General of Pennsylvania(1938–1939), first person fromLancaster Countyto be appointed aU.S. federal judge[31]
- Jacob Hibshman,U.S. Congressman for Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district from 1819 to 1821
- Charles B. McVay III,rear admiral and commanding officer, USSIndianapolis(CA-35) at the time of its sinking in 1945
- Mike Mentzer,professional bodybuilderand1979 Mr. Olympiaheavyweight champion[32]
- Ray Mentzer,professional bodybuilder and 1979AAU Mr. America
- Stanley "Whitey" von Nieda,NBA basketball player[33]
- Murray Merle Schwartz,United States District Court judge
- Texas in July,metalcore band
- Richard Winters,Major in "E Company", 2nd Battalion,506th Parachute Infantry Regiment,101st Airborne Division
Sites of interest
[edit]Museums and historic sites
[edit]
- Eicher Arts Center,occupiesConrad Beissel's historic Eicher House. It also contains an Indian (Native American) museum and shop.
- Ephrata Cloister
- Main Theater,the Main Theater, built by the Stiefel brothers, held its grand opening Christmas Day in 1938. The first film to show wasJust Around the CornerstarringShirley Temple.In 1990, the Denver and Ephrata Telephone Company purchased the theater to restore the building and once again provide movies and live productions to the area, with many original fixtures incorporated into the renovated venue.[34]The theater reopened November 12, 1993.
- Mountain Springs Hotel,the site of the former hotel stands at the corner of Main Street (U.S. Route 322) and Spring Garden Street. Unoccupied for a long period of time, it was torn down in 2004, except for a small portion of the original building, which was preserved and renovated to be used as a conference center and, possibly, as a museum.
- Ephrata Performing Arts Center,the Ephrata Performing Arts Center (EPAC) started as the Legion Star Playhouse in 1953 under the direction of John Cameron. In 1972, following Cameron's departure, volunteers took over the production of regular shows and eventually incorporated as a non-profit in 1979; the first season under the name of EPAC came in 1980. Following a $2.4 million renovation, the community theater was able to and still produces year-round theater, including plays, musicals, a children's series, regular educational opportunities, including a summer theater camp, and special performances.
Area attractions
[edit]- Ephrata Fair,the largest street fair inPennsylvania.The fair dates back to October 1919, when local businessmen organized a one-day festivity to commemorateWorld War Iveterans. Over the following years, the fair grew to include farmers celebrating the harvest; and it also grew in duration by several days. The popular parade was added in 1932. The fair is presently held for five days each September and attracts tens of thousands of visitors.[35]
Sister city
[edit]Ephrata has onesister city,as designated bySister Cities International:
Eberbach,Baden-Württemberg,Germany
Tornado
[edit]OnMarch 29, 2009,a strong storm briefly swept through Ephrata. On March 31, theNational Weather Serviceconfirmed that it was anEF1tornado.Strong hail came with it. Although there were no fatalities, 30 homes were damaged and eight mobile homes destroyed. Many vehicles could be seen on their side afterwards, and holes were put in houses from the hail.[36]
References
[edit]- ^"ArcGIS REST Services Directory".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedOctober 15,2022.
- ^ab"Census Population API".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedOct 12,2022.
- ^Gannett, Henry (1905).The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States.Govt. Print. Off. pp.120.
- ^ab"City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021".Census.gov.US Census Bureau.Retrieved9 July2022.
- ^Gibbons, Phebe Earle (1872).Pennsylvania Dutch and Other Essays.Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott.OCLC128259577.
- ^Sachse, Julius Friedrich (1899–1900).The German Sectarians of Pennsylvania: A Critical and Legendary History of the Ephrata Cloister and the Dunkers.Philadelphia: Printed for the author.OCLC2030149.
- ^"National Register Information System".National Register of Historic Places.National Park Service.July 9, 2010.
- ^"US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990".United States Census Bureau.2011-02-12.Retrieved2011-04-23.
- ^"2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJuly 28,2020.
- ^"PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University".
- ^"Census of Population and Housing".U.S. Census Bureau.Retrieved11 December2013.
- ^ab"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.Retrieved2008-01-31.
- ^"Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012".Population Estimates.U.S. Census Bureau. Archived fromthe originalon 11 June 2013.Retrieved11 December2013.
- ^"Ephrata Community Swimming Pool Membership, Ephrata PA".
- ^"Ephrata Community Swimming Pool Membership, Ephrata PA".ephratarec.com.Retrieved2024-04-08.
- ^"Citing 'conservative values,' a town in Lancaster County, Pa. plans to cut local library funding".WITFaccessdate=Nov 23, 2022. 22 November 2022.
- ^"Pennsylvania Amish".Amish America. 21 June 2011.RetrievedOctober 10,2017.
- ^"Ephratapubliclibrary.org".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-09-24.Retrieved2009-03-04.
- ^"PA's second diverging diamond interchange opens ahead of schedule in Ephrata".17 May 2021.
- ^Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Highway Map(PDF)(Map).PennDOT.2015. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on October 5, 2017.RetrievedFebruary 10,2016.
- ^"Route 11 schedule"(PDF).RRTA. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on October 5, 2017.RetrievedOctober 4,2017.
- ^Lueders, Andrew."The Reading and Columbia".Abandoned Rails.Retrieved8 May2020.
- ^ab"Electric – Description of System".Borough of Ephrata. Archived fromthe originalon October 5, 2017.RetrievedOctober 4,2017.
- ^"Service Area".PPL Electric Utilities.RetrievedAugust 20,2017.
- ^"General Tariff"(PDF).PPL Electric Utilities. June 20, 2017. p. 4.RetrievedAugust 20,2017.
- ^"Water – Description of System".Borough of Ephrata.RetrievedOctober 4,2017.
- ^"Sanitation – Description of Services".Borough of Ephrata.RetrievedOctober 4,2017.
- ^"Geographic Footprint".UGI.RetrievedOctober 4,2017.
- ^"Gas Tariff"(PDF).UGI Utilities. July 7, 2017. pp. 5–6. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on October 10, 2017.RetrievedOctober 10,2017.
- ^"WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital".WellSpan Health.RetrievedOctober 4,2017.
- ^Alexander, Larry (2014-12-21)."Flashback Lancaster".LNP.Archived fromthe originalon 2018-07-08.Retrieved2018-07-24.
- ^"Mike Mentzer".Archived fromthe originalon 2014-09-15.Retrieved2014-09-14.
- ^"Basketball Reference".
- ^"The Main Theater".Borough of Ephrata. 19 December 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-19.Retrieved2009-12-06.
- ^"About Us".Ephrata Fair. Archived fromthe originalon 2006-05-01.
- ^"National and Local Weather Forecast, Hurricane, Radar and Report".Weather.com. 31 March 2009. Archived fromthe original(Flash video)on 2009-04-01.
External links
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
