Quintessential Pennsylvania

   WINDSOR - Founded 1905. Formerly Windsorville. Named for Windsor, England. Early settlers to Windsor were involved in the cigar making and iron ore mining industries that had become common around York County, Pennsylvania. How to Get There: Sources and Links: Red Lion Historical Society -  Windsor Township History Windsor Township -  History

  DILLSBURG - Founded 1800. Named for first settler Matthew Dill. At one time Dillsburg was known as Monaghan Settlement, at other times it was Dillstown or Dillston. Dillsburg was named in honor of the chief of the earliest settlers, Matthew Dill, who located here about 1740. He came from the county of Monaghan, Ireland. In 1749, Matthew Dill became one of the court justices of York County and before this he had commanded a company against native Indian opposition. He died October 13, 1750 at the age of 52. How to Get There: Sources and Links: Dillsburg Borough - A Brief History of Dillsburg

  RED LION - Founded 1786, incorporated 1880. Named from a nearby tavern sign. The tavern was named Red Lion after a tavern in England, and was a prominent stopping place for travelers taking the public road from Wrightsville and the Susquehanna across York County and the state of Maryland to the city of Baltimore. The Red Lion Tavern was said to be a characteristic old time public inn, with the picture of a lion painted red in front of the house. Tradition says that the lion was not a voracious one that scared away thirsty visitors, but rather a mild, peaceful sort of fellow, with an inviting look.  Red Lion, Pennsylvania was also once famous for the many brands of cigars made in the town. In fact, it was the cigar making capital of the world, producing millions of cigars per month. For the annual New Year celebration, Red Lion Borough raises a giant cigar instead of dropping a ball. Red Lion was once responsible for manufacturing roughly 10 percent of the cigars made in...

  AIRVILLE - Founded 1828. Named for pure air in neighborhood. Airville is located in York County near the Susquehanna River and is home to the famous Indian Steps Museum , which houses a collection of Native American artifacts. It is also the location of the Otter Creek Campground , which is the setting for the song " The Dam at Otter Creek " by the band Live. How to Get There: Sources and Links: Notes From The Fire - Dam At Otter Creek

  SEVEN VALLEYS - Founded 1892. Named for the Siebenthal or "Seven Valleys" with in view of borough. The Seven Valleys basin was originally settled by forty families of the German Lutheran and Reformed faiths from the Rhineland Palatinate of Germany, arriving in the Codorus Valley of southern Pennsylvania in the early fall of 1738. The lush meadows and gently rolling hills here reminded them of their homeland. The German settlers maintained the Pfalzer dialect of the German language for nearly 150 years after immigrating to Pennsylvania. However, with the coming of the railroad in 1838, the use of the English language gradually crept into the culture and by the end of the Civil War the use of German slowly began fading into the background. During its prime, Seven Valleys was known for the manufacture of cigars and ice cream. Iron ore was also discovered in Seven Valleys, causing a wave of prosperity for the people of the Codorus Valley. It also was a large railroad shipping p...

HANOVER - Founded 1745.  Named after Hanover, Germany.  The town, which saw a cavalry battle during the Civil War, has numerous unique shops and restaurants . Photo taken by Doug Kerr.

DALLASTOWN - Founded 1736, incorporated 1866. Dallastown is named for Vice President George M. Dallas , who served under President James K. Polk.