Situated in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is located on the Conestoga River and offers spectacular views of the Susquehanna River, as well. Its fertile lands and gentle slopes provide a thriving agricultural industry for Lancaster, in addition to a profitable tourism business. This is the land that time forgot. You won't find the telltale signs of urban development here, and that's exactly what draws people to Lancaster County from miles away. Instead of skyscrapers, you're likely to find covered bridges (the county has 28 of them), windwheels, white clapboard homes, and little red schoolhouses in Lancaster. In the distance, you might spot a horse-drawn buggy making its way down a peaceful country lane. You'll get a chance to purchase quilts, clothing, local delicacies, candles, and other handmade goods from the Amish, a population with a proud but quiet history of time-honored traditions and a firm belief in the work ethic. Even the limited signs of modern industry remain respectful of history; high-tech, expensive farm machinery is often pulled by teams of mules. This is truly a land where worlds collide.

Lancaster, named after Lancaster, England, when it was settled in 1730, was incorporated as a city in 1818 after serving as the state capital from 1799 to 1812. A bit of trivia you may not know is that in 1777, the city served as our nation's capital, as well, during the American Revolution. The Continental Congress held a session in Lancaster after its members fled Philadelphia.

In addition to agriculture, this region specializes in the manufacturing of health-care products, clothing, metal products, wood products, electronic equipment, and machinery, among others. Lancaster County has a number of outlet stores, as well as antique and country stores, which enjoy plenty of business from the approximately 5 million visitors who pass through the area each year. To accommodate them, Lancaster and greater Lancaster County have many quaint bed and breakfast inns. Pennsylvania Dutch Country gives tourists the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to partake in such activities as touring an operating farm and Amish schoolhouse, or riding over the rolling countryside in a steam train or in an Amish horse and buggy.

This isn't to say that Lancaster is lost in a time warp. The city of Lancaster is the both the county seat and the nerve center of Lancaster County, and it has accommodated urbanism with plenty of highways and office buildings. The encroachment is limited, however, and within few short minutes, you can find yourself in the middle of a rolling, peaceful landscape. From a commuter's perspective, it's the best of both worlds. Hills are particularly pronounced in the western and southern portions of the county. The other towns within Lancaster County are worth mentioning not only for their scenery, but also for their names: Blue Ball, Paradise, Strasburg, Bird-in-Hand and (believe it or not) Intercourse.

Among the historical offerings within Lancaster County are many structures dating back to the 1700s -- including the oldest Mennonite meeting house in the United States. And the county made its mark on Hollywood when the film "Witness" (starring actor Harrison Ford) was filmed here. Visitors may take a tour of Wheatland, the mansion of former president James Buchanan, the only bachelor ever to serve in the White House. Also noteworthy: Frank W. Woolworth launched his first "five and dime" store in Lancaster in 1879, and Milton Hershey's famous and delectable chocolate empire was born here, as well.

Real estate in and around Lancaster County can be pricey due to the sheer beauty of the area, the available land, and the draw of tourists. Yet, there's plenty to offer families here. You can just as easily find a simple home or condominium to suit your taste and your budget. Speaking of homes, a bit of home building history was made in Lancaster in 1873, when Benjamin Mishler built a home in 10 hours in response to a wager. The home still stands today, 125 years later.

For those of you seeking a healthy dose of local color in Lancaster, head to . This Web page will help you locate all of those quaint sights in and around Lancaster. From wineries to museums to one-room schoolhouses, it's all here.

Published: October 5, 1998

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.