Lititz, Pennsylvania

Houses on Main Street

Lititz was founded by members of the Moravian Church in 1756 and was named after a castle in Bohemia near the village of Kunvald where the ancient Bohemian Brethren's Church had been founded in 1457. The roots of the Moravian Brethren's Church date back to the ancient Bohemian Brethren's Church. It was one of the four leading Moravian communities in the Northeastern United States (Bethlehem, Emmaus and Nazareth, each in Pennsylvania, were the three others).

For a century, only Moravians were permitted to live in Lititz. Until the middle of the 19th century, only members of the congregation could own houses; others were required to lease. The lease system was abolished in 1855, just five years before the beginning of the Civil War. More information can be found in the book A Brief History of Lititz Pennsylvania by Mary Augusta Huevener, published in 1947.

During a part of the American Revolution, the Brethren's House, built in 1759, was used as a hospital. A number of soldiers died and were buried here. Lititz is also home to Linden Hall School for Girls, the oldest all-girls boarding school in the United States. Located adjacent to the Moravian Church on 47 acres (19 ha) of land, Linden Hall was founded by the Moravians in 1746, a decade before the borough was incorporated.[5]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km²), of which 2.00 acres (8,090 m²), or 0.13%, are water.[6] Lititz Run flows through the downtown from Lititz Springs Park toward the Conestoga River, 6 miles (10 km) to the southeast.[7]

Lititz has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and average monthly temperatures range from 30.1 °F in January to 74.7 °F in July. PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University The local hardiness zone is 6b.

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 9,029 people, 3,732 households, and 2,407 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,884.0/sq mi (1,499.6/km²). There were 3,827 housing units at an average density of 1,646.2 per square mile (636.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.23% White, 0.44% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.52% of the population.

There were 3,732 households, out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $40,417, and the median income for a family was $52,028. Males had a median income of $36,126 versus $25,997 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $20,601. About 2.6% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

Lititz-based Woodstream manufactures mousetraps under the Victor brand name.[11] Mousetraps have been produced in Lititz since 1899.[12]

Sensenich Propeller, in business in since 1932, is one of aviation's oldest continuously-manufacturing propeller companies, specializing in propellers for light aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and airboats. The company is particularly known for its wood props, but also has produced fixed-pitch metal props since 1948, and in recent years expanded to adjustable-pitch carbon-fiber composite propellers. Throughout the mid-20th century, Sensenich wood props were available on nearly all 1-seat and 2-seat U.S.-made aircraft, many of which still operate today. (Wood prop manufacturing is now handled in their Florida facility.)[13][14][15]

Rock Lititz, a company specializing in rock concert production, is headquartered and has a show production stage in Lititz. The facility attracts international artists and supports music production suppliers in the area.[16]

Annual events include:

• Independence Day event, founded in 1813, which includes a Queen of Candles Pageant and fireworks.
• Summer art show.
• Microbrewery festival.[17]
• Fire and Ice Festival each February, featuring food trucks, entertainment, and ice carvings.[18]

The Lititz Public Library is a member of the Library System of Lancaster County.[19]

Ralph Miller guarded the Lititz water works for sixteen years. Photo by Marjory Collins in 1942.

• Mayor: Timothy R. Snyder (R)
• Borough Manager: Sue Ann Barry
• Borough Council
  • Shane Weaver, President
  • J. Andrew Greiner
  • Stephen Lee
  • Christine Sensenich
  • Ken Mobley
  • David Brubaker

Lititz, along with Elizabeth and Warwick townships and part of Penn Township, is located in the Warwick School District. Schools located in Lititz include:

• Warwick High School
• Warwick Middle School
• Lititz Elementary School (at former site of K-12 Lititz High School; serves the central and northern part of Lititz borough and western Warwick township out to Penn township and its border with Manheim Central School District)
• John Beck Elementary School (founded independently of the district and incorporated; serves the northern part of Warwick township and Elizabeth township)
• John R. Bonfield Elementary School (serves the eastern part of the school district, including the outskirts of Lititz borough and Warwick township)
• Kissel Hill Elementary School (serves the southern part of Lititz borough and Warwick township south to the Manheim Township line)
• Linden Hall School for Girls (the oldest all-girls private school in the country)

• John Fass (1890–1973), book designer, printer, photographer
• Matt Greiner, metalcore drummer for August Burns Red
• Mary Penry (1735–1804), Moravian sister
• Richard A. Snyder (1910–1992), Pennsylvania state senator
• Johann August Sutter (1803–1880), pioneer of California
• Louise Adeline Weitzel (1862–1934), poet
• Joey Welz (born 1940), musician; former pianist for Bill Haley & His Comets
• Andrew Wenger (born 1990), Hermann Trophy winner and professional soccer player for the Philadelphia Union

A sister city relationship between Lititz and Kunvald (Czech Republic) was established on June 11, 2006, during the celebration of the 250th anniversary naming of Lititz. The ceremony took place in Lititz Springs Park. Their Pennsylvania sister city is Emmaus in Lehigh County.

• Lititz Watch Technicum
• The Hess Homestead

• Moravian Historical Society Transactions, volume ii, (Bethlehem, Pa.)
• Mombert, An Authentic History of Lancaster County, Pa., (Lancaster, 1869)

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