Ambau, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Ambau is a small, unincorporated community located in York County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It's found within North Codorus Township, close to the village of Menges Mills.

What is Ambau?

Ambau is not a city or a town with its own local government. Instead, it's an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and businesses that are part of a larger township, in this case, North Codorus Township. People living in Ambau get their services, like police and fire protection, from the township or county.

A Stop on the Railway

Ambau used to be an important stop on the Western Maryland Railway. This railway line connected the cities of York and Hanover. Ambau was known as a flagstop station. Imagine a train station where trains only stopped if someone waved a flag to get on, or if a passenger on the train told the conductor they wanted to get off there. It was a convenient way for local people to travel or send goods.

How Ambau Got Its Name

The name "Ambau" has an interesting story! It's believed that the station was first called "Stambaugh." This name likely came from the many families named Stambaugh who lived in the area. Perhaps a member of the Stambaugh family was even an early stationmaster, someone who managed the train station. Over time, the name was shortened. The first two letters ("St") and the last two letters ("gh") were dropped, leaving us with "Ambau."