Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania
Census-designated place
Keystone Marker
Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Lancaster
Township	East Lampeter
Area
• Total	0.63 sq mi (1.62 km2)
• Land	0.62 sq mi (1.60 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	427
• Density	690.94/sq mi (266.79/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	17505
FIPS code	42-06496
GNIS feature ID	1169655

The Old Village Store Hardware, a historic building in Bird-in-Hand.

Bird-in-Hand is a small community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known as a census-designated place (CDP) and is part of East Lampeter Township. The area is famous for its large Amish and Mennonite populations. In 2010, about 402 people lived within the CDP. The "Bird in Hand" ZIP code also reaches into nearby Leacock and Upper Leacock townships.

Discovering Bird-in-Hand: A Look at Its Past

Early Settlers and Quaker Roots

The first people to live in this area were Native American groups like the Shawnee and Susquehannock. Later, European settlers arrived. These included Quakers and Swiss Mennonites. James Smith, a Quaker, was one of the first known European settlers, arriving around 1715.

William and Dorothy McNabb were early landowners. They owned the first Bird-in-Hand Hotel. The Quakers built a meetinghouse and a two-story school. This building still stands today, next to the Bird-in-Hand fire company.

Lampeter Friends Meetinghouse, built in 1749 and rebuilt in 1889.

How Bird-in-Hand Got Its Unique Name

The community of Bird-in-Hand was founded in 1734. Its name comes from a fun story about the Old Philadelphia Pike. This road was being measured between Lancaster and Philadelphia.

Legend says two road surveyors were talking about where to stay. One of them supposedly said, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." This means it's better to have something small but sure than to hope for something bigger that might not happen. So, they decided to stay right there. By 1734, the surveyors were using McNabb's hotel as their base. The inn's sign showed a man with a bird in his hand and two birds in a bush nearby. This is how it became known as the Bird-in-Hand Inn. You can still see versions of this sign around town today.

Railroads and Growing Business

In 1834, work began on the Pennsylvania Railroad line. This line was 86 miles long and connected Philadelphia to Columbia. Bird-in-Hand became a very important stop on the section between Lancaster and Coatesville.

The town had many businesses, such as tanneries (where leather is made), feed mills, and places that sold coal and lumber. In 1836, the village post office opened. It was first called the Enterprise Post Office. The name officially changed to Bird-in-Hand in 1873.

Bird-in-Hand's Rise in Tourism

Bird-in-Hand was not very well known until 1955. That year, a musical called Plain and Fancy opened in New York. The play was set in Bird-in-Hand. Many people believe this play helped start the big growth in Pennsylvania Dutch Country tourism in the mid-1900s.

The Plain & Fancy Restaurant opened in 1960. It is the oldest "family-style restaurant" in the area. Bird-in-Hand is often listed among towns with interesting names in Pennsylvania Dutchland. Other towns include Intercourse, Blue Ball, Lititz, Bareville, Mount Joy, and Paradise.

In 1968, the Smucker family opened a small 30-room motel. It was called the Bird-in-Hand Motor Inn. It also had a small coffee shop. They hoped to attract more tourists. Over time, the coffee shop grew into the larger Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant & Smorgasbord. In 1976, the Bird-in-Hand Farmers Market opened next to the Motor Inn.

The Bird-in-Hand Village Inn and Suites was recognized as a historic place in 1992. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The town is also home to the Bank of Bird-in-Hand. This was the first bank in the United States to open after a law called the Dodd Frank Act was passed.

Geography and Location

Bird-in-Hand is located in the middle of Lancaster County. It sits on the eastern edge of East Lampeter Township. Pennsylvania Route 340 (Old Philadelphia Pike) goes right through the center of town. This road leads west about 6 miles to Lancaster, which is the main city of the county. It leads east about 4 miles to Intercourse.

The Bird-in-Hand CDP covers about 1.6 square kilometers (0.6 square miles). A very small part of this area, about 0.02 square kilometers, is water. The water in the area flows west into Mill Creek. Mill Creek then flows into the Conestoga River, which is part of the Susquehanna River system.

Population and Community

As of the 2020 census, the population of Bird-in-Hand was 427 people. The community has a strong connection to its Amish and Mennonite heritage.

Local Economy and Tourism

Tourism is very important to Bird-in-Hand. Many businesses in the area focus on visitors. These businesses often have an Amish theme. For example, you can find horse and buggy rides and handmade crafts.

Places to Visit

Museums and Historic Sites

• Amish Country Homestead
• Lampeter Friends Meetinghouse

Churches

• Bird-in-Hand United Methodist
• Stumptown Mennonite
• Weavertown Amish Mennonite Church