Conestoga, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Conestoga, Pennsylvania
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Hess House, built 1811
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 Conestoga, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Conestoga, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Lancaster |
| Township | Conestoga |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.08 sq mi (5.39 km2) |
| • Land | 2.08 sq mi (5.38 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 500 ft (200 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,163 |
| • Density | 560.21/sq mi (216.25/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
17516
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| FIPS code | 42-15584 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1172302 |
Conestoga (Pennsylvania German: Kanneschtooge) is a small community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It's known as a census-designated place (CDP), which means it's a specific area identified by the government for statistics, but it's not an officially incorporated town. In 2020, about 1,163 people lived here. The Conestoga post office serves the ZIP code 17516.
Contents
A Look Back at Conestoga's History
The name Conestoga comes from the Susquehannock people. They were a Native American group who lived in this area before European settlers arrived. The name "Conestoga" might mean "at the place of the immersed pole."
Early Settlements and Names
The name was also used for the Conestoga River, which forms the northern edge of Conestoga Township. It was also used for Conestoga Manor. This was a large area of land set aside by William Penn, who founded Pennsylvania. This land was north of the river.
Conestoga also referred to several settlements of the Susquehannock people. In 1763, the last of these settlements faced a terrible event. A group of settlers from Lancaster County, known as the Paxton Boys, attacked the community.
Founding of the Town
The town of Conestoga Centre in Conestoga Township was started in 1805. A man named John Kendig laid out the town. He had been running a tavern there since 1790. By 1815, eleven families had made Conestoga their home.
A list from 1815 shows some of the early residents. These included John Kendig, Sr., John Kendig Jr., Martin Kendig, and Magdalene Ponper. Other families like the Bradys, Conrads, Carrys, Dunning, Falks, Grummels, and Yentzers also lived there.
Modern Connections
The main office of Turkey Hill Dairy is located nearby. This food company makes iced teas and dairy products. It was founded in 1931. Even though it has a Conestoga mailing address, it's actually about 7 miles northwest in Manor Township.
The area was in the news in 2001. President George W. Bush visited the Safe Harbor Dam power station. This station is about 4 miles southwest of Conestoga.
Where is Conestoga?
Conestoga is located in the southwestern part of Lancaster County. It's in the eastern section of Conestoga Township. The community sits between the Conestoga River to the northwest and Pequea Creek to the southeast.
It is about 7 miles south-southwest of Lancaster. Lancaster is the main city and county seat. Conestoga is also about 3 miles northeast of the Susquehanna River.
Land and Water
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Conestoga CDP covers a total area of about 2.08 square miles (5.4 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a very small part, about 0.01 square miles (0.01 square kilometers), is water.
Who Lives in Conestoga?
In 2020, the census counted 1,163 people living in Conestoga. There were 487 housing units in total, and almost all of them were occupied. About 78% of the population, or 907 people, were 18 years old or older.
Population Breakdown
The community is mostly White, making up about 93.1% of the population. Other groups include 0.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, and 0.61% Asian. About 1.29% were from other races, and 2.45% were from two or more races. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 3.4% of the population.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2010 | 1,258 | — | |
| 2020 | 1,163 | −7.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Photo gallery
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House on Main Street in Conestoga, Pennsylvania, located next to the Hess House which was built in 1811
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House on Main Street in Conestoga, Pennsylvania, located near the Hess House which was built in 1811
See also
In Spanish: Conestoga (Pensilvania) para niños
