Ephrata, Pennsylvania facts for kids

This article is about Ephrata (disambiguation)|Ephrata. For other uses, see Ephrata, Pennsylvania (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids Ephrata, Pennsylvania Effridaa (Pennsylvania German)
Borough
Main Street during the Ephrata Fair, 2007
Etymology: Ephrath
Location of Ephrata in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Ephrata, Pennsylvania Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Ephrata, Pennsylvania Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Lancaster
Incorporated	August 22, 1891
Area
• Total	3.46 sq mi (8.97 km²)
• Land	3.42 sq mi (8.85 km²)
• Water	0.04 sq mi (0.11 km²)
Elevation	358 ft (109 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	13,794
• Density	4,035.69/sq mi (1,558.18/km²)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	17522
Area codes	717

Ephrata (pronounced EF-ruh-tuh) is a town in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located about 42 miles east of Harrisburg. The town's name comes from Ephrath, an old name for modern-day Bethlehem. Long ago, Ephrata was a fun place to visit and a farming community.

Ephrata's population has grown a lot over the years. In 1900, about 2,452 people lived there. By 2020, the population had grown to 13,818. This makes Ephrata the town with the most people in Lancaster County.

Ephrata has a special connection with Eberbach, Germany. Eberbach is the "sister city" of Ephrata. This is because the people who first founded Ephrata came from Eberbach.

History of Ephrata

The Ephrata National Bank building, designed by C. Emlen Urban

Ephrata is famous for being the home of a special religious group called the Mystic Order of the Solitary. They were also known as the Seventh-Day Dunkers. This group, which included both men and women, was started by Johann Conrad Beissel in 1732.

Many members of this group were very smart and educated. For example, Peter Miller, who was a leader of the monastery, translated the Declaration of Independence into seven different languages. He did this because the U.S. Congress asked him to. At its busiest time, the community had almost 300 people.

Several important buildings and places in Ephrata are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are protected because of their historical importance. These include the Ephrata Commercial Historic District, the Ephrata Cloister, and the Mountain Springs Hotel.

Ephrata's Location and Climate

Ephrata is in the northeastern part of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. U.S. Route 322 runs through the middle of town, known as Main Street. This road connects Ephrata to places like Hershey and West Chester. Pennsylvania Route 272 also passes through Ephrata, linking it to Adamstown and Lancaster.

The land around Ephrata is mostly flat, which is great for farming. A stream called Cocalico Creek flows through the town. This creek is part of the Susquehanna River system.

Ephrata has a climate with hot summers. The average temperature in January is about 30 degrees Fahrenheit, and in July, it's around 74.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

Population Changes in Ephrata

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	392	—
1900	2,451	—
1910	3,192	30.2%
1920	3,735	17.0%
1930	4,988	33.5%
1940	6,199	24.3%
1950	7,027	13.4%
1960	7,688	9.4%
1970	3,532	−54.1%
1980	4,789	35.6%
1990	7,116	48.6%
2000	13,213	85.7%
2010	13,394	1.4%
2020	13,794	3.0%
2021 (est.)	13,736	2.6%
Sources:

In 2000, about 13,213 people lived in Ephrata. There were 5,477 households, and 3,565 families. The population density was about 3,672 people per square mile. Most of the people living in Ephrata were White (96.10%).

About 24% of the population was under 18 years old. About 13.9% were 65 years or older. The average age of people in Ephrata was 36 years.

Community Pool

The town of Ephrata has its own swimming pool, the Ephrata Community Pool. It is located at 418 Vine Street. This pool is the oldest swimming pool in Lancaster County that has been open continuously. It has been operating for over 84 years!

The pool was updated and reopened on May 26, 2012. It now has fun features like zero-depth entries, flume slides, and climbing walls.

Local Libraries

The Ephrata Public Library is an important part of the community. It is located on South Reading Road. This library is also a member of the Library System of Lancaster County.

Schools in Ephrata

Schools in Ephrata are part of the Ephrata Area School District. Students attend different schools based on their age.

Elementary Schools

Akron Elementary School
Clay Elementary School
Fulton Elementary School
Highland Elementary School

Middle School

Ephrata Middle School

High School

Ephrata High School

Ephrata's Economy

Ephrata is surrounded primarily by rural areas

Ephrata has many different kinds of businesses, both big and small. One example is Four Seasons Produce, which started in 1976. It is a company that distributes fruits and vegetables. In 2011, a new rehabilitation center opened, creating over 175 new jobs in the area.

Religion in Ephrata

Ephrata has many different churches and faith groups, mostly Christian. The countryside around Ephrata is also home to many Amish and Old Order Mennonite families.

Public Services

Ephrata Borough Hall

The Pioneer Fire Company and the Veterans of Foreign Wars facility

The Ephrata Public Library is a key public service. Trash and recycling services are also provided by the town.

Transportation and Utilities

Getting Around Ephrata

The U.S. Route 222 freeway is about 2 miles southeast of Ephrata. It connects to cities like Lancaster and Reading. U.S. Route 322 goes through Ephrata along Main Street. Pennsylvania Route 272 also passes through the western part of Ephrata.

The Red Rose Transit Authority (RRTA) offers bus service in Ephrata. Route 11 runs from the Walmart in Ephrata through downtown and south to Lancaster. There is also a place to park and ride the bus at the former Kmart building.

Long ago, the Reading and Columbia Railroad offered passenger train service through Ephrata until 1952. Now, the East Penn Railroad still carries freight (goods) from Ephrata north to Reading. A part of the old train line between Ephrata and Lititz has been turned into a walking and biking path called a rail trail.

Electricity and Water

The town of Ephrata has its own Electric Division, which provides electricity to most of the area. This service started way back in 1902. The Ephrata Area Joint Authority (EAJA) provides water to Ephrata and nearby townships. They get water from the Cocalico Creek and from underground wells. They also have a water treatment plant.

Famous People from Ephrata

Many interesting people have come from Ephrata, including:

Michael Akers, a film director and producer.
Evelyn Margaret Ay, who was crowned Miss America in 1954.
Guy K. Bard, a judge and former Attorney General of Pennsylvania.
Charles B. McVay III, a rear admiral in the Navy.
Mike Mentzer, a professional bodybuilder.
Richard Winters, a brave Major in the 101st Airborne Division during World War II.

Cool Places to Visit in Ephrata

Museums and Historic Sites

The Ephrata Main Theater

Eicher Arts Center: This center is in the historic Eicher House. It also has a museum about Native Americans and a shop.
Ephrata Cloister: This is a very important historical site where the Mystic Order of the Solitary lived.
Main Theater: This movie theater opened on Christmas Day in 1938. It was bought and restored in 1990, and it reopened in 1993. Today, it shows movies and hosts live performances.
Mountain Springs Hotel: The site of this old hotel is at Main Street and Spring Garden Street. Part of the original building was saved and turned into a conference center.
Ephrata Performing Arts Center (EPAC): This theater started in 1953. It offers plays, musicals, and even summer theater camps for kids.

Fun Area Attractions

Ephrata Fair: This is the biggest street fair in Pennsylvania! It started in 1919 to honor World War I veterans. Over the years, it grew to include farmers celebrating their harvest. A popular parade was added in 1932. Today, the fair lasts for five days every September and brings in thousands of visitors.

Sister City

Ephrata has one sister city:

Eberbach, Germany

Tornado in Ephrata

On March 29, 2009, a strong storm hit Ephrata. Two days later, the National Weather Service confirmed it was an EF1 tornado. There was also strong hail. Luckily, no one was killed, but 30 homes were damaged, and eight mobile homes were destroyed. Many cars were flipped over, and some houses had holes from the hail.