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Glen Rock, Pennsylvania
Borough
Glen Rock, Pennsylvania
Glen Rock, Pennsylvania
Location in York County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Location in York County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Glen Rock, Pennsylvania is located in Pennsylvania
Glen Rock, Pennsylvania
Glen Rock, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Glen Rock, Pennsylvania is located in the United States
Glen Rock, Pennsylvania
Glen Rock, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County York
Settled 1838
Incorporated 1859
Government
 • Type Borough Council
Area
 • Total 0.80 sq mi (2.08 km2)
 • Land 0.80 sq mi (2.08 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
636 ft (194 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 2,123
 • Estimate 
(2023)
2,122
 • Density 2,647.94/sq mi (1,022.12/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
Zip code
17327
Area code(s) 717
FIPS code 42-29760

Glen Rock is a small town, called a borough, in York County, Pennsylvania. In 2020, about 2,123 people lived there. It is part of the larger York–Hanover metropolitan area.

History of Glen Rock

How Glen Rock Started

Glen Rock was founded by William Heathcote, who came from England. In 1826, he moved to Pennsylvania. He bought a farm in 1837. He wanted to use the power of the nearby river. He built a brick woolen mill where an old sawmill used to be. This mill brought many workers and farmers to the area.

In the 1840s, Glen Rock got a passenger train station. Soon after, a post office, a church, an iron factory, and a machine shop were built. In December 1843, Heathcote suggested the name Glen Rock. He got the idea from a poem called Marmion.

Growing into a Borough

By 1858, about 200 people lived in Glen Rock. The town officially became a borough on August 29, 1859. This happened after its residents asked for it. The old mill is still the oldest building in Glen Rock. It closed for updates in the 1980s. Later, it reopened as a special hotel and restaurant.

In 2022, the mill received a special grant. This money helped make the building look more like it did when it was first built. The Glen Rock Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. This means it is an important historical area.

Geography of Glen Rock

Glen Rock is located at 39°47′36″N 76°43′53″W / 39.79333°N 76.73139°W / 39.79333; -76.73139. The United States Census Bureau says the borough covers about 0.8 square miles (2.08 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

People of Glen Rock

Population Changes Over Time

The number of people living in Glen Rock has grown steadily. Here is how the population has changed:

Historical population
Census Pop.
1860 289
1870 537 85.8%
1880 651 21.2%
1890 687 5.5%
1900 1,117 62.6%
1910 1,263 13.1%
1920 1,232 −2.5%
1930 1,309 6.3%
1940 1,412 7.9%
1950 1,477 4.6%
1960 1,546 4.7%
1970 1,600 3.5%
1980 1,662 3.9%
1990 1,688 1.6%
2000 1,809 7.2%
2010 2,025 11.9%
2020 2,123 4.8%
2023 (est.) 2,122 4.8%
Sources:

In 2000, there were 1,809 people living in Glen Rock. By the 2010 census, this number grew to 2,025 people. The most recent count in 2020 showed 2,123 residents.

Community Life

In 2010, there were 785 households in Glen Rock. About 36.3% of these households had children under 18 living there. Most households (55.4%) were married couples living together. About 23.7% of all households were people living alone. The average household had about 2.56 people.

The median age in Glen Rock was 35 years old. This means half the people were younger than 35, and half were older. About 29.0% of the population was under 18. About 11.2% of the population was 65 or older.

The median income for a household in Glen Rock was $41,188 in 2000. For families, the median income was $50,865. About 8.7% of all people in Glen Rock lived below the poverty line. This included 15.0% of those under 18.

Education in Glen Rock

Students in Glen Rock attend schools in the Southern York County School District. For elementary school, students go to either Southern Elementary School or Friendship Elementary School. All students then attend Southern Middle School. After that, they go to Susquehannock High School.

Glen Rock Carolers

Every Christmas, the Glen Rock Carolers sing carols throughout the borough. They start at midnight and sing until morning. This special tradition began in 1848 and has happened every year since then. The carolers are a group of more than 50 men. They sing in three-part harmony. They are joined by instruments, usually trumpets and trombones.

Most of the songs they sing are very old English or American carols. These are not often heard anymore. Only four new carols have been added since 1900. The carolers wear a special uniform. It includes gray high hats, long coats, gloves, and colorful scarves. On Christmas Eve, they give a concert at 10:45 pm. About 1,000 people usually come to watch.

Recreation and Fun in Glen Rock

Heritage Rail Trail County Park

The Heritage Rail Trail County Park is a popular trail in Pennsylvania. It was built in 1999. This trail connects with the Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail in Maryland. The trail runs next to an active train line called the Northern Central Railway. It is also part of BicyclePA Route J.

The rail trail goes north through Glen Rock. It crosses Valley, Main, and Water Streets. The train line is still used by passenger trains from Steam Into History. This train ride starts in nearby New Freedom, Pennsylvania.

Glen Rock Park

The Glen Rock Park is located near the borough at 5400 Fair School Road. This park has many fun features. It includes a dog park, two ball fields, and playground equipment. There are also basketball and volleyball courts. Restrooms and pavilions are available for rent. The Glen Rock recreation board manages the park.

Glen Rock Arts & Brew Fest

The Annual Glen Rock Arts & Brew Fest takes place on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. This event is mostly held around Water Street and the Rail Trail. The craft beer part of the event is in Ruins Hall. The festival features food and art vendors. There is also a 5k race and many family-friendly activities.

Notable People from Glen Rock

Glen Rock has been home to several well-known people:

  • Summer Britcher (born 1994) is an Olympic luger. She has competed in the Olympics three times.
  • Randy Edsall (born 1958) is a football coach. He was the head coach for the UConn Huskies and Maryland Terrapins teams.
  • Cliff Heathcote (1898–1939) was a center fielder in Major League Baseball. He played for the Chicago Cubs.
  • Roland F. Seitz (1867–1946) was a composer, bandmaster, and music publisher.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Glen Rock (Pensilvania) para niños

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