Kinzers, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Kinzers is a small community located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It's not a big city or town with its own government. Instead, it's an "unincorporated community," meaning it's part of two larger areas called Paradise Township and Salisbury Township.
Quick facts for kids
Kinzers, Pennsylvania
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![]() Westbound US 30 through Kinzers
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Nickname(s):
Kinzer
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Country | United States |
State | Pennsylvania |
County | Lancaster |
Townships | Paradise and Salisbury |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
ZIP code |
17535
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Area code(s) | 717 |
Contents
The Story Behind Kinzers' Name
Kinzers got its name from a person named Harry Kinzer. His family were descendants of German settlers from a region called the Palatinate. The community was founded in 1835.
How the Name Changed
When it was first established, the community was called "Kinzer's" with an apostrophe. However, in July 1962, when ZIP codes became a required part of addresses, the apostrophe was removed. So, "Kinzer's" became "Kinzers." Most of the community is in Paradise Township, but it stretches a bit into Salisbury Township.
Location and Important Roads
Kinzers is located right on U.S. Route 30. This road is also known as the Lincoln Highway. It was originally part of a very old road called the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike. This turnpike was one of the first long-distance paved roads in the United States.
Fun Things to See and Do
Even though Kinzers is a small community, it has some interesting places to visit.
Rough and Tumble Engineers Historical Association
In the Salisbury Township part of Kinzers, you can find the Rough and Tumble Engineers Historical Association. This place is famous for its amazing collection of old steam engines. They also host a special event called a "thresherman's reunion." This reunion celebrates old farming machines and how they used to work. It usually happens in August.
Vintage Sales Stables
In the Paradise Township part of Kinzers, there's a place called the Vintage Sales Stables. It's named after a nearby small village called Vintage. This stable is likely a place where horses or other farm animals are bought and sold.
Kinzers and Geology
The name "Kinzers" is also important in the world of geology. There's a type of rock formation called the Cambrian Kinzers Formation. This formation is mostly made of marble and shale. Geologists named it after the town because a great example of this rock formation can be found in a nearby railroad cut. This specific location is known as the "type section" for the Kinzers Formation, meaning it's the best place to study it.