Lewisberry, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lewisberry, Pennsylvania
Borough
Lewisberry United Methodist Church
Location in York County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Lewisberry, Pennsylvania Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Lewisberry, Pennsylvania Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	York
Settled	1798
Incorporated	1832
Government
• Type	Borough Council
Area
• Total	0.14 sq mi (0.36 km2)
• Land	0.14 sq mi (0.36 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	433 ft (132 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	382
• Density	2,748.20/sq mi (1,062.00/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Zip code	17339
Area code(s)	717
FIPS code	42-42968

Lewisberry is a small town, called a borough, in York County, Pennsylvania, United States. In 2020, about 380 people lived there. It is part of the larger York–Hanover area.

History of Lewisberry

Early Settlers

Long ago, the land where Lewisberry is now was home to the Susquehannock people. The first European settlers arrived in the 1730s. These were Quaker families, who were among the first to settle west of the Susquehanna River in America.

Some of the first families to own land here were the Lewises, Bennetts, Rankins, Healds, and Halls. Even though many Native Americans lived in the area, there were not many conflicts with these early settlers. Most of the first and second groups of settlers spoke English. Later, more Pennsylvania German people moved to the area.

The old Quaker meeting house, where people gathered for worship, is still standing. You can find it at the corner of Old Quaker and Lewisberry roads (PA 382).

How the Borough Began

Lewisberry's Keystone Marker, a sign showing historical places in Pennsylvania.

The founder of Lewisberry was Eli Lewis, who was born nearby in 1750. His father, Ellis Lewis, was one of the first settlers. Before the American Revolution started, Eli opened a store where the borough is today.

Eli Lewis and other local families joined the Pennsylvania militia during the war. Eli became a major. Lewisberry became known for making guns for the Continental Army. Guns made here were even used in the Mexican–American War in 1846.

After the Revolutionary War, Eli Lewis became very successful. His store was the main place for trade in the Redland Valley. In 1798, he decided to create a town. A man named Issac Kirk measured 12 acres of land and planned out lots for houses and businesses. Many lots were sold, and the town started to grow.

Eli Lewis also lived in Harrisburg for a while. There, he started the first newspaper in Harrisburg, called The Advertiser. He also published a famous poem about a battle called "St. Clair's Defeat."

Growing and Becoming a Borough

Lewisberry officially became a borough in 1832, many years after it was first settled. The first census in 1840 showed that 220 people lived there.

Over the years, different businesses helped Lewisberry grow. Henry Ensminger opened a large tannery (a place that makes leather) in 1800. John Herman built a big flour mill. Andrew Cline ran a very successful milling business in the late 1800s. His mill and house are still there, next to Silver Lake, which was made to power the mill.

One important industry in Lewisberry in the 1800s was making brimstone matches. Families like the Lewises, Kirks, and Starrs became wealthy from this business.

In the early 1800s, Joseph Potts started making coffee mills (grinders) from his home. This business grew, and Lewisberry became known for producing many coffee grinders in a small factory. In 1835, William Smith started a newspaper in the town.

A Lewisberry native, Hervey Hammond, invented a special spring for window sashes (the part of a window that holds the glass). In 1838, President Martin Van Buren even had Hammond's springs installed in all the windows of the White House!

Geography of Lewisberry

Lewisberry is located at 40°8′7″N 76°51′38″W / 40.13528°N 76.86056°W / 40.13528; -76.86056.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough covers about 0.1 square miles (0.3 square kilometers) of land.

Ski Roundtop, a popular place for skiing, is located about 3 miles (5 kilometers) southwest of Lewisberry.

Population Information

In 2000, there were 385 people living in Lewisberry. There were 146 households, and 102 of these were families.

Many households (43.8%) had children under 18 living with them. About 53.4% were married couples.

The population was spread out by age:

• 30.4% were under 18 years old.
• 6.0% were between 18 and 24.
• 40.3% were between 25 and 44.
• 13.2% were between 45 and 64.
• 10.1% were 65 years or older.

The average age of people in Lewisberry was 32 years old.

Gravity Hill

Near Lewisberry, at the crossing of Pennsylvania Route 177 and Pleasant View Road, there's a strange spot called a "Gravity Hill." People say that if you put your car in neutral, it will roll uphill!

A local legend says this happens because of the ghosts of children who were in a bus accident. They supposedly push cars uphill to keep others safe. However, scientists explain that it's actually an optical illusion. Your eyes play a trick on you, making a downhill slope look like it's going uphill.

Little League World Series Success

In 2015, the Red Land Little League team from Lewisberry became famous! They played in the 2015 Little League World Series. This is a huge baseball tournament for kids from all over the world.

The Red Land team won the U.S. Championship! They then played in the world championship game, finishing as the runner-up to the team from Japan. It was a big moment for Pennsylvania, as it was the first time a team from the state had reached the final game since 1990.

Notable Residents

• Stephen Zack (born 1992), a professional basketball player.

See also

In Spanish: Lewisberry (Pensilvania) para niños