Red Lion, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Red Lion, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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The former "Ma and Pa" railroad station in Red Lion
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Location in York County and the state of Pennsylvania.
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 Red Lion, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Red Lion, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Pennsylvania | |
| County | York | |
| Settled | 1852 | |
| Incorporated | January 16, 1880 | |
| Named for | Red Lion Tavern | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1.31 sq mi (3.40 km2) | |
| • Land | 1.31 sq mi (3.40 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | |
| Elevation | 921 ft (281 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,512 | |
| • Density | 4,959.63/sq mi (1,915.54/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP Code |
17356
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| Area code(s) | 717 | |
| FIPS code | 42-63840 | |
Red Lion is a small town, called a borough, in York County, Pennsylvania. It was first settled in 1852 and officially became a town on January 16, 1880. In 2020, about 6,506 people lived there. Red Lion is part of the larger York–Hanover area in Pennsylvania. Its name, Rot Leeb in Pennsylvania Dutch, comes from an old pub called the Red Lion Tavern.
Contents
History of Red Lion
Red Lion was named after the "Red Lion Tavern," one of the first pubs in the area. The town was an important stop on the old Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad. People often called this railroad the "Ma & Pa" Railroad. It connected York County, Pennsylvania, all the way to Baltimore, Maryland.
Industries in Red Lion
For a long time, Red Lion was famous for making cigars. The town produced millions of cigars every month. This was about 10% of all the cigars made in the United States! Even today, the town celebrates by raising a cigar on New Year's Eve.
Red Lion was also known for its furniture industry. Several large factories made beautiful, handmade furniture for over 100 years. Today, the furniture industry mostly makes kitchen cabinets and store displays.
Two important places in Red Lion, the Consumers Cigar Box Company and the Red Lion Borough Historic District, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are special places that are protected because of their history.
Geography of Red Lion
Red Lion is located about 8 miles (13 kilometers) southeast of York. The town covers about 1.3 square miles (3.3 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the borough.
Population of Red Lion
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 241 | — | |
| 1890 | 524 | 117.4% | |
| 1900 | 1,337 | 155.2% | |
| 1910 | 2,092 | 56.5% | |
| 1920 | 3,198 | 52.9% | |
| 1930 | 4,757 | 48.7% | |
| 1940 | 4,891 | 2.8% | |
| 1950 | 5,119 | 4.7% | |
| 1960 | 5,594 | 9.3% | |
| 1970 | 5,645 | 0.9% | |
| 1980 | 5,824 | 3.2% | |
| 1990 | 6,130 | 5.3% | |
| 2000 | 6,149 | 0.3% | |
| 2010 | 6,373 | 3.6% | |
| 2020 | 6,506 | 2.1% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 6,489 | 1.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 6,149 people living in Red Lion. The population density was about 4,790 people per square mile. Most people living in Red Lion were White (97.12%). About 25.1% of the population was under 18 years old. The average age in Red Lion was 34 years.
Schools in Red Lion
The Red Lion area has several schools:
- Red Lion Area Senior High School
- Red Lion Area Junior High School
- Locust Grove Elementary School
- Windsor Manor Elementary School (now used for administration)
- Larry J. Macaluso Elementary School
- Mazie Gable Elementary School
- Pleasant View Elementary School
- Clearview Elementary School
- North Hopewell-Winterstown Elementary School
- River Rock Academy - Red Lion Campus
In 2009, the school board decided to close two elementary schools, Chanceford and Edgar Moore. Students from these schools moved to other schools in the district. A new school, Larry J. Macaluso Elementary School, opened in 2009. It was named after the school district's superintendent who retired that year.
Local Venues and Music
Red Lion has a strong musical background. It is home to the Red Lion Felton band, which started in 1932. This band is made up of local musicians of all ages and plays at many community events.
The Red Lion Area School District has won an award called “Best Community for Music Education” from the NAMM Foundation. They won this award every year from 2012 to 2018. This award recognizes the excellent music programs and education available in the schools and community.
Red Lion is also known for its local bands and independent artists. One of the most famous is the rock band Halestorm. They have had six number one rock songs in the U.S. since 2013.
Red Lion used to have an opera house and a movie theater downtown. The opera house is now apartments, and the movie theater was torn down and is now a parking lot.
Notable People from Red Lion
Many talented people have come from Red Lion:
- Scott Fitzkee – a former professional American football player.
- Lzzy Hale and her brother Arejay Hale – members of the famous rock band Halestorm.
- Butch Wynegar – a former professional baseball player.
- Fred Murree – a Pawnee professional roller skater.
See also
In Spanish: Red Lion para niños
