YORK, Pa., city, county-seat of York County, on the Condorus Creek, and on the Pennsylvania, the York Southern, the Northern Central and the Western Maryland railroads, about 28 miles southeast of Harrisburg, and 95 miles west of Philadelphia. It is in a produc toe farming section and has considerable man ufacturing interests.
In 1914 (government census) the city had over 500 manufacturing establishments, capital ized for $29,328,000, with an output valued at $21,969,00LX The foundry and machine fin ished products arc the largest industry, closely followed by the tobacco products. Oth.er man ufactures of which there are large and valuable outputs annually are agricultural implements, cigar boxes, food products, carriages, wagons, carriage and wagon materials, confectionery, tiour and grist mill products, furniture iron and steel products (including nails, spikes, wire nails, etc.), lumber products, paper and wood pulp, shirts and patent medicines. The vast power generated at Yorkhaven, 11 miles north of York, has greatly increased the manufactur ing industries of York. There is an extensive trade in the manufactured products and in gen eral merchandise which is distributed to the tillages and towns of a large region. The sur face is slightly rolling and has sufficient slope to make excellent drainage. The streets are broad and well shaded. The city is laid out in sections or blocks, 520 feet long and 480 feet wide. There are seven beautiful parks, of which the principal are Highland, Farquhar and Penn. The principal public buildings are the government building, the courthouse, county jail, the Masonic Temple, four market build ings, an opera house, three public halls and the municipal buildings. There is an excellent
water-supply and a good sewerage system. There are over 60 churches, representing 16 different denominations. The principal char itable institutions and hospitals are the city hospital, charity hospital, county almshouse, Children's Home, Christian Home and instate sanatoriums. The educational institutions are York Collegiate Institute (Presb.); York County Academy, founded in 17S7; two busi ness schools, Saint Patrick's Academy (R a public high school, founded in 1870; public and parish schools. a public library, York County Law Library, and Saint John's Church free library. There are five national, three State and two private banks.
The government is administered on the com mission plan, which provides for a mayor, elected for four years, and four commissioners elected for two years.
A permanent settlement was made in 1735 by a German colony; but in 1741 the town was laid out by John, Thomas and Richard Penn, and incorporated as a borough in 1787. In 1:.:7 York was chartered as a city. In 1749 the first Court of General Quarter Sessions was held here. In 1777 the Continental Congress left Philadelphia, fearing capture by Howes army, and convened in York 30 September. Congress continued to bold sessions in York until 27 June 177f3. Pop. 50.543. Consult Gibson, 'History of York County' (Chicago 1886).