Editing Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (section)

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|984|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|944|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|40|sqmi}} (4.1%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_42.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 8, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Climate===
Most of the county has a hot-summer [[humid continental climate]] (''Dfa'') and the [[hardiness zone]]s are 6b and 7a. The most recent temperature averages show areas along the Susquehanna River and in the lower Conestoga Valley to have a [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa''.)
{{Weather box 
|location = Lancaster, Pennsylvania (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1949–present)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 70
|Feb record high F = 82
|Mar record high F = 88
|Apr record high F = 93
|May record high F = 99
|Jun record high F = 97
|Jul record high F = 103
|Aug record high F = 101
|Sep record high F = 99
|Oct record high F = 93
|Nov record high F = 86
|Dec record high F = 76
|year record high F = 103
|Jan high F = 39.9
|Feb high F = 42.8
|Mar high F = 52.0
|Apr high F = 64.6
|May high F = 74.5
|Jun high F = 82.7
|Jul high F = 87.0
|Aug high F = 85.1
|Sep high F = 78.2
|Oct high F = 66.4
|Nov high F = 54.8
|Dec high F = 44.4
|year high F = 64.4
|Jan mean F = 31.0
|Feb mean F = 33.2
|Mar mean F = 41.4
|Apr mean F = 52.6
|May mean F = 62.4
|Jun mean F = 71.2
|Jul mean F = 75.9
|Aug mean F = 74.1
|Sep mean F = 66.9
|Oct mean F = 55.1
|Nov mean F = 44.4
|Dec mean F = 35.7
|year mean F = 53.7
|Jan low F = 22.2
|Feb low F = 23.6
|Mar low F = 30.9
|Apr low F = 40.5
|May low F = 50.4
|Jun low F = 59.7
|Jul low F = 64.7
|Aug low F = 63.0
|Sep low F = 55.6
|Oct low F = 43.7
|Nov low F = 34.0
|Dec low F = 27.1
|year low F = 42.9
|Jan record low F = −16
|Feb record low F = −9
|Mar record low F = −2
|Apr record low F = 16
|May record low F = 21
|Jun record low F = 33
|Jul record low F = 46
|Aug record low F = 37
|Sep record low F = 34
|Oct record low F = 23
|Nov record low F = 11
|Dec record low F = −3
|year record low F = -16
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.01
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.52
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.50
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.54
|May precipitation inch = 3.65
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.09
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.51
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.60
|Sep precipitation inch = 4.82
|Oct precipitation inch = 4.18
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.26
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.47
|year precipitation inch = 44.15
|Jan snow inch = 6.1
|Feb snow inch = 7.4
|Mar snow inch = 3.4
|Apr snow inch = 0.2
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.3
|Nov snow inch = 0.6
|Dec snow inch = 3.4
|year snow inch = 21.4
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 10.0
|Feb precipitation days = 8.8
|Mar precipitation days = 10.5
|Apr precipitation days = 10.9
|May precipitation days = 12.7
|Jun precipitation days = 11.1
|Jul precipitation days = 10.3
|Aug precipitation days = 9.7
|Sep precipitation days = 9.5
|Oct precipitation days = 9.9
|Nov precipitation days = 9.6
|Dec precipitation days = 10.9
|year precipitation days = 123.9
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 2.7
|Feb snow days = 2.7
|Mar snow days = 1.2
|Apr snow days = 0.1
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.3
|Dec snow days = 1.1
|year snow days = 8.1
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name = NOAA >{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=ctp
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = August 7, 2021
| archive-date = July 5, 2012
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120705132003/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=ctp
| url-status = dead
}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00364763&format=pdf
| title = Station: Lancaster 2NE FLTR PLT, PA
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = August 7, 2021}}</ref>
}}

===Watersheds===
Almost all of Lancaster County is in the [[Chesapeake Bay]] [[drainage basin]], via the [[Susquehanna River]] watershed (the exception is a small unnamed tributary of the West Branch of [[Brandywine Creek (Christina River)|Brandywine Creek]] that rises in eastern Salisbury Township and is part of the [[Delaware River]] watershed).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.srbc.net|title=Susquehanna River Basin Commission: A water management agency serving the Susquehanna River Watershed|publisher=Srbc.net|access-date=October 9, 2011}}</ref> The major streams in the county (with percent area drained) are: [[Conestoga River]] and [[Little Conestoga Creek]] (31.42%); [[Pequea Creek]] (15.02%); [[Chiques Creek]] (or ''Chickies Creek'', 12.07%); [[Cocalico Creek]] (11.25%); [[Octoraro Creek]] (10.74%); and [[Conowingo Creek]] (3.73%).<ref>[http://www.chesapeakebay.net/wspv31/(3fwefm55tzka3q45qloiyxbu)/find.aspx?term=Lancaster%20County&topic=5]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011232212/http://www.chesapeakebay.net/wspv31/%283fwefm55tzka3q45qloiyxbu%29/find.aspx?term=Lancaster%20County&topic=5|date=October 11, 2011}}</ref>

===Protected areas===
Lancaster County is home to [[Susquehannock State Park]], located on {{convert|224|acre}} overlooking the Susquehanna River in [[Drumore Township, Pennsylvania|Drumore Township]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/susquehannock.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040212213427/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/susquehannock.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 12, 2004|title=Susquehannock State Park|access-date=September 16, 2006|publisher=[[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]]}}</ref> One of the three tracts comprising [[William Penn State Forest]], the {{convert|10|acre|adj=on}} Cornwall [[fire tower]] site, is located in northern [[Penn Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Penn Township]] near the Lebanon County border. The site, with its 1923 fire tower, was acquired by the state in January 1935.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/valleyforgehistory.aspx|title=History of the Valley Forge State Forest|access-date=September 16, 2006|publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901171017/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/valleyforgehistory.aspx|archive-date=September 1, 2006}}</ref>

There are six [[Pennsylvania State Game Lands]] for [[hunting]], [[Trapping (Animal)|trapping]], and fishing located in Lancaster County. They are numbers (with location and area): 46 (near [[Hopeland, Pennsylvania|Hopeland]], {{convert|5035|acre|ha}}), 52 (near Morgantown, {{convert|1447|acre|ha}}), 136 (near Kirkwood, {{convert|91|acre|ha}}), 156 (near Poplar Grove, {{convert|4537|acre|ha}}), 220 (near Reinholds, {{convert|96|acre|ha}}), and 288 (near Martic Forge, {{convert|89|acre|ha}}).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huntingpa.com/sgl.html|title=HuntingPA.com Game Lands: Pennsylvania State Game Lands, their general location and acreage|access-date=September 16, 2006|format=Searchable Database|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061006163841/http://www.huntingpa.com/sgl.html|archive-date=October 6, 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The county's southern portion has some protected [[serpentine barrens]], a rare ecosystem where toxic metals in the soil inhibit plant growth, resulting in the formation of natural [[grassland]] and [[savanna]]. These barrens include the New Texas Serpentine Barrens, privately owned land managed by [[The Nature Conservancy]],<ref>[http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/pennsylvania/preserves/art9593.html The Nature Conservancy in Pennsylvania – New Texas Serpentine Barrens] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716235344/http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/pennsylvania/preserves/art9593.html |date=July 16, 2010 }}. Nature.org (October 22, 2010; retrieved December 23, 2010.)</ref> and Rock Springs Nature Preserve, a publicly accessible preserve with hiking trails owned and managed by the [[Lancaster County Conservancy]].<ref>[http://lancasterconservancy.org/property_rocksprings.htm "Rock Springs Nature Preserve"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090222203402/http://www.lancasterconservancy.org/property_rocksprings.htm |date=February 22, 2009}}, Lancaster County Conservancy Website, Retrieved May 10, 2009.</ref>

Lancaster County leads the nation in farmland preservation. Organizations such as the Lancaster Farmland Trust, the Lancaster County Agricultural Preservation Board, and multiple municipalities work in partnership with landowners to preserve their farms and way of life for future generations by placing a conservation easement on their property. A conservation easement restricts real estate development, commercial and industrial uses, and certain other activities on the land that are mutually agreed upon by the grantees and the property owner. After ceding their development rights, landowners continue to manage and own their properties and may receive significant tax breaks. The conservation easement ensures that the land will remain available for agricultural use forever. Lancaster Farmland Trust is a private, non-profit organization that works closely with the vast Amish and Plain-Sect communities of Lancaster County to ensure their farms will retain their agricultural value. Together with the Lancaster County Agricultural Preserve Board, the county has preserved more than {{convert|100000|acres|abbr=on}} of preserved farmland in the county—a first in the nation.<ref>[http://www.lancasterfarmlandtrust.org/about/history.html Lancaster Farmland Trust] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524050922/http://www.lancasterfarmlandtrust.org/about/history.html |date=May 24, 2013 }}. Lancaster Farmland Trust (November 13, 1985; retrieved July 23, 2013.)</ref>

===Seismicity===
Lancaster County lies on the general track of the [[Appalachian Mountains]]. As a result, residual seismic activity from ancient faulting occasionally produces minor earthquakes of magnitude 3 to 4. On December 27, 2008, a 3.3 magnitude earthquake was widely felt in the [[Susquehanna Valley]] but caused no damage to structures.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wgal.com/news/18365091/detail.html|title=Minor Earthquake Felt Throughout Susquehanna Valley – Pennsylvania News Story – WGAL The Susquehanna Valley|publisher=Wgal.com|date=December 27, 2008|access-date=July 22, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717045833/http://www.wgal.com/news/18365091/detail.html|archive-date=July 17, 2011}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Dauphin County, Pennsylvania|Dauphin County]] (northwest)
* [[Lebanon County, Pennsylvania|Lebanon County]] (north)
* [[Berks County, Pennsylvania|Berks County]] (northeast)
* [[Chester County, Pennsylvania|Chester County]] (east)
* [[Cecil County, Maryland]] (south)
* [[Harford County, Maryland]] (southwest)
* [[York County, Pennsylvania|York County]] (west)