Editing Strasburg, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Borough in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                            = Strasburg, Pennsylvania
| settlement_type                 = [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|Borough]]
| image_skyline                   = Strasburg 27 E Main 1754.JPG
| image_alt                       = 
| image_caption                   = 27 East Main Street, built in 1754
| image_flag                      = 
| flag_alt                        = 
| image_seal                      = 
| seal_alt                        = 
| image_shield                    = 
| shield_alt                      = 
| etymology                       = [[Prince-Bishopric of Strasbourg]], [[Holy Roman Empire]]
| nickname                        = 
| motto                           = 
| image_map                       = Lancaster County Pennsylvania Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Strasburg Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                         = 
| map_alt                         = 
| map_caption                     = Location in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
| pushpin_map_caption             = Location in Pennsylvania##Location in the United States
| pushpin_map                     = Pennsylvania#USA
| pushpin_label                   = Strasburg
| coordinates                     = {{coord|39|58|56|N|76|10|58|W|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint                   = 
| coordinates_footnotes           = 
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = United States
| subdivision_type1               = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Pennsylvania]]
| subdivision_type2               = County
| subdivision_name2               = [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]]
| established_title               = 
| established_date                = 
| established_title1              = 
| established_date1               = 
| founder                         = 
| seat_type                       = 
| seat                            = 
| leader_party                    = 
| leader_title                    = Mayor
| leader_name                     = 
| unit_pref                       = Imperial
| area_footnotes                  = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='42'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 16, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi                = 0.96
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 0.96
| area_water_sq_mi                = 0.00
| area_total_km2                  = 2.49
| area_land_km2                   = 2.48
| area_water_km2                  = 0.01
| elevation_footnotes             = 
| elevation_ft                    = 463
| population_footnotes            = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:42&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 12, 2022}}</ref>
| population_total                = 3117
| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| pop_est_as_of                   = 
| pop_est_footnotes               = 
| population_est                  = 
| population_density_sq_mi        = 3257.05
<!-- 2019 est. -->
| population_density_km2          = 1256.98
| population_demonym              = 
| population_note                 = 
| timezone1                       = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset1                     = -5
| timezone1_DST                   = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST                 = -4
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code                     = 17579
| area_code_type                  = 
| area_code                       = [[Area codes 717 and 223|717 and 223]]
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = 42-74712
| blank_name_sec1                 = 
| blank_info_sec1                 = 
| website                         = {{URL|strasburgboro.org}}
| module = {{Infobox NRHP
  |embed = yes
  | name = Strasburg Historic District
  | nrhp_type = hd
  | nocat = yes
  | image = 
  | caption = 
  | location = E. and W. Main, W. Miller, S. Decatur Sts., Strasburg, Pennsylvania
  | coordinates = {{coord|39|58|51|N|76|11|15|W|display=inline}}
  | architect =
  | architecture = Georgian, Federal, German vernacular
  | added = March 3, 1983
  | area = {{convert|68|acre}}
  | refnum = 83002258<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref>
  }}
}}

'''Strasburg''' is a [[borough (Pennsylvania)|borough]] in [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Lancaster County]], [[Pennsylvania]], United States. It developed as a [[linear village]] stretching approximately {{convert|2|mi|0}} along the Great Conestoga Road, later known as the [[Strasburg Road]].<ref name="nom">Susan M. Zacher, [{{NRHP-PA|H000795_01H.pdf}} NRHP Nomination Form Strasburg]</ref> The population was 3,117 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021">{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=9 July 2022}}</ref>
 
The town was named after the then [[German Empire|German]] city of [[Strasbourg]], (today part of [[France]]) the native home of an early settler.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WyAxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=s-IFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5721%2C5662865 | title=Early history | work=Reading Eagle | date=Jun 9, 1896 | access-date=18 October 2015 | pages=25}}</ref>
The town is often called "Train Town USA" because of the many railroad attractions in and around town, including the [[Strasburg Rail Road]] and the [[Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania]]. Much of the movie ''[[Witness (1985 film)|Witness]]'' was filmed on a farm nearby. Much of the borough was listed as a [[Historic districts in the United States|historic district]] by the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1983.

==History==
{{main|Strasburg Historic District (Strasburg, Pennsylvania)}}
The Old Conestoga Road was in use by 1714, and by 1750 a tavern and some log houses were built near the current site of Strasburg. The community grew as regional trade with [[Philadelphia]] grew. By 1759, there were 32 taxable properties in the town, including about ten hotels. Many early settlers were [[Huguenot]]s or Swiss or German [[Mennonite]]s, and several church congregations of various faiths formed during the 1760s. The first church was built in 1807 by [[Methodists]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/strasburg_boro/cwp/view.asp?A=3&Q=519767|title=History, Strasburg Borough}}</ref>

The Old Conestoga Road was the main path connecting Philadelphia with areas to the west, but in 1792 the new [[Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike]] was built, bypassing Strasburg {{convert|4|mi|0}} to the north. However, in 1793 construction on the new [[Strasburg Road]] started, roughly following the old road, passing through [[West Chester, Pennsylvania|West Chester]] on the way to Philadelphia. It attracted traffic because it was not a toll road, unlike the Philadelphia Turnpike. This road later developed into [[Pennsylvania Route 741]].<ref name="nom"/>

By 1815, there were 90 houses in Strasburg, about half of which were two stories, indicating a relatively well-off population. There were 53 log, 29 brick, and four limestone houses. About half of the log houses survive today, as well as 12 of the brick houses and all four of the stone houses. About 150 other houses stand in the historic district, nearly all built before 1900.<ref name="nom"/>

==Geography==
Strasburg is located in central Lancaster County at {{coord|39|58|56|N|76|10|58|W|type:city}} (39.982300, -76.182713).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> [[Pennsylvania Route 741]] (Main Street) passes through the center of the borough, leading east {{convert|9|mi|0}} to [[Gap, Pennsylvania|Gap]] and west {{convert|5.5|mi}} to [[Willow Street, Pennsylvania|Willow Street]]. [[Pennsylvania Route 896]] crosses the northeast side of Strasburg; it leads north {{convert|3|mi|0}} to [[U.S. Route 30 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 30]] and southeast {{convert|20|mi}} to [[U.S. Route 1 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 1]]. [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]], the [[county seat]], is {{convert|8|mi|0}} northwest of Strasburg.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the borough has a total area of {{convert|1.0|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|0.003|sqmi|3}}, or 0.31%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_42.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 28, 2020}}</ref> Strasburg is in the watershed of [[Pequea Creek]], which flows southwest to the [[Susquehanna River]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1840 = 445
| 1850 = 880
| 1860 = 921
| 1870 = 1008
| 1880 = 1005
| 1890 = 918
| 1900 = 916
| 1910 = 885
| 1920 = 853
| 1930 = 975
| 1940 = 1706
| 1950 = 1890
| 1960 = 2081
| 1970 = 1897
| 1980 = 1999
| 1990 = 2568
| 2000 = 2800
| 2010 = 2809
| 2020 = 3117
| estyear = 2021
| estimate = 3114
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 2,800 people, 1,110 households, and 798 families residing in the borough. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2,714.1|pd/sqmi}}. There were 1,135 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,100.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the borough was 97.64% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.57% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.07% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.86% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.11% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.75% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.43% of the population.

There were 1,110 households, out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $47,821, and the median income for a family was $56,829. Males had a median income of $38,946 versus $26,424 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the borough was $23,346. About 2.0% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.

==Fire department==
The borough of Strasburg is protected by the Strasburg Volunteer Fire Company, Lancaster County Fire Company #5-10, Zone 5. The volunteer fire department is located at 203 Franklin Street in a brand new four-garage-bay facility. The volunteer fire department operates a fleet of one rescue engine, one engine, one quint, one tanker, and one squad.

==Notable people==
*[[John Alexander Ahl]] (1813–1882), [[United States House of Representatives|congressman]]<ref>{{cite book |title=Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896 |publisher=Marquis |location=[[Chicago]] |year=1963 |oclc=39715719}}</ref>
*[[David Craighead (organist)|David Craighead]] (1924–2012), organist
*[[Matt Feiler]] (born 1992), football player for [[Los Angeles Chargers]]
*[[Don Wert]] (born 1938), baseball player for [[1968 World Series]] champion [[Detroit Tigers]]

== Education ==
The borough is in the [[Lampeter-Strasburg School District]].

== Attractions ==
* [[Strasburg Rail Road]]
* [[Choo Choo Barn]]
* [[National Toy Train Museum]]
* [[Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania]]
* [[Sight & Sound Theatres]]

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="160px">
Strasburg E Main 109.JPG|Old brick house on East Main Street
Strasburg 1903 Birdseye.jpg|A [[Bird's-eye view]] map of Strasburg, published in 1903
Strasburg Country Store & Creamery, Strasburg, Pennsylvania.jpg|Strasburg Creamery Ice Cream Shoppe
File:Gonder Mansion Strasburg PA 1906.jpg|Gonder Mansion in 1906
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|strasburgboro.org}}
* [http://www.strasburgheritagepa.org Strasburg Heritage Society]
* [http://www.visitlancasterpa.net/Lancaster-County/Strasburg-PA/ Local Directory]
{{Commons category}}

{{National Register of Historic Places}}
{{Lancaster County, Pennsylvania}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places established in 1733]]
[[Category:Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Georgian architecture in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Federal architecture in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Boroughs in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1733 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Houses in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania]]