Leisure Travel

• More than 8.3 million people visit Lancaster County each year.
• Tourism is the second largest industry in Pennsylvania, outpaced only by agriculture.
• Tourism employs about 36,000 people in Lancaster County.
• Consumers spend nearly $1.5 billion dollars annually in Lancaster County. That translates into:
  - $711 million in direct economic impact
  - $1.4 billion in total economic impact
  - $393 million in tax revenue
• The Hershey/Pennsylvania Dutch Country region is Pennsylvania's leading tourism destination.
• Lancaster County's primary "feeder markets" for tourism (outside neighboring counties) are Philadelphia, northern New Jersey, and New York City.
• Peak tourism months are August and October.
• Approximately 85% of all visitors to Lancaster County will visit again.
• Visitors are divided fairly evenly between families and adults traveling without children.
• Average length of stay is 2.6 nights.

Motorcoach Travel

• More than 11,000 motorcoaches visit Lancaster County each year.
• Average spending for a day trip motorcoach group - $4500
• Average spending for an overnight motorcoach group - $11,000

Sources: 
D.K. Shifflet and Global Insight
2002 PDCVB Visitor Intercepts Study
ABA (American Bus Association) study, 2002

Lancaster City and County

• Lancaster County was formed May 10, 1729, becoming the fourth county in Pennsylvania Lancaster County
• Population: 470,658 (2000 U.S. Census), 482, 775 (2003 estimate)
• Lancaster County is 946 square miles in size.
• Lancaster County consists of 60 independent municipalities.
• Lancaster City was the nation's capital for one day, September 27, 1777, when the Continental Congress held a session at the Courthouse.
• Lancaster City served as the capital of Pennsylvania from 1799 - 1812.

Sources: Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce
Lancaster County First & Bests, Gerald S. Lestz
A Brief History of Lancaster County Pennsylvania, Gerald S. Lestz

The Amish of Lancaster County

• Lancaster County's Anabaptist population, which includes Amish, Brethren, Mennonites and United Zion, is approximately 52,000.
• According to Raber's 2004 Almanac, Lancaster County's Amish population was 25,200.
• Lancaster County is home to the oldest Amish community in the United States.
• Most Amish are trilingual, speaking English, Pennsylvania Dutch (a dialect of German) and High German.
• Amish children attend schools until the eighth grade; school is generally held in one-room schoolhouses.