Historically, Lancaster County is the fourth oldest county in the state. It was carved from Chester County in 1729.

Early settlers included the Mennonites, who occupied approximately 10,000 acres in the Willow Street area by 1709. They were well as excellent farmers. As other hardworking and religious groups settled here, the foundation was laid for the “Garden Spot” of Pennsylvania, a land that flourished agriculturally and valued for its work ethic, conservative values, and religious tolerance.

The town of Lancaster was laid out in 1730, chartered as a borough in 1742, and became a city in 1818. Other clusters of settlements developed into communities with recognizable names: Adamstown, Columbia, Ephrata, Lititz, New Holland, and Strasburg. All were incorporated before 1900; several are National Register Historic Districts.

Between the Civil War and 1900, Lancaster's industry prospered in diversity. As the area grew, business leaders recognized that new industries would need to be brought in to replace those that could not keep up with the increasing technology.

As the county nears the 21st century, the broad industrial base, agriculture sector, and tourist industry balance the economic structure of the region, Making Lancaster County an ideal place to live and work.