Lititz, Pennsylvania

Geobox Borough
name = Borough of Lititz
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =
category =


image_size =
image_caption =


flag_size =
symbol =
symbol_size =
etymology_type = Named for
etymology = A Bohemian Castle
nickname =
motto = The Heart of Lancaster County
country = United States
state = Pennsylvania
region = Lancaster
region_type = County
district =
area_imperial = 2.3
area_land_imperial = 2.3
area_water_imperial = 0.0
area_water_percentage = auto
area_percentage_round = 2
area_round = 1
location =
lat_d = 40
lat_m = 09
lat_s = 17
lat_NS = N
long_d = 76
long_m = 18
long_s = 12
long_EW = W
elevation_imperial = 381
elevation_round = 1
population_as_of = 2000
population = 9029
population_density_imperial = 3884.0
population_density_round = 1
established_type = Settled
established = 1710
established1_type = Founded
established1 = 1756
mayor = Russell L. Pettyjohn (R)
leader1_type = Manager
leader1 = Sue Ann Barry
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
postal_code = 17543
postal_code_type = ZIP code
area_code = 717
area_code_type =
code2_type =
code2 =
free_type =
free =
free1_type =
free1 =


map_caption = Location of Lititz in Lancaster County
map1 = Pennsylvania Locator Map.png map1_caption = Location of Lititz in Pennsylvania
map1_locator = Pennsylvania
map2 = Map of USA PA.svg
map2_caption = Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
website = http://www.lititzpa.com , http://www.lititzpa.net Lititz is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 6 miles (approximately 10 km) north of Lancaster.

History

Lititz was founded by members of the Moravian Church in 1756, and was named after a castle (mentioned form of name is German; Czech name of this castle is "Litice") in Bohemia near the village of Kunvald where the ancient Bohemian Brethren's Church had been founded in 1457. The roots of the Moravian Brethren's Church date back to the ancient Bohemian Brethren's Church. For a century, only Moravians were permitted to live in Lititz. Until the middle of the 1800s, only members of the congregation could own houses; others were required to lease. The lease-system was abolished in 1855, just 5 years before the beginning of the Civil War. More information can be found in the book "A Brief History of Lititz Pennsylvania" by Mary Augusta Huevener, published in 1947.

During a part of the American Revolution, the Brethren's House, built in 1759, was used as a hospital. A number of soldiers died and were buried here. Lititz is also home to [http://www.lindenhall.org Linden Hall School] , the oldest all-girls boarding school in the United States. Located adjacent to the Moravian Church on 47 acres of land, Linden Hall School was founded by the Moravians in 1746, a decade before the borough was incorporated.

In modern days, Lititz is now recognized for having the longest continuous-running celebration of Independence Day, which has been a town tradition since 1813. This celebration hosts a large volume of tourists and former Lititz residents who return for the Queen of Candles pageant and the yearly fireworks gala supporting Lititz Springs Park. The 4th of July parade is sponsored by Lititz Lions. Another large event in the summer is when the [http://www.lititzrotary.com Lititz Rotary Club] sponsor their art show and craft show which extend from the Lititz Springs Park out into Broad Street (PA-501) and Main Street (PA-772).

During 2006 a year long celebration was held commemorating the 250th anniversary of the naming of the town. Some of the major events included a service and commemoration ceremony in Lititz Springs Park on Sunday June 11th, the official naming ceremony on Monday June 12th, a fountain show in the park called "Symphonic Springs" during August 20th-26th, and a New Year's celebration.

Geography

Lititz is located at coor dms|40|9|17|N|76|18|12|W|city (40.154725, -76.303387)GR|1.

Pennsylvania Routes 772 (Orange and Main Streets) and 501 (Broad Street) run through the town.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of mi2 to km2|2.3|wiki=yes, all land.

Law and government

*Mayor: Russel L. Pettyjohn (R)
*Borough Manager: Sue Ann Barry
*Borough Council
**John W. Riegel, President
**Ruth McKennon, Vice President
**Joseph Kane, III, Chairman
**(vacant)
**Karen Weibel
**James Wynkoop

Lititz, along with Elizabeth and Warwick townships and part of Penn township, is located in the [http://www.warwicksd.org Warwick School District.]
*Schools
**Warwick High School
**Warwick Middle School
**Lititz Elementary School (at former site of K-12 Lititz High School; serves the central and northern part of Lititz borough and western Warwick township out to Penn township and its border with Manheim Central School District)
**John Beck Elementary School (founded independently of the district and incorporated; serves the northern part of Warwick township and Elizabeth township)
**John R. Bonfield Elementary School (serves the eastern part of the school district, including the outskirts of Lititz borough and Warwick township)
**Kissel Hill Elementary School (serves the southern part of Lititz borough and Warwick township south to the Manheim Township line)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 9,029 people, 3,732 households, and 2,407 families residing in the borough. The population density was PD mi2 to km2|3884.0. There were 3,827 housing units at an average density of 1,646.2 per square mile (636.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.23% White, 0.44% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.52% of the population.

There were 3,732 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the borough the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 86.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $40,417, and the median income for a family was $52,028. Males had a median income of $36,126 versus $25,997 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $20,601. About 2.6% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

Recent controversies

Water pollution

Lititz has been criticized for its alleged poor ground water quality. The water in Lititz Springs Park tested at 19.1 for Nitrates on August 8, 2007 in a test paid for by the "Lancaster Intelligencer Journal". [http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/208692 Lititz Springs Park water found high in nitrates] ] Lititz' water quality was also criticized in February 2008 after Listerine was discharged into the aquifer by the nearby Johnson & Johnson chemical plant, [http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/216517 Listerine tainted Lititz water] ] [http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/215134 'Minty' Lititz water studied - Johnson & Johnson plant eyed by DEP] ] and residents complained about a "minty" taste. Johnson and Johnson initially denied any responsibility, but the problem was later identified as the result of a leaky pipe on the company's property. In 2008, the "Intelligencer Journal" reported that the nonprofit group League of Humane Voters created a website, [http://lititzwater.org Lititzwater.org] , "dedicated to the cause of monitoring issues surrounding the Lititz watershed." [http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/225771 Web site focuses on Lititz water: League of Humane Voters adopts cause] ]

Lititz Borough has a multi-million dollar water treatment plant that removes pollutants so that the water distributed to residents meets all Federal and State regulations. [http://lititzrecord.com/pages/news/local/4/220707 Kline confirms Lititz water is safe to drink] ]

Borden murders

The town received national press coverage on 13 November 2005, after David G. Ludwig murdered Michael and Cathryn Borden. Ludwig fled the scene with their daughter, Kara Beth, and an Amber Alert was issued for her.

Ludwig was returned to Lititz, and criminal proceedings against the latter have concluded with him pleading guilty to two counts of first degree murder, reckless endangerment, statutory sexual assault and firearms violations. Ludwig received two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole plus 9.5 to 19 years for the weapons charges. Ludwig lived within the borough of Lititz. The Bordens lived outside the borough in Warwick Township.

Kara Borden, who fled the scene voluntarily with her parent's murderer, returned to Lititz, but she now lives elsewhere.

Racist incident

The town received national press coverage on 11 October 2007, after three white 16-year-old students allegedly yelled racial slurs and threw paper wads at minority students outside the 1,600-student Warwick High School. School officials vowed to discipline the three students with suspension or expulsion, tighten security, and ban Confederate flags on school property, and six of the students were charged with disorderly conduct. [http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/210712 Six at Warwick charged in wake of racial unrest in district] ]

The superintendent said the incident was revealed only after a teacher overheard other students discussing it and alerted administrators. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071011/ap_on_re_us/high_school_racism_2;_ylt=Arp73lIb6wAejJnYeKv2vetsaMYA Racist incident roils Pa. high school] ]

ister City

A Sister City relationship between Lititz and Kunvald (Czech Republic) was established on June 11, 2006, during the celebration of the 250th anniversary naming of Lititz. The ceremony took place in Lititz Springs Park.

ites of interest

Museums and Historic Sites

*Candy Americana Museum -- Located in the Wilbur Chocolate Company
*Grave of John A. Sutter
*Heritage Map Museum
*Johannes Mueller House
*Kready's Country Store Museum
*Sturgis Pretzel House
* Wolf Sanctuary of PA

Notable natives and residents

*Bob Longenecker (1909) - Hollywood talent agent
* Johann Augustus Sutter (1803 – 1880) - Pioneer of California

Gallery

Floyd Landis - 2007 Tour de France winner

References

ources

* "Moravian Historical Society Transactions", volume ii, (Bethlehem, Pa.)
* Mombert, "An Authentic History of Lancaster County, Pa.", (Lancaster, 1869)

External links

* [http://www.lititzpa.com Borough of Lititz]
* [http://www.lititzpa.net Business Directory of Lititz]