Red Lion, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Red Lion is a borough in York County
, Pennsylvania
, settled in 1852 and incorporated on January 16, 1880. The population was 6,373 at the 2010 census.
Before and during the Civil War
, several homes in the area were also used as part of the Underground Railroad
.
Red Lion was a main stop along the old Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad
, known locally as the "Ma & Pa" Railroad. That railroad ran from York County to Baltimore, Maryland.
Red Lion was once famous for the many brands of cigars made in the town. In fact, it was the cigar making capital of the world, producing millions of cigars per month. To this day, in the annual New Year
celebration, the town raises a giant cigar instead of dropping a ball.
Red Lion was also known nationwide for its furniture industry, with several large factories producing ornate, hand crafted furniture for over 100 years. The furniture industry has mostly shifted to kitchen cabinet production and retail store fixtures over the last 40 years.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.3 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 6,149 people, 2,575 households, and 1,645 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 4,789.9 people per square mile (1,854.8/km²). There were 2,729 housing units at an average density of 2,125.8 per square mile (823.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.12% White, 0.60% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races
, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.91% of the population.
There were 2,575 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples
living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the borough the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $35,828, and the median income for a family was $41,850. Males had a median income of $31,595 versus $21,934 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $17,723. About 6.1% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.
On March 19, 2009 the Red Lion Area School Board voted 8-0 to close 2 elementary schools in the district. Chanceford and Edgar Moore elementary schools closed at the end of the 2009 school year. The students from the schools were placed in other schools throughout the district including a brand new elementary school. The new school, Larry J. Macaluso Elementary School, was completed in 2009 and is named after the Red Lion Area School District superintendent, who retired the same year.
bands and independent
local artists, perhaps the most popular being Halestorm
, who reached the top ten on the US Mainstream Rock charts and receives extensive local radio play.
Red Lion also had a fully functional opera house and a downtown movie theater until the mid 1960's. The opera house has since been converted to housing, and the movie theater has been torn down in favor of downtown parking.
York County, Pennsylvania
York County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 434,972. It is in the Susquehanna Valley, a large fertile agricultural region in South Central Pennsylvania....
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, settled in 1852 and incorporated on January 16, 1880. The population was 6,373 at the 2010 census.
History
Red Lion, settled in 1852, was named after one of the first pubs in town, the Red Lion Tavern.Before and during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, several homes in the area were also used as part of the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
.
Red Lion was a main stop along the old Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad
Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad
The Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad , familiarly known as the "Ma and Pa", was an American short-line railroad between York and Hanover, Pennsylvania, formerly operating passenger and freight trains on its original line between York and Baltimore, Maryland, from 1901 until the 1950s...
, known locally as the "Ma & Pa" Railroad. That railroad ran from York County to Baltimore, Maryland.
Red Lion was once famous for the many brands of cigars made in the town. In fact, it was the cigar making capital of the world, producing millions of cigars per month. To this day, in the annual New Year
New Year
The New Year is the day that marks the time of the beginning of a new calendar year, and is the day on which the year count of the specific calendar used is incremented. For many cultures, the event is celebrated in some manner....
celebration, the town raises a giant cigar instead of dropping a ball.
Red Lion was also known nationwide for its furniture industry, with several large factories producing ornate, hand crafted furniture for over 100 years. The furniture industry has mostly shifted to kitchen cabinet production and retail store fixtures over the last 40 years.
Geography
Red Lion is located about 35 miles southeast of Harrisburg.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the borough has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.3 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 6,149 people, 2,575 households, and 1,645 families residing in the borough. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 4,789.9 people per square mile (1,854.8/km²). There were 2,729 housing units at an average density of 2,125.8 per square mile (823.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.12% White, 0.60% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.91% of the population.
There were 2,575 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the borough the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $35,828, and the median income for a family was $41,850. Males had a median income of $31,595 versus $21,934 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the borough was $17,723. About 6.1% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.
Schools
- Red Lion Area Senior High School
- Red Lion Area Junior High School
- Locust Grove Elementary School
- Windsor Manor Elementary School
- Larry J. Macaluso Elementary School
- Mazie Gable Elementary School
- Pleasant View Elementary School
- Clearview Elementary School
- North Hopewell-Winterstown School
On March 19, 2009 the Red Lion Area School Board voted 8-0 to close 2 elementary schools in the district. Chanceford and Edgar Moore elementary schools closed at the end of the 2009 school year. The students from the schools were placed in other schools throughout the district including a brand new elementary school. The new school, Larry J. Macaluso Elementary School, was completed in 2009 and is named after the Red Lion Area School District superintendent, who retired the same year.
School shooting
On April 24, 2003, at the Red Lion Junior High School in Red Lion, James Sheets, killed the principal of the school, Eugene Segro, before killing himself.Local Venues
Red Lion is home to an extensive array of local undergroundUnderground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
bands and independent
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
local artists, perhaps the most popular being Halestorm
Halestorm
Halestorm is an American rock band from Red Lion, Pennsylvania. The group's self-titled debut album was released on April 28, 2009 through Atlantic Records.-History:...
, who reached the top ten on the US Mainstream Rock charts and receives extensive local radio play.
Red Lion also had a fully functional opera house and a downtown movie theater until the mid 1960's. The opera house has since been converted to housing, and the movie theater has been torn down in favor of downtown parking.