Overview
York, known as the White Rose City (after the Wars of the Roses), is a city located in South Central
Pennsylvania. The population was 40,862 at the 2000 census. York is the county seat of York County.
History
York was founded in 1741 by settlers from the Philadelphia region, and named for the English city of
the same name. It was incorporated as a borough on September 24, 1787, & as a city on January 11,
1887. During the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), York served as the temporary capital of
the Continental Congress. The Articles of Confederation were drafted and adopted in York, though
they would not be ratified until March of 1781.
During the American Civil War (1861–1865), York became the largest Northern town to be occupied
by the Confederate army when the division of Major General Jubal Anderson Early spent June 28–30,
1863, in and around the town while the brigade of John B. Gordon marched to the Susquehanna River
at Wrightsville and back. Early laid York under tribute and collected food, supplies, clothing, shoes,
and $28,000 in cash from citizens and merchants before departing westward obeying the revised
orders of Robert E. Lee.
Today, York is a center known for manufacture of weight training and bodybuilding equipment. There
is also a large Harley-Davidson motorcycle factory, which employs over half of Harley's workers. The
popular candy, the York Peppermint Pattie, was originally manufactured in York; however, in 1988 the
company was bought by the nearby Hershey Foods Corporation corporation.
Government
York operates as a third-class city with the strong Mayor-City Council form of government; wherein the
mayor serves as chief executive & administrative officer for the municipality; City Council serves as the
legislative and oversight body providing checks and balances on the system (code of Pennsylvania).
