Created on August 19, 1749, from part of Lancaster County, York County was named either for the Duke of York, an early patron of the Penn family, or for the city of York in England. Regardless, York was the first Capital of the United States. It was the birthplace of the Articles of Confederation and it was here that the words “The United States of America” were first spoken. York also promotes itself the home of the first Thanksgiving proclamation. The phrase “underground railway” supposedly originated in this southern Pennsylvania area as runaway slaves were assisted in their flight to more tolerant regions.

York was very productive in corn, wheat, hemp, and whiskey. Five railroads served the county, and in the 1920s the Lincoln Highway aided truck transportation. Products could be sold in both the Philadelphia and Baltimore markets and, later on, in Pittsburgh as well. Farms cover 48 percent of the land, making York second only to Lancaster County in number of farms.