Idyllic Village in Amish Country Delights Those Seeking Traditional Values and a Slower Pace

Cost of Living:  Below the National Average

This hospitable hamlet is known as the "Lancaster County Treasure," and there are plenty of reasons why.  Tree lined streets, a deep connection to its past, cozy shops, boutiques and cafes, interesting museums and art galleries and 250-year-old architecture all contribute to Lititz's rich and inviting ambiance.   And those who venture into the surrounding countryside are transported to a different place and time.   The Amish and Mennonites live and work here, farming much as their ancestors did, shying away from modern life and embracing the traditional values of home, family and service to God.  They are simple, peaceful, private people, often bothered by curious tourists.  Those who live here, though, respect and often admire these "Plain People" and their way of life.

And while the citizens of Lititz are not Amish themselves, there is a gentleness to community life here, perhaps influenced by the surrounding Old World values.  Lititz and nearby towns have fairs and festivals, farmers' markets, fire department fundraising "mud sales," wineries and breweries for touring, quilt sales, craft demonstrations, historic re-enactments, antique markets (Adamstown down the road is known as the "Sunday Antiques Capital of the United States" as more than 3000 antique dealers gather here to display merchandise), even Amish buggy rides and tours of Amish farms.  There are 28 wooden covered bridges to visit in the county.  Lititz is also home to the longest-running 4th of July celebration in the nation, a tradition started in 1813, and to the nation's oldest girls' boarding school, not to mention the Wilber Chocolate Candy Store and Museum!

The Lititz Senior Center (717-626-2800), located in the Lititz United Methodist Church, offers a variety of programs for seniors, including screening, social activities and transportation services.  There is also a Meals on Wheels program.  Volunteerism is alive and well, and retirees find opportunities with the Red Cross, the Youth Soccer Club, the Lititz Public Library or through one of the more than 40 churches, many of them Mennonite and Lutheran with dedicated volunteer programs.

Heart of Lancaster Community Hospital is a new (2004) full-service facility that offers emergency care, pain management, respiratory therapy and much more.   Ephrata Community Hospital, 8 miles away in Lancaster, has received the 2007 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence, one of only 266 hospitals nationwide to receive the award, and ranks in the top 5% of hospitals nationally when it comes to mortality and complication rates.

Lititz experiences four distinct seasons.  Summers (highs in the 80s) are full of farming activities and events; winters (lows in the 30s and 8 to 10 inches of snow a month) are a time for candlelight tours of elegant mansions and old-fashioned holiday celebrations.  Falls bring crisp air, brilliant blue skies and blazing foliage.  Humidity averages 65% (higher in the summer).  The sun shines roughly 60% of the time.  

This is a thriving, growing community (even the Amish have tripled their population since 1960) with a solid middle class, but there are a few drawbacks.  There is no public transportation, but there are a lot of walkers and bicyclers.  It is a conservative place, leaning heavily Republican, which may not sit well with everyone.   It is in a rural location (the nearest large city, Baltimore, population 650,000, is 65 miles southwest), although many amenities can be found in Lancaster (population 55,000).  The town also has a higher than average rate of tornado activity.  Overall, though, this is a great little spot to call home.

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