Pennsylvania

York

456,438
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About York

York, Pennsylvania, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 37,747. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 456,438.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 17 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Susquehannock Warfare Evidence (Maryland/Pennsylvania), Susquehannock Expansion – Schultz Site, Susquehannock Expansion – Washington Boro, and 98 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020456,438
2010434,972
2000381,751
1990339,574
1980312,963
1970272,603
1960238,336
1950202,737
1940178,022
1930167,135
1920144,521
1910136,405
1900116,413
189099,489
188087,841
187076,134
186068,200
185057,450
184047,010
183042,859
182038,759
181031,958
180025,643
179037,747
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in York

Military engagements that took place in York, Pennsylvania.

Susquehannock Warfare Evidence (Maryland/Pennsylvania)
1300
Susquehannock Expansion – Schultz Site
1450
Susquehannock Expansion – Washington Boro
1460
Susquehannock Fortified Village – Washington Boro
1550
Susquehannock Wars — Maryland Conflict
1610
Susquehannock War (MD, 1675)
1675
Susquehannock War 1675-1677
1676
Hanover Junction Skirmish
1863
Hanover Cavalry Battle June 1863
1863
Battle of Wrightsville
1863
Dillsburg PA Skirmish 1863
1863
York Pennsylvania Occupation
1863
Stuart's Gettysburg Ride (Circumnavigation)
1863
Battle of Hanover PA June 30 1863
1863
Wrightsville Bridge Burning
1863
Wrightsville — Skirmish at Town June 28 1863
1863
Battle of Hanover
1863

Historic places in York

National Register of Historic Places listings in York, Pennsylvania.

Clear Spring Mill
Dillsburg
Stevens School
York
Ashley and Bailey Company Silk Mill
West York Borough
Hanover Historic District
Hanover
Cookes House
York
Ashton-Hursh House
New Cumberland
East York Historic District
Springettsbury Township
Bridge in Washington Township
Kralltown
Hanover Junction Railroad Station
Hanover Junction
Wallace-Cross Mill
Felton
Laurel-Rex Fire Company House
York
Schultz, Martin, House
Hallam
Pettit's Ford
Dover
Northwest York Historic District
York
Stewartstown Railroad Station
Stewartstown
Shrewsbury Railroad Station, Stewartstown Railroad
Shrewsbury
Berkheimer, Henry and Elizabeth, Farm
Washington Township
Fissel's School
Shrewsbury Township
US Post Office-Hanover
Hanover
Muddy Creek Forks Historic District
Muddy Creek Forks
Valley Road Bridge, Stewartstown Railroad
Stewartstown
Glen Rock Historic District
Glen Rock
Farmers Market
York
Nace (Neas), George, House
Hanover
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Other counties in Pennsylvania

Explore census history and historic records for more Pennsylvania counties.

ClarionClearfieldClintonColumbiaCrawfordCumberlandDauphinDelawareElkErieFayetteForestFranklinFultonGreeneHuntingdonIndianaJeffersonJuniataLackawanna
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about York County, Pennsylvania

This page charts the census history of York County, Pennsylvania. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about York

When does York first appear in the US census?
York, Pennsylvania first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 37,747.
What is the population of York?
At the most recent federal census (2020), York had a recorded population of 456,438.
Were any battles fought in York?
17 documented military engagements took place in York, including Susquehannock Warfare Evidence (Maryland/Pennsylvania), Susquehannock Expansion – Schultz Site, Susquehannock Expansion – Washington Boro.
How many historic places are in York?
98 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in York, Pennsylvania.
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