Lititz, Pennsylvania

Lititz (Template:Pron-en}) is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 6 miles (approximately 10 km) north of the city of Lancaster.

History

Lititz was founded by members of the Moravian Church in 1756, and was named after a castle (mentioned form of name is German; Czech name of this castle is Litice) in Bohemia near the village of Kunvald where the ancient Bohemian Brethren's Church had been founded in 1457. The roots of the Moravian Brethren's Church date back to the ancient Bohemian Brethren's Church. For a century, only Moravians were permitted to live in Lititz. Until the middle of the 1800s, only members of the congregation could own houses; others were required to lease. The lease-system was abolished in 1855, just five years before the beginning of the Civil War. More information can be found in the book A Brief History of Lititz Pennsylvania by Mary Augusta Huevener, published in 1947.

During a part of the American Revolution, the Brethren's House, built in 1759, was used as a hospital. A number of soldiers died and were buried here. Lititz is also home to Linden Hall School, the oldest all-girls boarding school in the United States. Located adjacent to the Moravian Church on 47 acres (190,000 m²) of land, Linden Hall School was founded by the Moravians in 1746, a decade before the borough was incorporated.

In modern days, Lititz is now recognized for having the longest continuous-running celebration of Independence Day, which has been a town tradition since 1813. This celebration hosts a large volume of tourists and former Lititz residents who return for the Queen of Candles pageant and the yearly fireworks gala supporting Lititz Springs Park. The Lititz Springs park itself is decorated each year rather extravagantly with wooden beams reaching from each side of the stone-walled stream with sockets for white candles to be placed and lit during the celebration. Musical performances each year ensue, and in the past years have often included Flamin' Dick and the Hot Rods. The park also hosts festivities for children and a plethora of food similar to what may be found at a fair. The 4th of July parade is sponsored by Lititz Lions. Another large event in the summer is the annual art show sponsored by the Village Art Association of Lititz, along with the craft show sponsored by the Lititz Rotary Club, which extends from the Lititz Springs Park out into Broad Street (PA-501) and Main Street (PA-772).

During 2006 a year long celebration was held commemorating the 250th anniversary of the naming of the town. Some of the major events included a service and commemoration ceremony in Lititz Springs Park on Sunday June 11, the official naming ceremony on Monday June 12, a fountain show in the park called "Symphonic Springs" during August 20-26th, and a New Year's celebration.

Geography

Lititz is located at 40°9′17″N 76°18′12″W (40.154725, -76.303387)Template:GR.

Pennsylvania Routes 772 (Orange and Main Streets) and 501 (Broad Street) run through the town.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of Template:Mi2 to km2, all land.

Law and government

• Mayor: Russel L. Pettyjohn (R)
• Borough Manager: Sue Ann Barry
• Borough Council
  • Karen Weibel, President
  • Joseph Kane, III, Vice President
  • Shane Weaver
  • Doug Bomberger
  • Ruth McKennon
  • James Wynkoop

Lititz, along with Elizabeth and Warwick townships and part of Penn Township, is located in the Warwick School District.

• Schools
  • Warwick High School
  • Warwick Middle School
  • Lititz Elementary School (at former site of K-12 Lititz High School; serves the central and northern part of Lititz borough and western Warwick township out to Penn township and its border with Manheim Central School District)
  • John Beck Elementary School (founded independently of the district and incorporated; serves the northern part of Warwick township and Elizabeth township)
  • John R. Bonfield Elementary School (serves the eastern part of the school district, including the outskirts of Lititz borough and Warwick township)
  • Kissel Hill Elementary School (serves the southern part of Lititz borough and Warwick township south to the Manheim Township line)

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 9,029 people, 3,732 households, and 2,407 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:PD mi2 to km2. There were 3,827 housing units at an average density of 1,646.2 per square mile (636.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.23% White, 0.44% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.52% of the population.

There were 3,732 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the borough the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 86.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $40,417, and the median income for a family was $52,028. Males had a median income of $36,126 versus $25,997 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $20,601. About 2.6% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

Recent controversies

Water pollution

Lititz has been criticized for its alleged poor ground water quality. The water in Lititz Springs Park tested at 19.1 for Nitrates on August 8, 2007 in a test paid for by the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal. Lititz' water quality was also criticized in February 2008 after Listerine was discharged into the aquifer by the nearby Johnson & Johnson chemical plant, and residents complained about a "minty" taste. Johnson and Johnson initially denied any responsibility, but the problem was later identified as the result of a leaky pipe on the company's property. In 2008, the Intelligencer Journal reported that the nonprofit group League of Humane Voters created a website "dedicated to the cause of monitoring issues surrounding the Lititz watershed."

Lititz Borough has a multi-million dollar water treatment plant that removes pollutants so that the water distributed to residents meets all Federal and State regulations. According to the Intelligencer Journal, in light of controversy over Lititz's water, the nonprofit advocacy group League of Humane Voters created a website "dedicated to the cause of monitoring issues surrounding the Lititz watershed, including nitrate levels and farming operations."

Borden family murders

Main article: David G. Ludwig murders

Lititz received national press coverage on 13 November 2005, after David G. Ludwig shot and killed Michael and Cathryn Borden. Ludwig fled the scene with their daughter, Kara Beth, and an Amber Alert was issued for her.

Ludwig was arrested with Kara in Indiana, extradited to Lancaster County, and held on several charges including criminal homicide. He pleaded guilty to two counts of first degree murder, reckless endangerment, statutory sexual assault and firearms violations. Ludwig received two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole plus 9.5 to 19 years for the weapons charges. Ludwig lived within the borough of Lititz. The Bordens lived outside the borough in Warwick Township.

Kara Borden did not return to Lititz following the shooting.

Racist incident

The town received national press coverage on 11 October 2007, after three white 16-year-old students allegedly yelled racial slurs and threw paper wads at minority students outside the 1,600-student Warwick High School. School officials vowed to discipline the three students with suspension or expulsion, tighten security, and ban Confederate flags on school property, and six of the students were charged with disorderly conduct.

The superintendent said the incident was revealed only after a teacher overheard other students discussing it and alerted administrators.

In order to "[try] to rebound from a string of racially motivated incidents," the community will commemorate the 2009 Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday with a call to unity. The community's churches, including the Lititz Moravian Church, will make "a clear statement against racism." The Moravian Church's associate pastor, Mark Breland, who is the first African American to hold that position in the church, will deliver the message. Most of Lititz's congregations don't have African Americans, and community leaders felt that "part of learning to celebrate our diversity begins with hearing about the experience of diversity."

Warwick High School Mascot

Over past years at Warwick High School, there has been controversy regarding the Warrior mascot. There have been suggestions to change the mascot to the Warwick Buds, the Warwick Lilies, and other titles with significance to the history of the small town. Unfortunately, the people prefer their racist mascot over such benign titles that may render them helpless and bullied at school sporting events. Although Lititz has made efforts to appear open-minded and accepting to the resident minorities, it seems due to a low population of Native Americans, they continuously choose not to change their ever-loved mascot.

Sister city

A Sister City relationship between Lititz and Kunvald (Czech Republic) was established on June 11, 2006, during the celebration of the 250th anniversary naming of Lititz. The ceremony took place in Lititz Springs Park.

Sites of interest

Public Services

• Warwick High School is located in Lititz, Pennsylvania and operates in the Warwick School District
• The Lititz Public Library is a member of the Library System of Lancaster County.

Museums and Historic Sites

• Gravesite of John A. Sutter
• Heritage Map Museum
• Johannes Mueller House
• Kready's Country Store Museum
• Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery
• Wilbur Chocolate Factory & Candy Americana Museum

Notable natives and residents

• Bob Longenecker (1909) - Hollywood talent agent
• Johann Augustus Sutter (1803–1880) - Pioneer of California
• Louise Adeline Weitzel (1862-1934) - poet
• Gary Miles (1965-present) - Influential Warwick High School teacher and native Lititzian; practices what he preaches

Gallery

• 
  General Sutter Grave in Lititz Moravian Cemetery
• 
  Military Hospital Plaque in Lititz‎ ‎
• 
  Former Mayor of Lititz Hon. Russell L. Pettyjohn
• 
  Zinzendorf`s Waistcoat at Lititz Moravian Archive and Museum

Sources

• Moravian Historical Society Transactions, volume ii, (Bethlehem, Pa.)
• Mombert, An Authentic History of Lancaster County, Pa., (Lancaster, 1869)

External links

• Borough of Lititz