Cities & Towns in Lancaster County, PA

Known for its vibrant Amish community and rolling farmlands, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania is home to a collection of small cities and towns that embrace traditional charm. Though brimming with historic sites, each municipality has cultivated its own identity. Some of the most notable cities in Lancaster County include Lancaster, Lititz, Ephrata, Elizabethtown, and Columbia.

Lancaster serves as the county seat and provides an urban hub full of cafes, galleries, and markets. Lititz charms with its brick Main Street lined with boutiques and eateries. Ephrata contains the oldest continually inhabited cloister in America. Elizabethtown boasts Hershey attractions and a quaint downtown. And Columbia dazzles visitors with riverfront parks and trails.

• Minneapolis: The largest and most populous city in Hennepin County, Minneapolis is also the capital of Minnesota. It is a hub of culture, history, and commerce, with many attractions and amenities for visitors and residents alike. You can explore the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum, which showcases the state’s natural and cultural history. You can also enjoy the Dakota Zoo, the Kirkwood Mall, or the Missouri Riverfront Trail.
• Bloomington: Bloomington is a suburb of Minneapolis, and a core city of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul–Bloomington Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is home to the Mall of America, the largest shopping mall in the United States, which features more than 500 stores, an amusement park, an aquarium, and a movie theater. Bloomington also has several parks, lakes, and trails for outdoor recreation.
• Plymouth: Plymouth is another suburb of Minneapolis, and a core city of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul–Bloomington Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is one of the fastest-growing cities in Minnesota, with a population of 79,635 as of the 2020 census. Plymouth offers a high quality of life, with excellent schools, health care, and public services. Plymouth also has many cultural and recreational opportunities, such as the Plymouth Playhouse, the Plymouth Ice Center, or the Millennium Garden.
• Brooklyn Park: Brooklyn Park is a suburb of Minneapolis, and a core city of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul–Bloomington Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is the sixth-largest city in Minnesota, with a population of 79,574 as of the 2020 census. Brooklyn Park is a diverse and dynamic community, with residents from more than 80 different countries. Brooklyn Park also has many amenities and attractions, such as the Edinburgh USA Golf Course, the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, or the Eidem Homestead Historical Farm.
• Maple Grove: Maple Grove is a suburb of Minneapolis, and a core city of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul–Bloomington Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is one of the most affluent cities in Minnesota, with a median household income of $108,367 as of 2019. Maple Grove is known for its shopping and dining options, such as The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes or The Fountains at Arbor Lakes. Maple Grove also has many natural and scenic areas, such as the Elm Creek Park Reserve or the Fish Lake Regional Park.

Beyond these larger boroughs, Lancaster County contains pastoral villages like Intercourse and Strasburg that seem frozen in time. From Amish homesteads to covered bridges, the towns of Lancaster County invite exploration of their heritage, landscapes, and traditional arts and culture. Each community adds its own stroke of paint to the region's iconic scenery.