Red Lion, PA

Red Lion is a close-knit borough in southern York County, sitting just a short drive south of York and roughly twenty minutes from the Maryland border. Originally founded around a historic tavern and fueled by a booming cigar and railroad industry in the late 1800s, the town has settled into a comfortable, easygoing community of around 6,500 people. Tree-lined streets feature a mix of classic brick homes, sturdy Victorians, and newer suburban developments, while Route 24 makes commuting north to York or south toward northern Maryland straightforward.

ATTRSven Mandel / CC BY-SA 4.0

For newcomers, daily life centers around a walkable downtown square, friendly local eateries, and a strong sense of neighborhood pride. Families often gravitate to the area for the Red Lion Area School District and community gathering spots like Fairmount Park and the Red Lion Mile, a paved walking trail built along the old railroad corridor. The town also loves celebrating its heritage, most famously by dropping a giant wooden cigar on New Year's Eve, giving this quiet corner of Pennsylvania plenty of character and small-town charm.