Ephrata

Also known as Ephrata, PA, Ephrata, Pennsylvania

borough in northern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States

Key facts

Country: United States
State: Pennsylvania
County: Lancaster
Incorporated: August 22, 1891
Named after: Ephrath
Mayor: Thomas G. Reinhold
Total: 3.46 sq mi (8.97 km )
Land: 3.42 sq mi (8.85 km )
Water: 0.042 sq mi (0.11 km )
Elevation: 358 ft (109 m)
Density: 4,035.7/sq mi (1,558.18/km )
Time zone: UTC-5 ( EST )
Summer dst

~15 min read

Article

Ephrata (/ˈɛfrətə/ EF-rə-tə; Pennsylvania German: Effridaa) is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located 42 miles (68 km) east of Harrisburg and about 60 miles (97 km) west-northwest of Philadelphia and is named after Ephrath, the former name for current-day Bethlehem. In its early history, Ephrata was a pleasure resort and an agricultural community.

Ephrata's population has steadily grown over the last century. In 1900, 2,452 people lived there, and by 1940, the population had increased to 6,199. The population was 13,794 at the 2020 census. Ephrata is the most populous borough in Lancaster County.