Shrewsbury (Pennsylvania)

Shrewsbury is a town in the agricultural Alleghenies and Susquehanna Valley region of York County, Pennsylvania. It is located four miles above the Mason-Dixon line (PA-MD border). With approximately 3,500 people residing in Shrewsbury, it is a small suburban community with many farms and family owned or Amish farmers’ markets. Its accessibility to Interstate 83 makes it very easy for travelers to reach many other Pennsylvania and Maryland locations.

. . . Shrewsbury (Pennsylvania) . . .

Shrewsbury was first settled in part of a larger area known as Shrewsbury Township in 1739. As the village developed, it was incorporated as its own town in 1834. The largest ancestry group in Shrewsbury is from Germany, with 38 percent of residents today identifying with either German or Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. The town of Shrewsbury covers a mere 1.8 square miles, existing in the township that covers 29 square miles. The township includes Shrewsbury, Railroad, New Freedom, and Glen Rock, and students attend the Southern York County School District.

The town has developed rapidly, with a population increase of 45 percent in the past 20 years. With nearly double the people, farms and pieces of land have been sold and commercialized with creation of strip malls and multiple shopping plazas. Although Shrewsbury is part of the York metropolitan area, most commuters travel south to Baltimore County for work. Sixty-five percent of Shrewsbury residents are married or have families, with a median family income of about $57,000 per year. The majority of citizens in Shrewsbury claim to be registered Republicans, and demographically, the town is 97 percent white.

From Baltimore, take Interstate 83 North. Shrewsbury is the first exit when you cross into Pennsylvania, Exit 4 Shrewsbury.

From York, take Interstate 83 South. Shrewsbury is the last exit before crossing the Maryland line, Exit 4 Shrewsbury.

Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Baltimore, MD 21240, 410-859-7111. About a 50 minute drive from Shrewsbury, BWI airport has many flight options available. There are also many rental car companies for travelers to choose from if they are driving North to Shrewsbury. Be careful of rush-hour flights because traffic can make the commute over an hour and a half from Baltimore to Shrewsbury on any given day. Take 195 West from the airport to Interstate 95 North for 2.1 miles. Take the I-695 North/Baltimore Beltway Inner Loop for 17 miles, and exit 24 to Interstate 83 North. Shrewsbury is the first exit once you cross into Pennsylvania, exit 4 Shrewsbury.

Harrisburg International Airport (MDT), Terminal One, #300, Middletown, PA 17057, 717-948-3900. Smaller airport than BWI with less flight options, but is usually a shorter commute because there is usually less traffic than when coming from Baltimore. There are also many rental car companies to choose from. Take 283 West from the airport to Interstate 76 West (the PA turnpike) for 5 miles. Exit 242 takes you to Interstate 83 South. Drive for 36 miles to exit 4, Shrewsbury.

Rabbit Transit, Main Location: 1230 Roosevelt Avenue, York, PA 17404. 717-846-7433, http://www.rabbittransit.org/. There are Rabbit Transit stops at many different places in Shrewsbury, including Shrewsbury Commons, Market Square, the public library, and the Markets at Shrewsbury. Service is reliable and can take you from Shrewsbury to other places around York County on 15 of their fixed routes. The Shrewsbury to York route is Monday-Friday, 6 am – 7 pm. Senior citizen and student discounts are available. Out of town adult one-way fare: $1.40. Unlimited adult day-pass: $4.25.

Mason-Dixon Line, at the Mason-Dixon Farm Market, 18166 Susquehanna Trail South. There is a concrete post that marks the border between Maryland and Pennsylvania in Shrewsbury, where slaves were made free after crossing into Pennsylvania during the Civil War. Farm market owners have stories to share about Underground Railroad houses and other slave stops between Maryland and Pennsylvania. Free to stand and take a picture with the concrete post marker.

Charles Sweeney Memorial Park, Playground Avenue and Old Susquenhanna Trail. Call Borough building for more information or pavilion requests, 717-235-4371. Baseball field, two basketball courts, playground equipment, three picnic pavilions, and other picnic areas.

Rail Trail, part of the York County Department of Parks and Recreation, 45 Cherry Street, Seven Valleys, PA 17360, 717-428-0999, http://www.yorkcountytrails.org/. Bicycle, running, or walking trails that go from Bel-Air, MD to just short of Harrisburg, PA. Beautiful year round and free to spend the entire day on the trails. More secluded in the winter, lots of passer-bys during the rest of the year. No parking lot in Shrewsbury, but the Seven Valleys park office is just 10 minutes away.