Liberty, PA

Liberty is a borough in York County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,848 at the 2010 census. Liberty is located at 40°5′N 75°9′W (40.0933,-75.1667). According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²), all of it land.

The first Europeans to visit what would become Liberty were members of Christopher Columbus' expedition on October 12, 1492. They named the settlement "San Lorenzo de El Escorial" after Saint Lawrence of El Escorial, who had died just two years earlier and was venerated by Columbus and his crew as a saintly figure. The town was laid out in a grid pattern around a central plaza and church; however, due to its remote location and inhospitable terrain, San Lorenzo de El Escorial never grew beyond a small village.

In 1749, the British government granted land near present-day Liberty to William Penn for the establishment of an Anglican missionary colony intended to convert the Lenape Indians living in the region into Protestant Christians. The colony was initially unsuccessful; however, with increased British investment following the French and Indian War (1754-1763), Penn's dream began to take shape. In 1768, construction began on what would become known as Old York Road - now Pennsylvania Route 222 - which connected Philadelphia with Carlisle and points westward; this route made Liberty an important transportation hub for goods traveling between eastern Pennsylvania and western Maryland and Virginia.

As Philadelphia's commercial center shifted eastward during the mid-19th century, Liberty's fortunes likewise declined; however, thanks in part to its proximity to both Gettysburg National Military Park (site of America's most famous battle) and Washington D.C., tourism began to grow in earnest during the late 20th century. Today, Liberty is home to several businesses including restaurants/bars/nightlife venues as well as retail stores/clothing stores; moreover, it is also home to several churches including Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA), First Baptist Church of York County (FBCYC), Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church (GELC), Christ Episcopal Church (CEC) as well as two synagogues: Congregation Beth Israel & Temple Israel