Red Lion Borough Historic District
Why it's listed
Red Lion Borough's historic district covers about 260 acres in central York County, centered on the crossing of Broadway and Main Streets. Its 1565 buildings are tightly packed on narrow lots, mostly two-story brick or frame structures, and many are attached duplexes or row houses. The town began in 1874 as a stop on the Peach Bottom Railroad, named after Catherine Meyer's tavern, and was incorporated as a borough in 1880. From the 1880s through the 1920s, it became a major center of cigar manufacturing, with dozens of small factories and, by 1927, 86 factories reported. Furniture makers arrived after 1907. The district's buildings, mostly vernacular with decorative elements of popular styles, show that growth in residential, commercial and industrial form. Most date between 1890 and 1930.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · catalog entry. Generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29).
| Period of significance | 1874-1950 |
|---|---|
| Styles | Italianate, Queen Anne, Late Victorian, Colonial Revival, Craftsman, Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Architecture |
| Acreage | 260 |
| Boundary source | NPS cultural-resource GIS polygon |
| Full listing page | Red Lion Borough Historic District (property record) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.