Litiz/Manheim & Newcomers? (Lancaster, Lititz: fit in, transplants, school districts)

[ByWayofCanarsie]

My wife and I are strongly considering moving to the Lititz/Manheim area, but are a little concerned about some of the older posts indicating a bit of iciness toward newcomers/transplants (we'd be coming from Long Island).

We are both friendly, courteous people, and we have three young children who we hope would be able to make friends and fit in. I am Jewish, but not religious.

We don't want to come in and change anything about the area, we just don't want to feel ostracized. Has the mood softened toward outsiders in recent years?

All insight would be appreciated

[Wells5]

Are you interested in Manheim Borough or Manheim Township?

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by Wells5

Are you interested in Manheim Borough or Manheim Township?

Probably Township, since residents in the northern part have Lititz mailing addresses. One of my colleagues is Jewish and lives in that area of Manheim Township (in the Bent Creek development, I believe). I don't know if she's a native or transplant or if she or her family have ever encountered issues being Jewish.

If you are moving to the Lancaster Area, Manheim Township probably has the most Jewish families by a significant margin. That's highly relative, since Lancaster County's Jewish population is only ~3,000. Your kids will still probably be the only Jews in a public school classroom of 20, but they won't be the only ones in their graduating classes.

[JakeinChina]

Originally Posted by ElijahAstin

Probably Township, since residents in the northern part have Lititz mailing addresses. One of my colleagues is Jewish and lives in that area of Manheim Township (in the Bent Creek development, I believe). I don't know if she's a native or transplant or if she or her family have ever encountered issues being Jewish.

If you are moving to the Lancaster Area, Manheim Township probably has the most Jewish families by a significant margin. That's highly relative, since Lancaster County's Jewish population is only ~3,000. Your kids will still probably be the only Jews in a public school classroom of 20, but they won't be the only ones in their graduating classes.

Yeah, if I was a Jewish family moving from Long Island, Manheim Township would be my pick, and no other area would even come close as a runner up. Lititz, Conestoga and Lempeter school districts are nice, but there a little too vanilla and boring for my families taste. Plus Lititz has some dumpy areas that don't appear nice at all.