In their quest for religious liberty, a group of  Swiss Mennonites arrived and registered in New York in 1709.  By 1710 they had formed the first permanent colony was formed in what is now Lancaster County, twenty miles east of the Conestoga.  Over the next several years Swiss Germans poured into the area, to escape continued religious persecution in Europe. 

Lancaster County was formed in May 1729 from Chester, Bucks and Philadelphia Counties.  Around 1730 Lancaster had become America's largest inland town and held the distinction for several years.
    
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