Akron, PA Area Guide

Akron traces its roots to 1724, making it one of the older settlements in Lancaster County. Before its incorporation as a borough in 1895, a small village called New Berlin occupied its center. The arrival of the railroad helped shape the community's commercial identity, and while the line has long been abandoned, its legacy lives on in the Warwick to Ephrata Rail Trail, a 7.5-mile path that follows the old Reading and Columbia Railroad bed through the borough. The former Miller Hess Shoe Company building still stands on Main Street as a quiet reminder of the town's industrial past, and every New Year's Eve, locals gather for the Shoe Drop, a tradition honoring that shoemaking heritage by lowering a large purple and gold shoe at midnight while collecting donations for charity. Martin's Pretzel Bakery, in operation since the 1930s, is another piece of living history. The stretch of Main Street lined with early 1900s Colonial Revival homes gives the borough a preserved, small-town character, and the surrounding Lancaster County farmland reinforces a sense of continuity that shows up in everyday details, from the architecture along its central corridor to the century-old businesses still serving the community.

Dining options in Akron are modest, which is part of the borough's small-town character. Martin's Pretzel Bakery, a community institution operating since the 1930s, draws visitors and locals alike with its handmade soft pretzels, a Lancaster County tradition, and even offers bakery tours. For a broader dining experience, residents make the short trip north to Ephrata or head about 10 miles southwest to Lancaster, where Pennsylvania Dutch cooking, farm-to-table restaurants, and a wide range of cuisines are well represented. Reiff's Farm Market and Greenhouse, a local staple since 1988, keeps the borough stocked with fresh produce and homemade baked goods.

Most Akron residents rely on personal vehicles to get around, with Main Street and PA Route 272 (7th Street) serving as the borough's primary corridors. Route 272 connects within two miles to both U.S. 222 and U.S. 322, putting Lancaster about 16 minutes to the southwest and Reading roughly 30 minutes to the northeast. Red Rose Transit Authority runs bus service along Route 272 with connections to Lancaster for those who prefer not to drive. Commuters can reach Lancaster's Amtrak station in about 16 minutes, and Harrisburg International Airport is approximately 52 minutes away. The Warwick to Ephrata Rail Trail, which follows the old Reading and Columbia Railroad bed, passes through Akron and offers 7.5 miles of walking and biking terrain through farmland and into neighboring Ephrata.

Loyd H. Roland Memorial Park serves as the center of Akron's outdoor scene, offering 70 acres of green space with a wooden castle-like playground, a pond, a disc golf course that weaves through water and woods, volleyball, tennis, and basketball courts, and baseball fields. The Warwick to Ephrata Rail Trail adds another dimension to outdoor recreation in the borough, stretching 7.5 miles along the former Reading and Columbia Railroad bed. The trail runs directly through Akron, transitioning from paved surfaces to hard gravel as it winds through the surrounding Lancaster County farmland toward Warwick.

Akron stands out as one of the more affordable places to rent in Lancaster County. One-bedroom apartments average $833 per month and two-bedrooms average $1,163 per month, both well below the Pennsylvania state average for one-bedrooms of $1,574. Akron also comes in below nearby communities such as Ephrata, Lititz, and Leola. The housing stock spans a wide range of price points, from manufactured homes and townhouses to century-old Main Street twins and newer construction on the borough's edges, giving renters a variety of options to consider.

Shopping in Akron is modest by design, with most residents heading just north to Ephrata for everyday retail needs. Dutch-Way Farm Market and the connected Good's Store in Ephrata serve as go-to destinations for groceries and general merchandise. Closer to home, Reiff's Farm Market and Greenhouse has been a community staple since 1988, offering fresh local produce and homemade baked goods. A handful of small shopping centers sit within a few minutes' drive along Route 272 for quick errands. For a broader retail experience, Lancaster's commercial corridors are only about 16 minutes away.

Akron is a small Lancaster County borough where a historic Main Street and the 70-acre Loyd H. Roland Memorial Park make everyday life easy to enjoy. The Warwick to Ephrata Rail Trail runs right through town, Lancaster is only 16 minutes away, and the annual New Year's Eve Shoe Drop keeps the borough's character and traditions alive.