Shiloh - York, PA Area Guide

Shiloh has little in the way of recorded history, but nearby York can date much of its business, architecture and culture back to early colonial times. Shiloh proper built up around the outskirts of larger cities, particularly York, starting in the late 1700s by immigrants of mostly English and Scots-Irish backgrounds. Confederate soldiers may even have been housed in Shiloh during the Civil War, when the nearby town of York became the most northern area to be occupied by Southern forces during the conflict. During the 1800s, Shiloh was largely agricultural, but occupations started shifting towards industry and manufacturing towards the middle and end of the century.

In the summer months, locals enjoy the York Fair, where the spotlight on agriculture gives visitors — everyone from high school kids to families to retired couples — an excuse to pet farm animals, eat fried foods and ride the rides.

Though the calm, residential nature of Shiloh makes it a safe and restful place to call home, the downside of this involves locals having few restaurants, bars, or other forms of entertainment to choose from. As a result, most residents travel a few miles outside of Shiloh proper for a night out or a cultural excursion.

For dining options, Shiloh has mainly chain restaurants, including Subway and China Wok. Nearby York, however, has many more varied options. One of the most popular of York's eateries, Mission BBQ has an expansive, moderately-priced menu complete with six different sauces, brisket specials, and sides ranging from green beans to cornbread. Another well-liked and fairly inexpensive dining option in the York area, Fujihana Japanese restaurant is best known for its Hibachi tables, which offer an entertaining dining opportunity, particularly for groups.

For cheap, quick and good eats nearby, go to Isaac's Restaurant and Deli or Roburrito's Famous Burritos. A Pennsylvania specialty, Isaac's has variety of soups, salads and sandwiches, each named after a different bird and served on any kind of bread, including pretzel rolls. Diners will also appreciate the bright and quirky style of decor, including neon lights, a large fish tank and a number of flamingos (Isaac's mascot).

Roburrito's, on the other hand, specializes in Mexican food. The burritos take center stage, but any customer will tell you to add one of the wide number of sauces for flavor, particularly the Pearl Harbor pineapple. For diners on the adventurous side, take a chance and order the "mystery burrito," where you pick your spice level and nothing else. As for service and decor, the restaurant aims to be somewhat edgy, with servers and staff blasting alt-rock and '90s hits from the kitchen while sporting an array of piercings and tattoos.

For a drink, dive bars are all the rage in and around Shiloh. The most popular stops include The Other Place in West York, which offers cheap food and beverages and open mic nights every other Friday, and the Westgate Restaurant and Lounge in Shiloh, which offers an impressive selection of appetizers and drinks. Thanks to nearby York College, nightlife establishments that cater to the college crowd make up another fairly large sector of the bar scene. Murph's Study Hall, a somewhat unkempt college hangout right off campus, has a wide range of alcohol, a few appetizers for sale and entertainment ranging from a dance floor to pool tables. Holy Hound Taproom in downtown York caters to the college crowd and young professionals in the area with a wide selection of beers and a hipster vibe.

In Shiloh, most any errand requires a car, rendering the neighborhood car-dependent. Thankfully, the neighborhood enjoys free and widely available street parking. Still, Shiloh sits at least a 10-minute drive away form the closest sizable city, and Greater Philadelphia lies over an hour away by car. Conveniently, Route 74 connects Shiloh to York and other larger cities, while the larger Route 30 runs just a few miles away.

Unfortunately, ride-sharing companies such as Uber or Lyft do not serve the area, and Shiloh does not have its own public transportation, though neighboring York does offer Rabbit Transit, which comes in useful for commuting Shiloh residents. For trips requiring more extended travel, residents can use to the Amtrak station in Elizabeth town, about 16 miles away, or the Harrisburg International Airport, just over 30 miles away.

While Shiloh residents bike for leisure, few use a bicycle to get to work simply because so many must travel lengthy distances. Bikes lanes are not scarce through the area, though most parts remain safe for cycling or walking about.

There are no parks within Shiloh proper, though the neighborhood itself is walkable, with most areas being kid-friendly and fine for a short jog or walking the dog. Meanwhile, York County as a whole contains just under a dozen parks with a total of 4,300 acres. They range in size and offerings, including two museums, a nature center, the fairgrounds and a historic site.

At 97.3 on the cost of living index, Shiloh's cost of living sits slightly below that of both Philadelphia and the nation as a whole. Meanwhile, rent for a one-bedroom apartment averages $815 a month, more than $200 below the Philadelphia average.

Getting to the Philadelphia city center, which sits about 85 miles away, takes over an hour by car, making driving crucial. Gas prices in Shiloh hover about 3 percent above the national average, so fortunately filling up your tank won't lighten your wallet too much.

Other costs such as food, shopping and dining out cost Shiloh locals a rate on par with the Pennsylvania average, with a beer at a local bar costing between $5 and $6 a pint.

Shiloh itself has little in the way of shopping, but residents don't have to drive far to access a wider range of goods. Nearby towns such as York have numerous shopping centers, the closest to Shiloh being the York Galleria. High-end stores don't really exist in the immediate Shiloh area, but York has much to offer in the way of smaller shops and boutiques. Stores unique to the area include the York Emporium bookstore, which overflows with books about everything from York's Civil War history to the latest in collector-quality comic books. This bookstore also sells CDs, DVDs, old records, nerdy trinkets and memorabilia of all kinds, giving it a special place in the heart of many locals. Locals also love The Sunrise Soap Company, an artisan shop with unique and locally made soaps, beauty products, jewelry and a wide variety of gifts all sold in a friendly, homey environment. Kimman's sells products ranging from unique kitchen gadgets to high-end brands of women's accessories and jewelry, and Cherie Anne Designs offers owner-made goods ranging from tea and cookies to local, hand-spun yarn. It even hosts events complete with outside vendors and live music.

Shiloh's closest grocery stores include BJ's Wholesale and Target, though many residents prefer to drive just a few extra miles into York to visit Weis Market or Giant. York also offers the popular and historical Central Market House, a farmers market dating back to 1888, and the York Emporium for used goods and antiques.