About Myerstown
The Borough of Myerstown is part of a rich history of settlements established by German immigrants in Pennsylvania during the early 1700s. It was settled on the banks of the Tulpehocken Creek in the heart of the fertile Lebanon Valley, and has provided its residents with a peaceful and productive lifestyle for nearly three centuries.
When it was incorporated as a Borough in 1912, the population was 2,335. With the help of the Union Canal and the railroad running through the town, Myerstown became a thriving community even though it covers an area of less than one square mile. Its history is written in the the architecture and the stories of the early immigrants who came to work the quarries, railroads, factories and other businesses along the canal. More information on the history of Myerstown can be found here: Myerstown History.
Today, with a population of just over 3,000, Myerstown is the classic American small-town: walkable and community-oriented with familiar streets and friendly faces. Within the borough or very close by is access to grocery stores, farmers’ markets, several banks, multiple health care providers, and a number of professional and personal service providers. Also within driving distance is an assortment of family-owned restaurants and taverns with their own unique styles, offering everything from traditional Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine to award-winning Italian. Additionally, its central location in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. makes for an easy day trip to Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and New York.
Myerstown has 26.64 acres of land devoted to recreation for its citizens and visitors. These recreational areas are home to a community pool, tennis courts, a tot lot for children, three baseball diamonds, basketball and volleyball facilities, a stocked fish pond, and large shaded picnic areas with three pavilions. With the Borough’s extensive network of sidewalks, these assets are all within walking distance of any neighborhood.
With a cost of living below the state and national average, an abundance of recreational opportunities, and a wide variety of housing options, Myerstown is the perfect place to raise a family. This community allows its residents to enjoy all the features of a historic town while maintaining its rural charm.
Municipality Type: Borough
Myerstown is a borough in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, there are three primary types of municipal governments: boroughs, cities, and townships. Boroughs can be likened to the common notion of a town in other states, in contrast to a city metropolis.
Government Type: Strong Council, Weak Mayor
The government type for boroughs in Pennsylvania is the strong council, weak mayor form, typical of nineteenth-century municipalities. Boroughs have a strong and dominant council, a weak executive, and other elected officers with powers independent of the council. Council is the governing body and is composed of seven members elected at-large. The powers of council are broad and extensive, covering virtually the whole range of municipal functions.
Administration
The chief administrative officer in most boroughs is the manager, who is appointed by council and is responsible for carrying out the policies and enforcing the ordinances of council, relieving council members from routine daily administration.