Lancaster County is home to 50 unincorporated communities, or villages, similar to Neffsville. But none are quite like Neffsville.

Located in north central Manheim Township, 3 miles north of the city of Lancaster, Neffsville is a historic unincorporated community. It grew up and evolved around the Lititz Pike, and because Neffsville's boundaries are undefined, it is hard to know exactly how many citizens reside there.

"It starts at Blossom Hill and runs all the way up to the (Lancaster) Airport," said Ben Webber, president of the Manheim Township Historical Society. "I would say that it's more narrow than it is long; it's only a couple of blocks wide. Over the years, urban sprawl has extended Neffsville in almost every direction. It's really steeped in a lot of history and character."

Today, Neffsville is known as much for what's located there as its rich history. In addition to the Lancaster Airport, Neffsville hosts some of the main buildings of the Manheim Township School District, Brethren Village Retirement Community and the Manheim Township Athletic Complex.

At the corner of Lititz Pike and Valley Road, where a Turkey Hill now resides, a general store once stood, and before that Fiddler's Green hotel.

"Neffsville is a very special place. It's unique," said Webber. "It's something that's been given to us by our ancestors at almost no cost."

"It's nestled next to Blossom Hill, and at one time it had productive fields all around it," Webber added. "The fact that it had a major route going through it helped it become a fruitful community. It's probably one of the most distinguishable unincorporated communities in Lancaster County. It's a friendly community."

Neffsville's history predates its settling by John Christian Neff and his descendants in the late 1700s. Prior to that, it was the site of a large Native American settlement.

Since its settling by Neff, Neffsville has always been a thriving place, with churches, commerce and various modes of transportation.

"At one time, it was a small hub with agrarian fields around it," said Webber. "Then, beginning in the 1950s, you started to see suburbs and urban sprawl expanding Neffsville to the west and north, with the introduction of the airport. Now all those fields are gone and developed into something else."

Webber said during the century prior to 1950, Neffsville didn't grow all that much. He also said the population of Neffsville in 1940 was about 800 residents.

"I think history is important," said Webber. "I find it exciting to think about what our community used to be, mark its progress over time and see where it's gone. We're charting the future and leaving a legacy behind. And I find that hopeful."