York, Chester and Lancaster Counties are ancient names dating to the first century when the Romans conquered and occupied England. The tri-county names denote Roman camps, forts by a river or towns.
English settlers coming into Philadelphia in the late 1600s and early 1700s settled from east to west in Pennsylvania and naming the counties: Chester, Lancaster and York for their adjacent counties in England. Early settlers always looking for good farm land, came south on the Great Wagon Road from Philadelphia in the mid-1700s and settled along the Catawba River. They named their new settlements York, Chester and Lancaster Counties for their former settlements in Pennsylvania.
The Tri-County names are a part of England’s War of Roses from 1455-1485. The War was rooted in a claim to the throne of England by two sons of King Edward III (1313-1377), the Duke of Lancaster and the Duke of York. The crown of England went back and forth during these 30 years to the House of Lancaster or the House of York depending upon the victor of the latest battle. The White Rose was the symbol of the House of York and the Red Rose was the symbol of the House of Lancaster. The rose emblems were on the Battle Flags leading the men to battle.
The City of York in York County has the White Rose as its symbol and the City of Lancaster in Lancaster County has the Red Rose as its symbol. Welcome signs for both cities state: Welcome to York, the White Rose City and Welcome to Lancaster, the Red Rose City. The white rose and the red rose are a part of their events and festivities.
