Intercourse, Pennsylvania


Intercourse is an unincorporated village and census-designated place in Leacock Township, Lancaster County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, east of Lancaster on Pennsylvania Route 340. Intercourse is a popular site for tourists because of its location in "Amish country" and its sexually suggestive name. The movie Witness was filmed in Intercourse as well as other parts of the surrounding area, and For Richer or Poorer was set there, though not filmed in Intercourse. Because of the town's unusual name, the sign posts for the town are frequently targeted by thieves.

Economy

Tourism and farming are major industries in the area. Small businesses sell Amish crafts, food, and give horse and buggy rides. The town thrives on thousands of tourists who visit the region each year. Most of the land surrounding the town is farmland.

History

Intercourse was founded in 1754. The community was originally named Cross Keys, after a local tavern. Intercourse became the name in 1814. The village website gives several theories for the origins of the name.

Another theory concerns two famous roads that crossed here. The Old King's highway from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh ran east and west through the center of the town. The road from Wilmington to Erie intersected in the middle. The joining of these two roads is claimed by some to be the basis for the town 'Cross Keys' or eventually 'Intercourse'. A final idea comes from the use of language during the early days of the Village. The word 'intercourse' was commonly used to describe the 'fellowship' and 'social interaction and support' shared in the community of faith, which was much a part of a rural village like this one.

In popular culture

The village's name is often the subject of jokes relating to sexual intercourse. Along with that of Blue Ball, Pennsylvania, the publishers of Eros Magazine sought mailing privileges from the postmasters of the town. Intercourse and Blue Ball are often named in lists of "delightfully-named towns" in Pennsylvania Dutchland, along with Gap, Fertility, Mount Joy, Lititz, Bareville, Bird-in-Hand and Paradise. A gag on The Cleveland Show imagined the town as the location for a spin-off show centred on the libidinous Glenn Quagmire. The British motoring show Top Gear featured the town's sign while passing through Pennsylvania in a race to New York City during the show's sixteenth series. The Ellen DeGeneres Show had a What's Wrong with These Photos? Picture of a Welcome to Intercourse sign for the subject. Kay Lenz's titular character in the 1973 film Breezy reveals that she is from Intercourse It was also mentioned in The Simpsons episode "The Old Man and the 'C' Student" where it was revealed that Superintendent Chalmers lived there. The village's unusual name has also been a source for humor on the Mennonite satire website The Daily Bonnet.

Sites of interest