History:

East Cocalico Township is one of the northeastern township of Lancaster County. It was divided from Cocalico Township in 1838. Irregularly shaped, the Township has a length of approximately 5.5 miles and an average width of 3.5 miles. The Township is named for the Cocalico Creek and the Indian Village present here when the first European settlers arrived. The name Cocalico is believed to have originated from "koch hale kung", Delware Indian words meaning "den of serpents", apparently referring to the abundance of snakes near the creek at that time.

In 1723 or 1724, Johann Eberhard Ream (sometimes spelled Riehm) settled his family near the spring located to the rear of what is now 31 S. Reamstown Road in Reamstown. The Reams came from Leiman, Germany in 1717. Eberhard Ream was granted a patent for 389 acres in 1736 from the William Penn family.

In 1759, Eberhard Ream and his wife, Anna Schwab Ream, divided their land among the sons. The 54 acres given to one son, Tobias, were laid out into building lots, which were sold on the ground rent plan. He named the community Zoar (sometimes spelled Zohar). By 1772 the name had been changed to Reamstown.

In the mid 1700’s, the road from Lancaster to Reading passing through Reamstown was known as “the Kings Highway”. A stagecoach route was created and, since Reamstown was nearly midway between these two larger communities, a number of hotels thrived.

A second early road was laid out from Churchtown to Schaefferstown, Reamstown at the intersection of these two main roads, became a natural site for the seat of government for Cocalico Township which, until 1838 included what became the present boroughs of Adamstown, Akron, Denver, and Ephrata and the present Townships of East and West Cocalico, Ephrata, and part of Clay Township.

The combination of mountains, abundant water, and limestone soils, were of prime importance in the early development of the Township. Early settlers, with agrarian interests, found the Township well suited to the development of their farms. These farms have been tilled continuously and with coordinated preservation with the county, these farms will hopefully continue to operate profitably indefinitely.

Small villages, which remain today, were created at important crossroads to the transportation network. Country stores, churches and schools developed throughout the Township. This formed the landscape pattern, which remains today.

East Cocalico Township remains a progressive community with a diverse culture. It preserves an interesting sampling of the old and new with the latest in world technology, as well as century old methods. East Cocalico Township remains an interesting and satisfying place to live, to work, and to be.