The village of Intercourse, a social and commercial hub for Amish and Mennonite farm families and other local residents, was founded in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country in 1754. Originally named Cross Keys, its name was changed to Intercourse in 1814.

Many visitors are drawn to Intercourse by the presence of the “Plain People,” Protestant Amish and Mennonites descended primarily from seventeenth- and eighteenth-century German immigrants, who maintain a conservative, agricultural way of life. Many still reject such modern amenities as electricity, telephones, and automobiles. Their horsedrawn carriages are commonly seen on Lancaster County’s roadways.

The village offers art galleries, museums, lodgings, camping, and Pennsylvania Dutch restaurants and specialty shops featuring local handcrafts. Buggy rides, tours, and B&Bs are also popular.

The People’s Place is the center for Amish and Mennonite arts and crafts. It provides information about the Amish, Mennonite, and Hutterite people with a film and a museum with hands-on exhibits.

The People’s Place Quilt Museum, located across the street in the Old Country Store, houses a collection of antique Amish quilts.

Intercourse is located on state Route 340, 11 miles east of Lancaster.