Dover is a borough in York County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,954 at the 2020 census.

History

thumb|left|Dover United Church of Christ on a vintage postcard

James Joner purchased in 1764 and laid out the town of Dover. It was known generally as Joner's Town until 1815, when a Dover post office was established.

During the 1863 Gettysburg campaign of the American Civil War, Dover was briefly occupied overnight, June 30 – July 1, by Confederate cavalry under J.E.B. Stuart.

Dover was incorporated in 1864, 100 years after its founding.

The Englehart Melchinger House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

Geography

Dover is located in York County at (40.003846, -76.849397), northwest of the county seat of York. The borough is entirely surrounded by Dover Township.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of , all land.

Demographics

As of the census

:Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District (page 1)

Aftermath

The controversial statement by the school board triggered the court case Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District in late 2005. The case was resolved on December 20, 2005, when Judge John E. Jones III ruled that the Dover Area School District cannot teach Intelligent Design in a science class room, due to its religious origins. The separation of church and state principle, as derived from the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, prohibits any government agency from endorsing religious points of view.

In an upset election on November 8, 2005, the eight Republican school board members who voted for the language were all defeated by the challengers from the Dover Cares slate—four Democrats and four Republicans, forced by election rules to run on the Democratic ticket—who opposed the teaching of intelligent design in a science class.

Over the past few years Dover has incorporated a Comparative Religion course as an elective for students who want to learn more about all the religions of the world.

Pat Robertson

Two days after the upset, Pat Robertson commented on the election results on The 700 Club:

:I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: If there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God. You just rejected Him from your city.

He later revisited his previous warning:

:God is tolerant and loving, but we can't keep sticking our finger in His eye forever. If they have future problems in Dover, I recommend they call on Charles Darwin. Maybe he can help them.

References

  • Borough of Dover official website