borough in Pennsylvania
Honey bee forage in West York, Pennsylvania
Estimated forage here is better than about 68% of sites in Pennsylvania. Against other Pennsylvania sites it stands out most in fall (85th percentile) and lowest in summer (67th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.9 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.9 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.6 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in West York?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jul 15, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Sep 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of West York, from what grows within flight range (about 3.7 miles) and when it blooms here. Dates are the model's estimate for a typical year; the spring index for this spot falls on Apr 25.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, soybeans; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, soybeans; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Alfalfa: about 30 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi S, blooms early Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 9 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi SW, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 6 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi SW, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
From USDA's crop maps for 2021–2025; fields rotate, so a crop counts by how often it was grown. Listing a field says nothing about its owner.
The land and water around West York
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, medium intensity.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.45 mi S; open water 0.45 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 89% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How West York ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 62nd | 71st | 65th | 61st |
| Pennsylvania | 68th | 79th | 67th | 85th |
| Northern Piedmont | 17th | 28th | 32nd | 75th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
The national forage map around West York: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
York 2 mi · Grantley 2 mi · Shiloh 2 mi · North York 2 mi · Valley View 3 mi · Tyler Run 4 mi
All towns in Pennsylvania · National map · How the scoring works
An estimate from public maps (USDA crop maps 2021–2025 averaged, LANDFIRE vegetation), not a survey of the ground. Maps can't see garden plantings, understory density, other beekeepers' hives, or this year's weather. The point is the Census Bureau's published center of West York (39.9534, -76.761); a yard a mile or two away can differ, so check your own spot. The FEMA flood map was not checked for this page. Benchmark 2026.5, built 2026-10-19. How this works · All sources.