#1Science & Medicine
J. Michael Bishop
1936–2026American immunologist and microbiologist who specialized in cancer research
53 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Famous people · York
Scientists and doctors stand out among the 42 famous people born in York
Best known of all is J. Michael Bishop, written about in 53 languages. Second and third on the list are Jeff Koons and Craig Sheffer. Between 1920 and 1969, 20 were born, the most of any period. Half or more of the towns in Pennsylvania have no one on record, but this one has 9.3 for every 10,000 residents.
Born here
42
notable people
Best known
J. Michael Bishop
in 53 Wikipedia languages
First
1754
Jacob Hostetter
Youngest
1994
Hali Flickinger
Most common field
Politics & Law
15 people
Also called it home
3
notable residents
What stands out about York’s famous people
A town of scientists and doctorsScientists and doctors make up 6 of the 42, 2.4 times the usual share.Known worldwideJ. Michael Bishop has an article in 53 languages, more than anyone else from here.A chosen home3 more notable people chose to live in York, including John Fetterman.42 notable peopleYork lists 42 notable people, more than most towns.
★ What stands out · Known for
What York is known for
The field furthest above the usual share is scientists and doctors, at 2.4 times.
The usual town: the share across everyone born in the towns gathered so far. Tap a field to see its people.
The best known
Born in York
Counted by languages, J. Michael Bishop is ahead of Jeff Koons and Craig Sheffer: 53, 43 and 29.
#1
#2CS#3
Film, TV & Stage
Craig Sheffer
born 1960American film and television actor
29 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Through the years
When York’s famous people were born
Count by decade and the 1940s come out on top, with 6 births.
Politics & LawSportsScience & MedicineFilm, TV & StageWriting & ArtsNotableMilitaryMusic
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Everyone
Everyone else born in York
39 more, 15 of them leaders.
George Stibitz
1904–1995American Bell Labs researcher; one of the fathers of the modern first digital computer
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Ernest Thomas Gilliard
1912–1965American ornithologist, museum curator and photographer
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
A chosen home
Also called York home
Born elsewhere, they lived here: 3 in all, led by John Fetterman.
The town’s pick
Town Square →Who’s the most famous person from York?
Pick one and say why. Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Your pick
No picks yet
Be the first to say who York’s most famous person is.
Or tell us
Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
Close by, the fullest list is Springettsbury Township’s, at 2 names.
From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is York and whose English Wikipedia article agrees, ranked by how many Wikipedia languages cover each person. People known mainly for crimes, and adult performers, aren’t listed. “The usual town” = everyone born in the towns gathered so far.
Photo credits (7)
- J. Michael Bishop: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jeff Koons: Bengt Oberger, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jacob L. Devers: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Tina Kotek: Tony Miller, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Martie Maguire: (Kirk Stauffer), CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Fetterman: United States Senate, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- James Alonzo Stahle: An Illustrated Congressional Manual. The United States Red Book, 1896, (detail), Collection of U.S. House of Representatives, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons