[1][2][3] The first commercial pretzel manufacturer in the United States, the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, was founded in the region in the borough of Lititz in 1861, and remains extant there today.

By the beginning of the 20th century the pretzel had become a cultural institution in the region.

[4] The rise of pretzels in the region is attributed in part to their popularity with Civil War soldiers who passed through the area.

[5] In the twentieth century, the first automated pretzel machine was developed in Reading, Pennsylvania.

[10] Auntie Anne's, the international pretzel franchise, was founded in Downingtown, Pennsylvania.