Intelligencer Printing Company's roots run to the 1794 Lancaster Journal, which carried notice beneath the newspaper's nameplate that the paper would accept all types of printing work. Produced by Journal proprietors William Hamilton and Henry Willcocks, jobs consisted primarily of broadsides and other notices of a public nature.

In 1796, the Dickson brothers established a printing office and bookstore, most likely doing considerable printing of public notices and pamphlets before they began publishing the Lancaster Intelligencer & Weekly Advertiser in 1799.

When the Journal and the Intelligencer merged in 1839, their printing operations also merged, but remained a business entirely secondary to newspaper publication. Andrew Jackson Steinman bought the Intelligencer newspaper operation in 1866, and no doubt used the printing press to prepare notices for the Lancaster County Democratic Committee, which he chaired.

Under the guidance of J. Hale and John F. Steinman, Intelligencer Printing began expanding their job work during the 1930s and 1940s. By 1963, the operation, which had grossed $500,000 in 1956, had been transformed into a $1.5 million business. The Steinmans decided to expand the business and built a new, 35,000-square-foot plant on Eden Road, northeast of Lancaster city. The new building was opened in September 1963, nine months after the death of J. Hale Steinman.

In the 1970s, Intelligencer Printing's business soared. The company nearly doubled the size of its plant in 1978 and added more equipment, including a web press. Steady growth continued, and the plant was further expanded in 1985 to 100,000 square feet. Two more web presses were added in the following years.

Today, Intelligencer Printing employs more than 200 people and services 500 customers throughout an eight-state area on the East Coast. The company has received numerous awards for quality printing work including Neographics Best of Category awards and the NAPL's Management Plus Award five years running.