Franklin County is a

county A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposes Chambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...

in the

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

. As of the 2020 census, the population was 155,932 Its

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US ...

Chambersburg Chambersburg is a borough in and the county seat of Franklin County, in the South Central region of Pennsylvania, United States. It is in the Cumberland Valley, which is part of the Great Appalachian Valley, and north of Maryland and the Ma ...

. Franklin County comprises the Chambersburg–Waynesboro, PA

Metropolitan Statistical Area In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally incorporated as a city or tow ...

, which is also included in the Washington–Baltimore–Arlington-DC–MD–VA–WV–PA Combined Statistical Area. It lies to a large extent within the Cumberland Valley.

History

Originally part of Lancaster County (1729), then York County (1749), then

Cumberland County Cumberland County may refer to: Australia * Cumberland County, New South Wales * the former name of Cumberland Land District, Tasmania, Australia Canada *Cumberland County, Nova Scotia United Kingdom *Cumberland, historic county *Cumberla ...

(1750), Franklin County became an independent

jurisdiction Jurisdiction (from Latin 'law' + 'declaration') is the legal term for the legal authority granted to a legal entity to enact justice. In federations like the United States, areas of jurisdiction apply to local, state, and federal levels. J ...

on September 9, 1784, relatively soon after the end of the American Revolutionary War. It is named in honor of Founding Father

Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin ( April 17, 1790) was an American polymath who was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. Encyclopædia Britannica, Wood, 2021 Among the leading int ...

Geography

According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.08%) is water. Franklin County is in the watershed of the

Chesapeake Bay The Chesapeake Bay ( ) is the largest estuary in the United States. The Bay is located in the Mid-Atlantic region and is primarily separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Delmarva Peninsula (including the parts: the Eastern Shore of Maryland / ...

and the overwhelming majority of it is drained by the

Potomac River The Potomac River () drains the Mid-Atlantic United States, flowing from the Potomac Highlands into Chesapeake Bay. It is long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map. Retrieved Augu ...

, but the Conodoguinet Creek and the Sherman Creek drain northeastern portions into the

Susquehanna River The Susquehanna River (; Lenape: Siskëwahane) is a major river located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, overlapping between the lower Northeast and the Upland South. At long, it is the longest river on the East Coast of the ...

. It has a hot-summer

humid continental climate A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and freez ...

(''Dfa'') and its

hardiness zone A hardiness zone is a geographic area defined as having a certain average annual minimum temperature, a factor relevant to the survival of many plants. In some systems other statistics are included in the calculations. The original and most wide ...

is 6b. Average monthly temperatures in Chambersburg range from 29.9 °F in January to 74.7 °F in July

Adjacent counties

* Juniata County, Pennsylvania, Juniata County (north) *

Perry County Perry County may refer to: United States * Perry County, Alabama * Perry County, Arkansas *Perry County, Illinois * Perry County, Indiana * Perry County, Kentucky * Perry County, Mississippi * Perry County, Missouri *Perry County, Ohio *Perr ...

(northeast) *

Huntingdon County Huntingdon is a market town in the Huntingdonshire district in Cambridgeshire, England. The town was given its town charter by King John in 1205. It was the county town of the historic county of Huntingdonshire. Oliver Cromwell was born there ...

(Northwest) * Adams County (east) *

Frederick County, Maryland Frederick County is located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Maryland. At the 2020 U.S. Census, the population was 271,717. The county seat is Frederick. Frederick County is included in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD- ...

(southeast) *

Washington County, Maryland Washington County is located in the western part of the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 census, the population was 154,705. Its county seat is Hagerstown. Washington County was the first county in the United States to be named for th ...

(south) * Fulton County (west)

Major highways

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Demographics

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...

of 2000, there were 129,313 people, 50,633 households, and 36,405 families residing in the county. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopu ...

was 168 people per square mile (65/km²). There were 53,803 housing units at an average density of 70 per square mile (27/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.33%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...

, 2.33%

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ha ...

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.15% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.03%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...

, 0.74% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 1.75% of the population were

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...

or Latino of any race. 40.2% were of

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

, 19.4%

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

, 7.6% Irish and 6.0%

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...

ancestry. 96.0% spoke

and 2.1% Spanish as their first language. There were 50,633 households, out of which 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.00% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...

living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.94. In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.00% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.90 males. In 2001, Franklin County was featured in David Brooks' article "One Nation, Slightly Divisible" in ''

The Atlantic ''The Atlantic'' is an American magazine and multi-platform publisher. It features articles in the fields of politics, foreign affairs, business and the economy, culture and the arts, technology, and science. It was founded in 1857 in Boston, ...

'' as a representative Red or

Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa * Republican Party (Liberia) *Republican Party ...

county.

2020 Census

Government

County commissioners

* David Keller, Chairman, Republican * John Flannery, Republican * Robert Ziobrowski, Democrat

Other county offices

* Clerk of Courts, Todd Rock * Controller, Harold Wissinger * Coroner, Jeff Conner * District Attorney, Matthew Fogal * Prothonotary, Timothy Sponseller * Register and Recorder, Linda Miller * Sheriff, Dane Anthony * Treasurer, Melody Shuman

State House of Representatives

Jesse Topper Jesse Willis Topper (born September 19, 1981) is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives representing the 78th District since 2014. Early life and education Topper was born on September 19, 1981 to John and Ruth Topper ...

, Republican,

Pennsylvania's 78th Representative District The 78th Pennsylvania House of Representatives District is located in south-central Pennsylvania and has been represented by Jesse Topper since 2014. District profile The 78th District includes all of Bedford County, Pennsylvania and all of Fu ...

Adam Harris C. Adam Harris (born October 14, 1975) is a former Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 82nd District. He was elected in 2002 and served until 2018. Career After graduating from college, Harris joined the Hous ...

, Republican, Pennsylvania's 82nd Representative District * Rob W. Kauffman, Republican, Pennsylvania's 89th Representative District * Paul Schemel, Republican, Pennsylvania's 90th Representative District

State Senate

Judy Ward Judith "Judy" Ward is a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, representing the 30th Senatorial district in Blair County, Pennsylvania. She is registered as Republican. Education and career Ward graduated from Hollidaysburg High School and a ...

, Republican, Pennsylvania's 30th Senatorial District *

Doug Mastriano Douglas Vincent Mastriano (born January 2, 1964) is an American far-right politician and retired military officer who has served in the Pennsylvania Senate since 2019, representing the 33rd district. A member of the Republican Party, he was t ...

, Republican, Pennsylvania's 33rd Senatorial District

United States House of Representatives

* John Joyce, Republican, Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district

Politics

For most of its history, Franklin County has been a Republican Party stronghold in presidential elections, with only three Democratic Party candidates having managed to win the county from 1880 to the present day. The most recent Democrat to win the county in a presidential election was Lyndon B. Johnson, who won state-wide in the Pennsylvania election and in the national election, in a 1964 landslide. As a testament to the county's status as a Republican Party stronghold,

Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he previously served as th ...

in 1976 is the lone Democrat to win forty percent of the county's votes since Johnson's 1964 win.

United States Senate

Pat Toomey Patrick Joseph Toomey Jr. (born November 17, 1961) is an American businessman and politician serving as the junior United States senator for Pennsylvania since 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he served three terms as the U.S. representa ...

, Republican * Bob Casey, Democrat

Education

Universities and colleges

* Wilson College *

Penn State Mont Alto Penn State Mont Alto is a residential commonwealth campus of the Pennsylvania State University. Located in Mont Alto, Pennsylvania, the campus offers nine four-year and seven two-year degree programs, including nursing, forest technology, occup ...

Technology school

* Franklin County Career and Technology Center *Chambersburg Area Career Magnet School *Triangle Tech

Intermediate unit

Lincoln

Intermediate Unit {{short description, School service agencies in Pennsylvania In Pennsylvania, intermediate units are regional educational service agencies, established by the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Intermediate units are public entities and serve a given g ...

(IU#12) region includes: Adams County, Franklin County and York County. The agency offers school districts, home-schooled students and private schools many services, including: special education services, combined purchasing, and instructional technology services. It runs Summer Academy, which offers both art and academic strands designed to meet the individual needs of gifted, talented and high achieving students. Additional services include: curriculum mapping, professional development for school employees, adult education, nonpublic school services, business services, migrant & ESL (English as a second language), instructional services, special education, management services, and technology services. It also provides a GED program to adults who want to earn a high school diploma and literacy programs. The Lincoln Intermediate Unit is governed by a 13-member board of directors, each a member of a local school board from the 25 school districts. Board members are elected by school directors of all 25 school districts for three-year terms that begin July 1. There are 29 intermediate units in Pennsylvania. They are funded by school districts, state and federal program specific funding and grants. IUs do not have the power to tax.

Public school districts

* Chambersburg Area School District * Fannett-Metal School District (also in Perry County) * Greencastle-Antrim School District * Shippensburg Area School District (also in Cumberland County) * Tuscarora School District * Waynesboro Area School District

Private schools

* Anchor Christian Day School – Shippensburg * Antrim Mennonite School – Greencastle * Brook Side Amish School – Spring Run * Calvary Mennonite School – Chambersburg * Clearfield Parochial School – Shippensburg * Conococheague Amish School – Spring Run * Corpus Christi Catholic School – Chambersburg * Cornell Abraxas Leadership Development Program * Cornell Abraxas Youth Center – South Mountain * Culbertson Mennonite School – Chambersburg * Cumberland Valley Christian School – Chambersburg * Emmanuel Christian School – Chambersburg * Franklin Learning Center – Chambersburg * Highfield Christian Academy – Blue Ridge Summit * Living Word Academy – Blue Ridge Summit * Maple Grove Amish School Dry Run * McClays Mill Amish School – Newburg * Meadow Brook Amish School – Spring Run * Manito Day Treatment – Chambersburg *

Mercersburg Academy Mercersburg Academy (formerly Marshall College and Mercersburg College) is an independent selective college-preparatory boarding & day high school in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania in the United States. Founded in 1893, the school enrolls approx ...

– Mercersburg * Montessori Academy of Chambersburg * Mountain View Amish School – Spring Run * Mowersville Christian Academy – Newburg * Noahs Ark Christian Church Center – Waynesboro * Otterbein School – Shippensburg * Path Valley Christian School – Doylesburg * Portico River Brethren School – Chambersburg * Providence School – Waynesboro * St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic School – Waynesboro * Shady Grove Mennonite School – Greencastle * Shalom Christian Academy – Chambersburg * South Mountain Secure Treatment Unit – South Mountain * Stoney Creek Parochial School – Orrstown * Sunset Amish School – Newburg * Sweetwater Ridge School – Dry Run * Sylvan Learning Center – Chambersburg * Tunnel Run School – Newburg * Visionquest-South Mountain Lodge – South Mountain * Willow Hill Parochial School – Willow Hill December 2013 Fannettsburg PA

Libraries

The Franklin County Library system has five branches: *Blue Ridge Summit Free Library – Blue Ridge Summit *Coyle Free Library – Chambersburg *Grove Family Library – Chambersburg *Lilian S Besore Memorial Library – Greencastle *St Thomas Branch Library – Saint Thomas The system also supports the Alexander Hamilton Memorial Library in Waynesboro, PA. In addition, the system currently operates two bookmobiles.

Recreation

There are four Pennsylvania state parks in Franklin County. * Caledonia State Park straddles the Franklin and Adams County line along U.S. Route 30 between

and Gettysburg. *

Buchanan's Birthplace State Park Buchanan's Birthplace State Park is an Pennsylvania state park near Cove Gap in Peters Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. The park is on Pennsylvania Route 16 along Tuscarora Mountain. Buchanan's Birthplace State Park was created from ...

is the birthplace of the 15th

President of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal gove ...

James Buchanan James Buchanan Jr. ( ; April 23, 1791June 1, 1868) was an American lawyer, diplomat and politician who served as the 15th president of the United States from 1857 to 1861. He previously served as secretary of state from 1845 to 1849 and repr ...

. * Mont Alto State Park is the oldest state park in Pennsylvania. *

Cowans Gap State Park Cowans Gap State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Todd Township, Fulton County and Metal Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is largely surrounded by Buchanan State Forest in Allens Valley just off Pe ...

is largely surrounded by Buchanan State Forest and straddles the Franklin and Fulton County border.

Communities

Map of Franklin County Pennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities,

boroughs A borough is an administrative division in various English-speaking countries. In principle, the term ''borough'' designates a self-governing walled town, although in practice, official use of the term varies widely. History In the Middle A ...

, townships, and, in at most two cases,

towns A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares an or ...

. The following boroughs and townships are located in Franklin County:

Boroughs

(county seat) * Greencastle * Mercersburg * Mont Alto * Orrstown *

Shippensburg Shippensburg is a borough in Cumberland and Franklin counties in the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Settled in 1730, Shippensburg lies in the Cumberland Valley, southwest of Harrisburg, and is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan ...

(mostly in

) * Waynesboro

Townships

* Antrim Township * Fannett Township * Greene Township * Guilford Township * Hamilton Township * Letterkenny Township * Lurgan Township * Metal Township * Montgomery Township * Peters Township * Quincy Township * Southampton Township * St. Thomas Township * Warren Township * Washington Township

Census-designated places

Census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counterparts of incorporated places, suc ...

s are geographical areas designated by the

for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well. * Blue Ridge Summit * Fayetteville * Fort Loudon *

Guilford Guildford is a town in Surrey, England. It gives its name to the Borough of Guildford, the Diocese of Guildford and the Parliamentary constituency of Guildford. Guildford, Guilford, or Gildford may also refer to: Places Australia * Guild ...

* Marion * Pen Mar * Rouzerville *

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...

* State Line * Wayne Heights

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Franklin County. † ''county seat''

References

{{authority control 1784 establishments in Pennsylvania Populated places established in 1784