Franklin County, Pennsylvania

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Not to be confused with Franklin, Venango County, Pennsylvania.
Franklin County
County
Franklin County
Franklin County Courthouse
Franklin County Courthouse
Official seal of Franklin County
Seal
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Franklin County
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Map of the United States highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°56′N 77°43′W / 39.93°N 77.72°W / 39.93; -77.72
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
FoundedSeptember 9, 1784
Named forBenjamin Franklin
SeatChambersburg
Largest boroughChambersburg
Area
 • Total773 sq mi (2,000 km2)
 • Land772 sq mi (2,000 km2)
 • Water0.6 sq mi (2 km2)  0.08%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
155,027
 • Density200/sq mi (80/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district13th
Websitewww.franklincountypa.gov
Fannettsburg, PA located in rural Northwestern Franklin County, PA

Franklin County is a county located in South Central Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 155,932[1] Its county seat is Chambersburg.[2]

Franklin County comprises the Chambersburg–Waynesboro, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area, 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 (1750), Franklin County became an independent jurisdiction on September 9, 1784, relatively soon after the end of the American Revolutionary War.[3] It is named in honor of Founding Father Benjamin Franklin.[4]

Geography[]

A farm in Franklin County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 773 square miles (2,000 km2), of which 772 square miles (2,000 km2) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) (0.08%) is water.[5]

Franklin County is in the watershed of the Chesapeake Bay and the overwhelming majority of it is drained by the Potomac River, but the Conodoguinet Creek and the Sherman Creek drain northeastern portions into the Susquehanna River. It has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and its hardiness zone is 6b. Average monthly temperatures in Chambersburg range from 29.9 °F in January to 74.7 °F in July. [1]

Adjacent counties[]

  • Juniata County (north)
  • Perry County (northeast)
  • Cumberland County (northeast)
  • Huntingdon County (Northwest)
  • Adams County (east)
  • Frederick County, Maryland (southeast)
  • Washington County, Maryland (south)
  • Fulton County (west)

Major highways[]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
179015,662—
180019,63825.4%
181023,08317.5%
182031,89238.2%
183035,0379.9%
184037,7937.9%
185039,9045.6%
186042,1265.6%
187045,3657.7%
188049,8559.9%
189051,4333.2%
190054,9026.7%
191059,7758.9%
192062,2754.2%
193065,0104.4%
194069,3786.7%
195075,9279.4%
196088,17216.1%
1970100,83314.4%
1980113,62912.7%
1990121,0826.6%
2000129,3086.8%
2010149,61815.7%
2020155,9324.2%

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 129,313 people, 50,633 households, and 36,405 families residing in the county. The population density 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, 2.33% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.74% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 1.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 40.2% were of German, 19.4% American, 7.6% Irish and 6.0% English ancestry. 96.0% spoke English 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 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 as a representative Red or Republican Party county.[7]

Government[]

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 in 1964 as he won in a landslide statewide & nationally. As a testament to the county's status as a Republican Party stronghold, Jimmy Carter in 1976 is the lone Democrat to win forty percent of the county's votes since Johnson's 1964 win.

Presidential election results

County Commissioners[10][]

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

Other County Offices[11][]

  • 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, Dave Secor

State House of Representatives[12][]

State Senate[12][]

United States House of Representatives[]

United States Senate[]

  • Pat Toomey, Republican
  • Bob Casey, Jr., Democrat

Education[]

Universities and Colleges[]

  • Wilson College
  • Penn State Mont Alto

Technology school[]

  • Franklin County Career and Technology Center
  • Chambersburg Area Career Magnet School

Intermediate unit[]

Lincoln Intermediate Unit (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.[13] 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[]

Private schools[]

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.[14]

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 Chambersburg and Gettysburg.
  • Buchanan's Birthplace State Park is the birthplace of the 15th President of the United States, James Buchanan.
  • Mont Alto State Park is the oldest state park in Pennsylvania.
  • Cowans Gap State Park is largely surrounded by Buchanan State Forest and straddles the Franklin and Fulton County border.

Communities[]

Map of Franklin County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).
House in Roxbury in Lurgan Township
Chambersburg is the county seat and largest municipality in Franklin County.

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following boroughs and townships are located in Franklin County:

Boroughs[]

  • Chambersburg (county seat)
  • Greencastle
  • Mercersburg
  • Mont Alto
  • Orrstown
  • Shippensburg (mostly in Cumberland County)
  • Waynesboro

Townships[]

Census-designated places[]

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau 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.

Population ranking[]

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Franklin County.[15]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 † Chambersburg Borough 20,268
2 Waynesboro Borough 10,568
3 Shippensburg (mostly in Cumberland County) Borough 5,492
4 Greencastle Borough 3,996
5 Fayetteville CDP 3,128
6 State Line CDP 2,709
7 Wayne Heights CDP 2,545
8 Guilford CDP 2,138
9 Mont Alto Borough 1,705
10 Mercersburg Borough 1,561
11 Scotland CDP 1,395
12 Marion CDP 953
13 Pen Mar CDP 929
14 Rouzerville CDP 917
15 Blue Ridge Summit CDP 891
16 Fort Loudon CDP 886
17 Orrstown Borough 262

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Franklin County PA – default Archived 2011-08-06 at the Wayback Machine. Co.franklin.pa.us. Retrieved on July 23, 2013.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 131.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  6. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  7. ^ David Brooks (December 2001). "One Nation, Slightly Divisible". The Atlantic. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
  8. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  9. ^ http://geoelections.free.fr/. Retrieved January 13, 2021. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ^ "Franklin County, PA". www.franklincountypa.gov. Retrieved 2017-04-25.
  11. ^ "Franklin County, PA: Franklin County Elected Officials". www.franklincountypa.gov. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Find Your Legislator". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 2017-04-25.
  13. ^ Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12 website accessed April 2010
  14. ^ "Locations". 2018-08-29. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
  15. ^ "2010 U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 10, 2013.

Coordinates: 39°56′N 77°43′W / 39.93°N 77.72°W / 39.93; -77.72

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