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Franklin County, Pennsylvania facts for kids

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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.
Country  United States
State  Pennsylvania
Founded September 9, 1784
Named for Benjamin Franklin
Seat Chambersburg
Largest borough Chambersburg
Area
 • Total 773 sq mi (2,000 km2)
 • Land 772 sq mi (2,000 km2)
 • Water 0.6 sq mi (2 km2)  0.08%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
155,027
 • Density 200/sq mi (80/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 13th

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

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. It is named in honor of Founding Father Benjamin Franklin.

Geography

FranklinCountyPA
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.

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.

Adjacent counties

Major Highways

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1790 15,662
1800 19,638 25.4%
1810 23,083 17.5%
1820 31,892 38.2%
1830 35,037 9.9%
1840 37,793 7.9%
1850 39,904 5.6%
1860 42,126 5.6%
1870 45,365 7.7%
1880 49,855 9.9%
1890 51,433 3.2%
1900 54,902 6.7%
1910 59,775 8.9%
1920 62,275 4.2%
1930 65,010 4.4%
1940 69,378 6.7%
1950 75,927 9.4%
1960 88,172 16.1%
1970 100,833 14.4%
1980 113,629 12.7%
1990 121,082 6.6%
2000 129,308 6.8%
2010 149,618 15.7%
2020 155,932 4.2%

As of the census 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.

Recreation

There are three Pennsylvania state parks in Franklin County.

Communities

Map of Franklin County Pennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels
Map of Franklin County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).
Roxbury PA FranCo 2
House in Roxbury in Lurgan Township
Memorial Square Chambersburg
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

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 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.

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

Education

Universities and colleges

Technology school

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

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. 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
  • 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
Fannettsburg, PA located in rural Northwestern Franklin County, 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.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Franklin (Pensilvania) para niños

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