Adams County, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Adams County
U.S. county
Adams County Courthouse in Gettysburg
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
Founded	January 22, 1800
Named for	John Adams
Seat	Gettysburg
Largest borough	Gettysburg
Area
• Total	522 sq mi (1,350 km2)
• Land	519 sq mi (1,340 km2)
• Water	3.1 sq mi (8 km2)  0.6%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	103,852
• Estimate  (2022)	106,027
• Density	200/sq mi (80/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	13th
Pennsylvania Historical Marker
Type:	City
Designated:	November 6, 1982

Adams County is a county in Pennsylvania, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 103,852 people lived here. The main town, or county seat, is Gettysburg.

The county was created on January 22, 1800. It was formed from a part of York County. Adams County was named after John Adams, who was the second President of the United States.

A very important battle of the American Civil War happened here. This was the Battle of Gettysburg, fought from July 1 to 3, 1863. Because of this, Adams County is a popular place for people interested in Civil War history. The county is located in the south-central part of Pennsylvania.

Geography

The Eternal Light Peace Memorial at Gettysburg Battlefield

Adams County covers about 522 square miles. Most of this area, 519 square miles, is land. Only a small part, about 3.1 square miles, is water. This is about 0.6% of the total area.

The town of Gettysburg is right in the middle of Adams County. The Gettysburg National Military Park surrounds Gettysburg on three sides. This park protects the historic battlefield. The Eisenhower National Historic Site is also nearby. It was the home of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Many of the old roads and natural areas from the 1800s are still here. Thirteen historic roads meet near Gettysburg. There are two circles of towns around Gettysburg. The first circle is about 7 miles away. The second circle is 12 to 15 miles away. This "spokes and wheel" pattern is a rare example of how towns can grow around a main center.

The county's water flows into the Chesapeake Bay. It is drained by the Susquehanna River and the Potomac River.

Nearby Counties

Adams County shares borders with these counties:

• Cumberland County (north)
• York County (east)
• Carroll County, Maryland (southeast)
• Frederick County, Maryland (southwest)
• Franklin County (west)

Protected Natural Areas

These special areas are protected in Adams County:

• Eisenhower National Historic Site
• Gettysburg National Military Park

Climate

Adams County has a climate with hot summers. This means it has warm, humid summers and cold winters.

Fun Things to Do

Adams County has many places for recreation and outdoor activities:

• Caledonia State Park: This state park is named after an old iron furnace. Part of it is in Adams County.
• Eisenhower National Historic Site: You can visit the home and farm of Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was the 34th President of the United States.
• Gettysburg Battlefield: This is where the famous American Civil War battle was fought in July 1863.
• Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area: This is a special area that covers parts of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. It protects important historical sites.
• McPherson Ridge: This landform was used during the Battle of Gettysburg.
• Michaux State Forest: A large forest area for outdoor activities.
• Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 249: This area is open for hunting, trapping, and other outdoor fun.
• Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve: A place to enjoy nature and wildlife.

People and Population

In 2022, about 106,027 people lived in Adams County. There were about 40,676 households, which are groups of people living together. The county has about 204 people per square mile. Most homes, about 76%, are owned by the people who live in them.

Most adults, about 90.7%, have finished high school. About 24.3% have a college degree or higher. The average income per person was $36,150. The average income for a household was $76,727. About 8.4% of the people lived below the poverty line.

Most people in the county are White (87%). About 1% are Black or African American, and 1% are Asian. About 7% of the population are Hispanic or Latino. About 7.8% of the people have served in the military. About 19% of the population is under 18 years old. About 59% are between 18 and 64, and 22% are 65 or older.

Most households, 68%, are married couples. About 10% have a female head of household with no husband. About 4% have a male head of household with no wife. The average household size is 2.5 people. The average value of a home owned by its residents was $255,900.

Education

Map of Adams County school districts

Colleges and Universities

• Gettysburg College
• Lutheran Theological Seminary

Community and Technical Colleges

• Harrisburg Area Community College

Public School Districts

Students in Adams County attend schools in these districts:

• Bermudian Springs School District
• Conewago Valley School District
• Fairfield Area School District
• Gettysburg Area School District
• Littlestown Area School District
• Upper Adams School District

Public Charter Schools

• Gettysburg Montessori Charter School (for grades K-6)
• Vida Charter School (for grades K-6)

Students in the county can also apply to attend online public cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania.

Private Schools

Intermediate Unit

The Lincoln Intermediate Unit (IU#12) helps schools in Adams, Franklin, and York counties. It offers special education, helps schools buy things together, and provides technology services. It also has a Summer Academy for gifted students. Other services include training for teachers, adult education, and literacy programs. The Intermediate Unit helps adults earn a high school diploma through a GED program.

Libraries

Transportation

Air Travel

Adams County does not have regular commercial flights. The closest airports with commercial service are in Hagerstown, Maryland (Hagerstown Regional Airport), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (Harrisburg International Airport), and Lancaster, Pennsylvania (Lancaster Airport).

Bus Service

You can use public bus service in Adams County through the Adams County Transit Authority.

Main Roads

Communities

Map of Adams County with municipal labels showing boroughs (red), townships (white), and census-designated places (blue)

In Pennsylvania, there are different types of towns and areas. These include cities, boroughs, and townships. Here are the main communities in Adams County:

Boroughs

These are incorporated towns with their own local government.

Townships

These are larger areas that often include rural land and smaller communities.

Census-Designated Places (CDPs)

These are areas that the U.S. Census Bureau names for collecting data. They are not officially governed towns.

Other Unincorporated Areas

These are smaller communities that are not officially incorporated as boroughs or townships.

Population Ranking of Communities

This table shows the population of the largest communities in Adams County, based on the 2010 census.

† county seat

Notable People

Many interesting people have connections to Adams County:

• Joel Funk Asper: A former U.S. Congressman.
• Gabor Boritt: A historian who studied Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War. He was a professor at Gettysburg College.
• Jake Boritt: A producer who makes documentaries.
• Henry R. Brinkerhoff: A former U.S. Congressman.
• David A. Day: A Lutheran missionary who worked in Liberia.
• Dwight D. Eisenhower and Mamie Eisenhower: They lived in their retirement home near Gettysburg, which is now the Eisenhower National Historic Site.
• Erik Harris: A professional football player who played for the Atlanta Falcons.
• John A. Hauser: A former president of the C. H. Musselman Company.
• Eddie Plank: A famous Major League Baseball pitcher. He is one of the top left-handed pitchers of all time and is in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
• John Studebaker: He helped start the company that became the Studebaker Corporation.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Adams (Pensilvania) para niños