Franklin County, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Franklin County
County
Franklin County Courthouse in Chambersburg in October 2013
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of 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  (2020)
• Total	155,932
• Density	200/sq mi (80/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	13th

Franklin County is a county in the Commonwealth of 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 combined statistical area. The county is part of the South Central Pennsylvania region of the state.

History

Originally part of Lancaster County in 1729, then York County in 1749, then Cumberland County in 1750, Franklin County became an independent jurisdiction on September 9, 1784, soon after the end of the American Revolutionary War. It is named in honor of Founding Father Benjamin Franklin.

Geography

Fannettsburg in rural northwestern 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 Shermans 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.

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

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 people/km²). There were 53,803 housing units at an average density of 70 units 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.

2020 census

United States Senate

• John Fetterman, Democrat
• Dave McCormick, Republican

Education

Universities and colleges

• Wilson College
• Penn State Mont Alto

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

Public school districts include:

• 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

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 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 (in red), townships (in white), and census-designated places (in blue)

House in Roxbury in Lurgan Township

Chambersburg, 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.

† county seat

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Franklin (Pensilvania) para niños