Franklin County

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

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)

Adams County (east)

Frederick County, Maryland (southeast)

Washington County, Maryland (south)

Fulton County (west)

Huntingdon County (northwest)

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 155,932. The median age was 42.2 years, 22.4% of residents were under the age of 18, and 20.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.2 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 86.3% White, 3.4% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.3% from some other race, and 5.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 6.9% of the population.

55.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 44.5% lived in rural areas.

There were 62,067 households in the county, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.7% were married-couple households, 16.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 66,368 housing units, of which 6.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.9% were owner-occupied and 28.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.7%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 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.

Government

County commissioners

Source:

Dean Horst, chairman, Republican

John Flannery, Republican

Robert Ziobrowski, Democrat

Other county offices

Source:

Clerk of Courts, Todd Rock

Controller, Harold Wissinger

Coroner, Jordan Conner

District Attorney, Ian Brink

Prothonotary, Timothy Sponseller

Register and Recorder, Joy Heinbaugh

Sheriff, Benjamin Sites

Treasurer, Melody Shuman

State House of Representatives

Source:

Jesse Topper, Republican, Pennsylvania's 78th Representative District

Adam Harris, 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

Source:

Judy Ward, Republican, Pennsylvania's 30th Senatorial District

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

Voter registration

As of February 5, 2024, there are 99,471 registered voters in the county. There are 61,383 registered Republicans, 23,279 registered Democrats, 11,351 voters registered non-affiliated voters, and 3,458 voters registered to other parties.

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

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

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

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