Franklin County Cooperative Extension -

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Facts about Franklin County

Located in southern Pennsylvania, Franklin County is bordered to the south by Maryland and to the west by Tuscarora Mountain. Its 772 square miles lie almost entirely in the Appalachian Ridge and Valley. The county’s principal waterways are Conococheague, Antietam, and Conodoguinet Creeks. Topographical features include Kittatinny, Blue, Cove, and South Mountains.

Attractions in Franklin County include the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, which runs along the eastern border of the county in the Blue Ridge region. Recreational areas include Mont Alto and Caledonia state parks and Buchanan and Michaux state forests. Buchanan's Birthplace State Park commemorates James Buchanan, the 15th U.S. president.

Established in 1784, the county was named for Benjamin Franklin. Chambersburg, the county seat, is best known for its role in the Civil War. Abolitionist John Brown planned his raid on Harper’s Ferry, Va., in Chambersburg in 1859. By 1862, following the Battle of Antietam, Chambersburg became a strategic supply and hospital center for the Union. By 1863, Confederate troops were camped all around Chambersburg. Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee and A. P. Hill met in the center of town and made the decision to proceed to Gettysburg. On July 30, 1864, Chambersburg was burned by Confederate forces. More than 500 buildings were destroyed, but Chambersburg residents rebuilt the town.

Other key cities and towns in Franklin County include Greencastle, which has a rich history related to the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, Fayetteville, Waynesboro, and Mercersburg. Penn State Mont Alto also is located in Franklin County.

Franklin County’s economy relies primarily on manufacturing of industrial machinery and textiles and on agriculture. The county’s agricultural businesses produce cattle, dairy products, and fruit. The county is home to 121,082 residents.

Major highways servicing Franklin County include the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 76), Interstate 81, and Route 30.




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County Statistics Need some stats for your county? Check out these resources. Government information site on demographics, economics, and educational information: http://govinfo.library.orst.edu/ US Census Bureau United States Department of Commerce To find timely, relevant, and quality data about the people and economy of the United States, click here: http://www.census.gov/ USDA Home Page: http://www.usda.gov/ http://www.nass.usda.gov/pa/ Facts about Franklin County Located in southern Pennsylvania, Franklin County is bordered to the south by Maryland and to the west by Tuscarora Mountain. Its 772 square miles lie almost entirely in the Appalachian Ridge and Valley. The county’s principal waterways are Conococheague, Antietam, and Conodoguinet Creeks. Topographical features include Kittatinny, Blue, Cove, and South Mountains. Attractions in Franklin County include the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, which runs along the eastern border of the county in the Blue Ridge region. Recreational areas include Mont Alto and Caledonia state parks and Buchanan and Michaux state forests. Buchanan's Birthplace State Park commemorates James Buchanan, the 15th U.S. president. Established in 1784, the county was named for Benjamin Franklin. Chambersburg, the county seat, is best known for its role in the Civil War. Abolitionist John Brown planned his raid on Harper’s Ferry, Va., in Chambersburg in 1859. By 1862, following the Battle of Antietam, Chambersburg became a strategic supply and hospital center for the Union. By 1863, Confederate troops were camped all around Chambersburg. Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee and A. P. Hill met in the center of town and made the decision to proceed to Gettysburg. On July 30, 1864, Chambersburg was burned by Confederate forces. More than 500 buildings were destroyed, but Chambersburg residents rebuilt the town. Other key cities and towns in Franklin County include Greencastle, which has a rich history related to the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, Fayetteville, Waynesboro, and Mercersburg. Penn State Mont Alto also is located in Franklin County. Franklin County’s economy relies primarily on manufacturing of industrial machinery and textiles and on agriculture. The county’s agricultural businesses produce cattle, dairy products, and fruit. The county is home to 121,082 residents. Major highways servicing Franklin County include the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 76), Interstate 81, and Route 30.
Penn State \| College of Agricultural Sciences \| Cooperative Extension & Outreach This page last updated Friday, January 4, 2002 8:47 Copyright Information This publication is available in alternative media on request. Penn State is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity University. This site is a product of Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences. Please e-mail us with your questions, comments or suggestions at FranklinExt@psu.edu.

County Statistics