Franklin Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania

For other Pennsylvania townships with similar names, see Franklin Township, Pennsylvania (disambiguation).

Franklin Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania
Township
St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church in the Buchanan Valley of Franklin Township
Seal
Location of Franklin Township in Adams County, Pennsylvania and of Adams County in Pennsylvania
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Adams
Settled	1738
Incorporated	Before 1800
Area [1]
• Total	68.48 sq mi (177.36 km2)
• Land	68.16 sq mi (176.54 km2)
• Water	0.32 sq mi (0.82 km2)
Population  (2020) [2]
• Total	4,671
• Estimate  (2023) [2]	4,745
• Density	71.87/sq mi (27.75/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code	717
FIPS code	42-001-27320
Website	www.franklintwp.us

Franklin Township is a township in Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,671 at the 2020 census. ^[2]

History

Middlekauf House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places

The township is the location of the Carbaugh Run Rhyolite Quarry Site, where Native Americans mined rhyolite for stone tools. It is an archaeological site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. ^[3]

Geography

Franklin Township occupies the northwestern portion of Adams County. The western and northern portions of the township are covered by several ridges that make up South Mountain, the northern extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains. U.S. Route 30, the Lincoln Highway, passes through the center of the township, around the northern edges of the unincorporated communities of Cashtown and McKnightstown. Along U.S. 30, it is 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from the eastern border of the township to Gettysburg and 10.6 miles (17.1 km) from the western border of the township to Chambersburg. Franklin Township is one of 21 townships in Adams County, Pennsylvania.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 68.5 square miles (177.3 km²), of which 68.1 square miles (176.3 km²) is land and 0.39 square miles (1.0 km²), or 0.58%, is water. ^[4] Franklin Township is the largest township in area, and fourth in population, in Adams County. One-third of the township consists of State Forest. Land held by the State and Federal government is nontaxable for both the school property taxes, township taxes and county taxes.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2000	4,590		—
2010	4,877		6.3%
2020	4,671		−4.2%
2023 (est.)	4,745	[2]	1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [5]

As of the census ^[6] of 2000, there were 4,590 people, 1,651 households, and 1,264 families residing in the township. The population density was 67.1 inhabitants per square mile (25.9/km²). There were 1,824 housing units at an average density of 26.7 per square mile (10.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 93.64% White, 1.74% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 3.22% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.75% of the population.

There were 1,651 households, out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.7% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.4% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the township the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $44,974, and the median income for a family was $47,256. Males had a median income of $32,585 versus $20,898 for females. The per capita income for the township was $18,510. About 4.1% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The township is in the Gettysburg Area School District. ^[7]

Franklin Township Elementary School has an Orrtanna post office address, ^[8] but is physically in the Cashtown CDP. ^[9] This is the zoned school for Cashtown, McKnightstown, and portions of Orrtanna. ^[10] The district's comprehensive middle and high schools are Gettysburg Area Middle School and Gettysburg Area High School.

References

1. "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
2. Bureau, US Census. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2023". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2024.{{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
3. Beckerman, Ira. National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Carbaugh Run Rhyolite Quarry Site (36AD30). National Park Service, 1981.
4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Franklin township, Adams County, Pennsylvania". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
5. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
6. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
7. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Adams County, PA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved October 19, 2024. - Text list
8. "Home". Franklin Township Elementary School. Retrieved October 19, 2024. 870 Old Route 30 Orrtanna PA 17353
9. "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Cashtown CDP, PA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved October 19, 2024. - School not directly indicated on this map. Compare map to the full location of the school.
10. "Elementary Boundaries". Gettysburg Area School District . Retrieved October 19, 2024.

External links

• Franklin Township official website

39°53′27″N77°20′52″W / 39.89083°N 77.34778°W / 39.89083; -77.34778