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Adams County, Pennsylvania

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Adams County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 103,852.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Gettysburg.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county was created on January 22, 1800, from part of York County, and was named for John Adams, the second President of the United States.

Between July 1 and July 3, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg, the bloodiest and most significant battle of the American Civil War, was fought near Gettysburg. As a result, Adams County is a center for Civil War-related tourism. The county is part of the South Central Pennsylvania region of the state.Template:Efn Adams County comprises the Gettysburg metropolitan statistical area, which is also included in the Harrisburg–York–Lebanon combined statistical area.

Geography

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File:Gettysburg ELPMemorial.jpg
The Eternal Light Peace Memorial at Gettysburg Battlefield

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.6%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Borough of Gettysburg is located at the center of Adams County. This county seat community is surrounded on three sides by the Gettysburg National Military Park (GNMP). The Eisenhower National Historic Site adjoins GNMP on its southwestern edge. Most of Adams County's rural landscapes and its mid-19th century roadway pattern remain intact today. Thirteen historic roadways converge at or near Gettysburg Borough. Two circular rings of towns surround Gettysburg; the first is typically found at a distance of approximately Template:Convert from Gettysburg. The second ring is found at a distance of 12 to Template:Convert from the county seat. This "spokes and wheel" pattern is one of the few examples of Central Place Theory in the Eastern United States.

The county is in the watershed of the Chesapeake Bay and is drained by the Susquehanna and Potomac Rivers.

Adjacent counties

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National protected areas

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Climate

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Adams has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa). Template:Weather box

Recreation

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Recreational areas of Adams County include

Government

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Commissioners

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Adams County is administered by a three-person board of commissioners, who serve four-year terms. Elections occur in the odd-numbered years that precede U.S. presidential elections, with the most recent election falling in 2023. All three commissioners are chosen in the same election, and voters may vote for no more than two of the candidates. The commissioners are responsible for the management of the fiscal and administrative functions of the county.

Official Party Term ends
Randy Phiel Republican 2027
Jim Martin Republican 2027
Marty Qually Democratic 2027

Elected county officials

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As of the May 2024<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Office Official Party Term ends
Clerk of Courts Kelly A. Lawver Republican 2025
Controller Tammy Myers Republican 2027
Coroner Francis Dutrow Republican 2027
Treasurer Chrissy Redding Republican 2025
District Attorney Brian Sinnett Republican 2027
Prothonotary Beverly Boyd Republican 2027
Recorder of Deeds and Register of Wills Karen Heflin Republican 2027
Sheriff James W. Muller Republican 2025

Politics

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Presidential politics

Adams is a consistently Republican county, like most of South Central Pennsylvania. In 2020, Donald Trump carried the county with 66.3% of the vote to Joe Biden's 32.2%. In 2016, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton only received 29.6% of the vote, the lowest share any Democrat had received in the county since George McGovern 44 years prior.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> No Democratic presidential candidate has won Adams County since Lyndon Johnson's 1964 landslide.<ref>Sullivan, Robert David; "How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century"; America Magazine in The National Catholic Review; June 29, 2016</ref> However, Democratic strength exists in Gettysburg, which Biden carried 63%-35%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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Pennsylvania House of Representatives

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Adams County consists of two Pennsylvania House Districts. The 91st district is exclusively in Adams County, comprising the southern and middle parts of the county, including Gettysburg. The 193rd District spans into Cumberland County to the north.

District Representative Party
91 Dan Moul Republican
193 Torren Ecker Republican

Pennsylvania Senate

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Adams County is entirely contained within the 33rd Senatorial District, which also includes parts of York and Franklin counties.

District Representative Party
33 Doug Mastriano Republican

United States House of Representatives

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From 2012 until 2018, Adams County was part of the 4th Congressional District until the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the Commonwealth's Congressional Districts constituted an illegal partisan Gerrymander.<ref>Template:Cite court</ref> As a result, Adams County was moved from the 4th District to the 13th Congressional District and elected a new representative in the 2018 election.

District Representative Party
13 John Joyce Republican

United States Senate

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Voter registration

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As of February 8, 2025, there were 74,542 registered voters in the county. Republicans hold a majority of the voters. There were 43,362 registered Republicans, 18,828 registered Democrats, 9,476 voters without any partisan affiliation, and 2,876 voters registered to other parties. "Other parties" also includes voters who left their preferred party blank; only those who chose "no affiliation" are included under "no partisan affiliation".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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Voter registration and party enrollment
Party Number of voters Percentage
Template:Party color cell Republican 43,362 58.17%
Template:Party color cell Democratic 18,828 25.26%
Template:Party color cell No partisan affiliation 9,476 12.71%
Template:Party color cell Other parties 2,876 3.86%
Total 74,542 100%

Demographics

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Template:US Census population

As of the 2022,<ref>https://censusreporter.org/profiles/05000US42001-adams-county-pa/ U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2022</ref> there were 106,027 people and 40,676 households in the county. The population density was 204.4 people per square mile. There were 43,653 housing units with 76% of the units owner occupied.

90.7% of the population 25 years and over were high school graduates, and 24.3% had a bachelor's degree or higher. Per capita income was $36,150, and the median household income was $76,727. 8.4% of the population lived below the poverty line.

The racial makeup of the county was 87% White, 1% Black or African American, 0.0% Native American, 1% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 3% from other races, and 7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 7.8% of the population were military veterans. 19% of the population was under 18, 59% between 18 and 64, and 22% 65 or over.

There were 40,676 households, of which 68% were married couples living together, 10% had a female householder with no husband present, 4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 17% were non-families. The average household size was 2.5. The median value of owner-occupied housing units was $255,900.

2020 census

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Adams County racial composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 89,945 86.6%
Black or African American (NH) 1,473 1.42%
Native American (NH) 147 0.14%
Asian (NH) 952 1%
Pacific Islander (NH) 33 0.03%
Other/mixed (NH) 3,512 3.4%
Hispanic or Latino 7,790 7.5%

Metropolitan and combined statistical area

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The US OMB<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> has designated Adams County as the Gettysburg, PA metropolitan statistical area (MSA). As of the 2010 census<ref name="Census2010">Template:Cite web</ref> the metropolitan area population of 101,407 ranked 19th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 349th most populous in the United States. Adams County is also a part of the larger Harrisburg–York–Lebanon combined statistical area (CSA), which combines the populations of Adams County with those of Cumberland, Dauphin, Lebanon, Perry and York counties in Pennsylvania. The combined statistical area ranked 5th in the State of Pennsylvania and 43rd most populous in the United States, with a population of 1,219,422.

Education

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File:Map of Adams County Pennsylvania School Districts.png
Map of Adams County school districts

Colleges and universities

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Community, junior and technical colleges

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Public school districts

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School districts include:<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>

Public charter schools

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County residents may apply to attend any of the Commonwealth's 14 (as of 2015) public, cyber charter schools at no additional cost to the parents.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Private schools

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Template:Div col As reported by Pennsylvania Department of Education May 2024

  • Adams County Christian Academy – Gettysburg
  • Delone Catholic High School – McSherrystown
  • Forest Lane Mennonite School – Gettysburg
  • Freedom Christian School – Gettysburg
  • Gettysburg Adventist Christian School – Gettysburg
  • Indian Acres Amish School - Gettysburg
  • JIL Christian School – Biglerville
  • Pheasant Cottage Amish School - Littlestown
  • St. Francis Xavier School - Gettysburg
  • St. Teresa of Calcutta School (Conewago) - Hanover
  • St. Teresa of Calcutta School -McSherrystown

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Intermediate Unit

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Lincoln Intermediate Unit (IU#12) region includes Adams, Franklin, and York counties. 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 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 provides a GED program for adults to earn a high school diploma, and offers 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.<ref>Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12 website (accessed April 2010)</ref> There are 29 intermediate units in Pennsylvania. They are funded by school districts, state and federal program specific funding and grants; they do not have the power to tax.

Libraries

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  • A R Wentz Library – Gettysburg
  • Adams County Historical Society<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> – Gettysburg
  • Carroll Valley Library – Carroll Valley<ref name="adamslibrary.org">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Adams County Law Library – Gettysburg<ref name="adamslibrary.org"/>
  • Adams County Library - Gettysburg<ref name="adamslibrary.org"/>
  • Harbaugh-Thomas Library – Biglervilleh<ref name="adamslibrary.org"/>
  • Jean Barnett Trone Memorial Library of East Berlin<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> – East Berlin
  • Littlestown Community Library – Littlestown<ref name="adamslibrary.org"/>
  • Musselman Library – Gettysburg
  • New Oxford Area Library – New Oxford<ref name="adamslibrary.org"/>

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Transportation

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Air

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There are currently no scheduled commercial flights into Adams County. The nearest airports with regular commercial service are in Hagerstown, Maryland (Hagerstown Regional Airport), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (Harrisburg International Airport), and Lancaster, Pennsylvania (Lancaster Airport).

Bus

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Public bus service in Adams County is available through the Adams County Transit Authority.

Major roads and highways

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Communities

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File:Map of Adams County Pennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels.png
Map of Adams County with municipal labels showing boroughs (red), townships (white), and census-designated places (blue)

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 Adams County, as well as unincorporated areas and CDPs:

Boroughs

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Townships

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Census-designated places

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Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data, but are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well. Template:Div col

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Unincorporated areas

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Population ranking

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The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Adams County.<ref name="Census2010"/>

† county seat

Rank City/town/etc. Population (2010 Census) Municipal type Incorporated
1 † Gettysburg 7,620 Borough 1806
2 Littlestown 4,434 Borough 1864
3 Carroll Valley 3,876 Borough 1974
4 McSherrystown 3,038 Borough 1882
5 Lake Meade 2,563 CDP
6 Midway 2,125 CDP
7 Bonneauville 1,800 Borough 1961
8 New Oxford 1,783 Borough 1874
9 East Berlin 1,521 Borough 1879
10 Lake Heritage 1,333 CDP
11 Biglerville 1,200 Borough 1903
12 Abbottstown 1,011 Borough 1835
13 Arendtsville 952 Borough 1896
14 York Springs 833 Borough 1868
15 Heidlersburg 707 CDP
16 Bendersville 641 Borough 1866
17 Hampton 632 CDP
18 Hunterstown 547 CDP
19 Fairfield 507 Borough 1896
20 Cashtown 459 CDP
21 Aspers 350 CDP
22 McKnightstown 226 CDP
23 Idaville 177 CDP
24 Orrtanna 173 CDP
25 Gardners 150 CDP
26 Table Rock 62 CDP
27 Floradale 38 CDP

Notable people

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See also

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Notes

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References

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Template:Geographic Location Template:Adams County, Pennsylvania Template:Pennsylvania Template:Authority control Template:Coord

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