According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 522 square miles (1,350 km2), of which 519 square miles (1,340 km2) is land and 3.1 square miles (8.0 km2) (0.6%) is water.[5] The Borough of Gettysburg is located at the center of Adams County. This county seat community is surrounded on three sides by theGettysburg National Military Park (GNMP). TheEisenhower 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 7 miles (11 km) from Gettysburg. The second ring is found at a distance of 12 to 15 miles (24 km) from the county seat. This "spokes and wheel" pattern is one of the few examples ofCentral Place Theory in the Eastern United States.
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.
Adams is a consistentlyRepublican county, like most of South Central Pennsylvania. In2020,Donald Trump carried the county with 66.3% of the vote toJoe Biden's 32.2%. In2016, Democratic nomineeHillary Clinton only received 29.6% of the vote, the lowest share any Democrat had received in the county sinceGeorge McGovern 44 years prior.[8] No Democratic presidential candidate has won Adams County sinceLyndon Johnson's1964 landslide.[9] However, Democratic strength exists inGettysburg, which Biden carried 63%-35%.[10]
United States presidential election results for Adams County, Pennsylvania[11]
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, includingGettysburg. The 193rd District spans intoCumberland County to the north.
From 2012 until 2018, Adams County was part of the4th Congressional District until the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the Commonwealth's Congressional Districts constituted an illegal partisanGerrymander.[12] As a result, Adams County was moved from the 4th District to the13th Congressional District and elected a new representative in the2018 election.
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 registeredRepublicans, 18,828 registeredDemocrats, 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".[14]
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 103,852. The median age was 44.7 years. 20.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.6 males age 18 and over.[21]
36.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 63.3% lived in rural areas.[22]
There were 40,270 households in the county, of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 55.3% were married-couple households, 15.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 43,007 housing units, of which 6.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.2% were owner-occupied and 22.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.3%.[21]
Adams County, Pennsylvania – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of the 2022,[27] there were 106,027 people and 40,676 households in the county. Thepopulation 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.[27]
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.[27]
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.[27]
LincolnIntermediate Unit (IU#12) region includes Adams,Franklin, andYork 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 aGED 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.[32] 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.
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:
Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by theU.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.
^"PHMC Historical Markers Search".Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Archived fromthe original(Searchable database) on March 21, 2016. RetrievedJanuary 25, 2014.
