Fannettsburg in rural northwestern Franklin County
According to theU.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.[6]
As of the2020 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.[8]
Franklin 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.
55.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 44.5% lived in rural areas.[13]
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.[8]
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%.[8]
As of the2000 census, there were 129,313 people, 50,633 households, and 36,405 families residing in the county.[14] Thepopulation 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 orAfrican American, 0.15%Native American, 0.55%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.74% fromother races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 1.75% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 40.2% were ofGerman, 19.4%American, 7.6%Irish and 6.0%English ancestry. 96.0% spokeEnglish 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% weremarried 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.
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 from1880 to the present day. The most recent Democrat to win the county in a presidential election wasLyndon B. Johnson, who won state-wide in thePennsylvania election and in thenational 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.
As of February 5, 2024, there are 99,471 registered voters in the county. There are 61,383 registeredRepublicans, 23,279 registeredDemocrats, 11,351 voters registerednon-affiliated voters, and 3,458 voters registered toother parties.[19]
LincolnIntermediate Unit (IU#12) region includes:Adams County, Franklin County andYork 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 aGED 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.[22] 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.
Map of Franklin County, Pennsylvania with municipal labels showing boroughs (in red), townships (in white), and census-designated places (in blue)House inRoxbury inLurgan TownshipChambersburg, the county seat and largest municipality in Franklin County
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:
Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by theU.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.
