Adams County, Pennsylvania


Adams County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 103,852. Its county seat is Gettysburg. 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. Adams County comprises the Gettysburg metropolitan statistical area, which is also included in the Harrisburg–York–Lebanon combined statistical area. The county is part of the South Central region of the commonwealth.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. 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. 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 from Gettysburg. The second ring is found at a distance of 12 to 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.

National protected areas

Climate

Adams has a hot-summer humid continental climate.

Recreation

Recreational areas of Adams County include

Government

Commissioners

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.
OfficialPartyTerm ends
Randy PhielRepublican2027
Jim MartinRepublican2027
Marty QuallyDemocratic2027

Elected county officials

As of the May 2024
OfficeOfficialPartyTerm ends
Clerk of CourtsKelly A. LawverRepublican2025
ControllerTammy MyersRepublican2027
CoronerFrancis DutrowRepublican2027
TreasurerChrissy ReddingRepublican2025
District AttorneyBrian SinnettRepublican2027
ProthonotaryBeverly BoydRepublican2027
Recorder of Deeds and Register of WillsKaren HeflinRepublican2027
SheriffJames W. MullerRepublican2025

Politics

Presidential politics
Adams is a consistently Republican county, like most of South Central Pennsylvania. In 2020 [United States presidential election in Pennsylvania|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. No Democratic presidential candidate has won Adams County since Lyndon Johnson's 1964 landslide. However, Democratic strength exists in Gettysburg, which Biden carried 63%-35%.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

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.
DistrictRepresentativeParty
91Dan MoulRepublican
193Torren EckerRepublican

Pennsylvania Senate

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

United States House of Representatives

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. As a result, Adams County was moved from the 4th District to the 13th Congressional District and elected a new representative in the 2018 [United States House of Representatives elections|2018 election].
DistrictRepresentativeParty
13John JoyceRepublican

United States Senate

Voter registration

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".

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 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.
36.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 63.3% lived in rural areas.
The racial makeup of the county was 88.1% White, 1.5% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.7% from some other race, and 5.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 7.5% of the population.
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%.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2000Pop 2010% 2000% 2010
White alone 85,55891,83089,94593.71%90.55%86.60%
Black or African American alone 1,0461,4501,4731.14%1.42%1.41%
Native American or Alaska Native alone 1641461470.17%0.14%0.14%
Asian alone 4467379520.48%0.72%0.91%
Pacific Islander alone 1620330.01%0.01%0.03%
Other race alone 84793330.09%0.07%0.32%
Mixed race or Multiracial 6551,0303,1790.71%1.01%3.06%
Hispanic or Latino 3,3236,1157,7903.63%6.03%7.50%
Total91,292101,407103,852100.00%100.00%100.00%

2022 American Community Survey

As of the 2022, 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.
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.

Metropolitan and combined statistical area

The US OMB has designated Adams County as the Gettysburg, PA metropolitan statistical area . As of the 2010 census 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 , 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

Colleges and universities

Community, junior and technical colleges

Public school districts

School districts include:

Public charter schools

County residents may apply to attend any of the Commonwealth's 14 public, cyber charter schools at no additional cost to the parents.

Private schools

As reported by 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 - Hanover
  • St. Teresa of Calcutta School -McSherrystown

Intermediate Unit

Lincoln Intermediate Unit 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, 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. 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

  • A R Wentz Library – Gettysburg
  • Adams County Historical Society – Gettysburg
  • Carroll Valley Library – Carroll Valley
  • Adams County Law Library – Gettysburg
  • Adams County Library - Gettysburg
  • Harbaugh-Thomas Library – Biglervilleh
  • Jean Barnett Trone Memorial Library of East Berlin – East Berlin
  • Littlestown Community Library – Littlestown
  • Musselman Library – Gettysburg
  • New Oxford Area Library – New Oxford

Transportation

Air

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

Bus

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

Communities

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities in Pennsylvania|cities], boroughs in Pennsylvania|boroughs], townships in Pennsylvania|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

Townships

Census-designated places

s 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.

Unincorporated areas

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Adams County.
† county seat
RankCity/town/etc.Population Municipal typeIncorporated
1† Gettysburg7,620Borough1806
2Littlestown4,434Borough1864
3Carroll Valley3,876Borough1974
4McSherrystown3,038Borough1882
5Lake Meade2,563CDP
6Midway2,125CDP
7Bonneauville1,800Borough1961
8New Oxford1,783Borough1874
9East Berlin1,521Borough1879
10Lake Heritage1,333CDP
11Biglerville1,200Borough1903
12Abbottstown1,011Borough1835
13Arendtsville952Borough1896
14York Springs833Borough1868
15Heidlersburg707CDP
16Bendersville641Borough1866
17Hampton632CDP
18Hunterstown547CDP
19Fairfield507Borough1896
20Cashtown459CDP
21Aspers350CDP
22McKnightstown226CDP
23Idaville177CDP
24Orrtanna173CDP
25Gardners150CDP
26Table Rock62CDP
27Floradale38CDP

Notable people