Franklin County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 155,932.^[1] Its county seat is Chambersburg.^[2]

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Franklin County
County
Franklin County Courthouse in Chambersburg in October 2013
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°56′N 77°43′W
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
Founded	September 9, 1784
Named for	Benjamin Franklin
Seat	Chambersburg
Largest borough	Chambersburg
Area
• Total	773 sq mi (2,000 km2)
• Land	772 sq mi (2,000 km2)
• Water	0.6 sq mi (2 km2)  0.08%
Population  (2020)
• Total	155,932
• Density	200/sq mi (80/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	13th
Website	www.franklincountypa.gov

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Franklin County comprises the Chambersburg–Waynesboro, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Washington–Baltimore combined statistical area. The county is part of the South Central Pennsylvania region of the state.^{[lower-alpha 1]}

Originally part of Lancaster County (1729), then York County (1749), then Cumberland County (1750), Franklin County became an independent jurisdiction on September 9, 1784, relatively soon after the end of the American Revolutionary War.^[3] It is named in honor of Founding Father Benjamin Franklin.^[4]

According to the U.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.^[5]

Franklin County is in the watershed of the Chesapeake Bay and the overwhelming majority of it is drained by the Potomac River, but the Conodoguinet Creek and the Shermans Creek drain northeastern portions into the Susquehanna River. It has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and its hardiness zone is 6b. Average monthly temperatures in Chambersburg range from 29.9 °F in January to 74.7 °F in July.^[6]

As of the census^[7] of 2000, there were 129,313 people, 50,633 households, and 36,405 families residing in the county. The population 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 or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.74% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 1.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 40.2% were of German, 19.4% American, 7.6% Irish and 6.0% English ancestry. 96.0% spoke English 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% were married 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.

In 2001, Franklin County was featured in David Brooks' article "One Nation, Slightly Divisible" in The Atlantic as a representative Red or Republican Party county.^[8]

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 from 1880 to the present day. The most recent Democrat to win the county in a presidential election was Lyndon B. Johnson, who won state-wide in the Pennsylvania election and in the national 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.

• John Fetterman, Democrat
• Bob Casey, Democrat

There are four Pennsylvania state parks in Franklin County.

• Caledonia State Park straddles the Franklin and Adams County line along U.S. Route 30 between Chambersburg and Gettysburg.
• Buchanan's Birthplace State Park is the birthplace of the 15th President of the United States, James Buchanan.
• Mont Alto State Park is the oldest state park in Pennsylvania.
• Cowans Gap State Park is largely surrounded by Buchanan State Forest and straddles the Franklin and Fulton County border.

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:

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Franklin County, Pennsylvania
• Bloom Brothers Department Stores