Adams County, Pennsylvania is located in the south central region of the state and is part of the Cumberland Valley region. It was named after the second president of the United States, John Adams. The county is bordered to the north by Franklin County, to the east by York County, to the south by Maryland, and to the west by Cumberland County. The county seat is Gettysburg, which is also home to Gettysburg National Military Park.
The total area of Adams County is 533 square miles and it has a population of about 101,407 people as of 2019. The median household income for Adams County residents was $57,841 in 2018.
The climate in Adams County can be described as humid continental with cold winters and hot summers. Average temperatures range from 35 degrees Fahrenheit in January to 74 degrees Fahrenheit in July. Precipitation averages around 41 inches per year and snowfall averages around 30 inches per year with an average winter snow depth of 6 inches.
Adams County is home to many historical sites including Gettysburg National Military Park which includes Gettysburg Battlefield National Cemetery, Eisenhower National Historic Site, David Wills House Museum and Gettysburg Museum of History. Other historical attractions include Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters at Pine Grove Furnace State Park and Little Round Top at Gettysburg National Military Park. There are also many parks throughout Adams County including Gifford Pinchot State Park, Codorus State Park and Pine Grove Furnace State Park which offer a variety of recreational activities such as camping, fishing, hiking and biking trails as well as swimming pools for visitors’ enjoyment.
Adams county has a thriving economy supported by several industries including manufacturing (textiles), agriculture (dairy products), tourism (Gettysburg Battlefield), retail (Gettysburg Outlet Center), healthcare (WellSpan Health System) and education (Pennsylvania State University). In addition to these industries there are also numerous small businesses throughout Adams county that provide services such as landscaping companies and restaurants that serve locally grown produce from nearby farms or markets like South Mountain Farmers Market or Hanover Farmers Market that offer local goods from farmers within a 50-mile radius of Hanover Borough.
Adams county also offers a wide range of cultural activities such as theater performances at Majestic Theater or music concerts at Strand Capitol Performing Arts Center located in downtown York which features live music events throughout the year or you can visit one of many museums located throughout Adams county like Shriver House Museum or Jennie Wade House Museum both located near Gettysburg battlefields where you can learn about civil war history or visit one of many wineries in South Mountain Wine Trail region like Naylor Wine Cellars where you can sample some locally produced wines while enjoying beautiful views from nearby hillsides.
Overall, Adams county provides an excellent quality life with its combination of rural charm blended with modern amenities making it an ideal place for anyone looking for a place to call home.
History of Adams County, Pennsylvania
Adams County, Pennsylvania is located in the south-central part of the state. It was created in 1800 from a part of York County and is named after President John Adams. The county has a total area of 527 square miles and a population of nearly 102,000 people as of 2020.
The earliest inhabitants of Adams County were Native Americans, including the Susquehannock and Iroquois tribes. In 1736, German settlers began arriving in the area, followed by Scots-Irish settlers in 1738. By 1750, the population had grown to over 1,000 people and included Quakers and Mennonites. In 1777, during the Revolutionary War, Adams County was established as part of York County. During this time period, many battles were fought in this area including the Battle of Gettysburg which took place on July 1st 1863.
In 1800, Adams County was officially created out of York County with Gettysburg being designated as its county seat. During this period many townships were formed such as Hamiltonban Township which is now known as Gettysburg Borough and Menallen Township which is now known as Biglerville Borough.
In 1832, a portion of Cumberland Valley Railroad was completed connecting Chambersburg to Gettysburg making it easier for goods to be transported into Adams County from other parts of Pennsylvania and beyond. This enabled manufactures to set up businesses along this route making it an industrial hub for farming equipment and agricultural products such as flour mills and woolen mills among other industries.
During the Civil War period, Adams county became one of the most important battlefields in American History when Confederate forces clashed with Union forces at Gettysburg on July 1st 1863 resulting in more than 51 thousand casualties over three days before Lee’s army retreated back into Virginia on July 4th 1863.. This battle marked a turning point for Union forces helping them gain ultimate victory over Confederate forces at Appomattox Court House two years later ending slavery in America forever..
In 1878, a monument honoring Abraham Lincoln’s dedication speech at Gettysburg was erected which still stands today drawing visitors from around the country to visit this important site every year.. After World War II tourism increased dramatically due to its proximity to Washington D.C., Baltimore, Harrisburg and Philadelphia making it an attractive destination for visitors looking for a rural getaway within close proximity to major cities.. Today Adams county continues to be an important agricultural center with numerous farms located throughout its rolling hillsides while also being home to historical sites that draw thousands of visitors each year.