Franklin County (pop. 149,618) is east of Fulton County. Its population has grown in every U.S. Census since 1790.

It is one of 25 Franklin counties in the U.S., and one of the 23 named for Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790).

Franklin County has an Alexander Hamilton House (in Waynesboro) and a Robert Kennedy Presbyterian Church (in Montgomery Township). They were named, respectively, for a local wagon maker and a 19th-century pastor.

Hamilton House

James Buchanan (1791-1868), the only president from Pennsylvania, was born in the community of Cove Gap. He was the 15th president.

Buchanan’s Birthplace State Park

The county seat of Franklin County is Chambersburg (pop. 20,268).

Franklin County Courthouse (1865)

Chambersburg has a giant apple truck metal statue, part of the Roadside Giants of the Lincoln Highway project.

1.5 tons

The Franklin County community of Greencastle (pop. 3,996) has a giant firecracker, outside a fireworks store.

In the community of Mercersburg (pop. 1,561) the Mercersburg Academy is a college preparatory boarding school. Actors James Stewart and Benicio del Toro attended, although not at the same time.

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