Franklin County

Book excerpt: When America was in its formative years, Franklin County was a frontier resting in the heart of the Cumberland Valley. Scots-Irish, German, and other immigrants moved into the area, some settling in Franklin County and others moving on to settle in areas farther west and south. On September 9, 1784, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania established Franklin County as its 14th county. Franklin County has a considerable amount of villages and hamlets close to the main communities of Chambersburg, Greencastle, Mercersburg, Shippensburg, and Waynesboro. From photographs of a railroad tycoon's festive celebration to the Liberty Bell passing through Franklin County or the arrival of the first automobile, Franklin County captures life in these main communities and the surrounding countryside, as well as the people and events that have shaped this area.