ADAMS COUNTY

County Offices
117 Baltimore Street
Gettysburg 717-337-6781
www.adamscounty.us

Chamber of Commerce
1382 Biglerville Road
Gettysburg 717-334-8151
www.gettysburg-chamber.org

With its rolling hills and rich farmland, Adams County has been dubbed as ‘Apple Capital USA’ for its sprawling orchards. One of Pennsylvania’s fastest-growing areas, Adams County is an agricultural jewel set in the heart of the very heart of the southeastern ‘Fertile Crescent.’ In addition to mouth-watering apples, some of the nation’s finest peaches and vegetables are planted, nurtured and harvested in this breathtakingly beautiful countryside. Of special importance is the “Adams County Fruit Belt,” where orchards stretch for miles along the eastern slops of the South Mountain Range.

In the midst of progress, Adams County has managed to remain a haven of natural wonder, quiet lifestyles, panoramic vistas and vast recreational opportunities. Had it not been for the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg, this rural haven would probably never have achieved the national and international fame that draws millions to its verdant hillsides and quaint towns. However, the events that occurred in a nation torn by civil strife have ensured Gettysburg’s place as one of America’s most celebrated and most visited historical areas. Many years later when former President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his wife Mamie selected Gettysburg as the location for their retirement home and farm, the magnetism of this quiet and peaceful countryside became even stronger.

Lush townships and quaint villages dot the countryside— including Fairfield, New Oxford, East Berlin, Littlestown, Biglerville, and Carroll Valley—providing comfortable hometowns for living and working.  Although the service sector is growing, manufacturing is the largest non-agricultural employment sector. Products are diverse, ranging from electronic components to outdoor lighting and escalators. Commercial air and air freight service is available at nearby Harrisburg International Airport, and two national highways—U.S. Route 30 and 25—provide a strong network of connections to major interstates.

Services
Adams County youth receive an outstanding education in area public school districts. The county has developed a variety of early intervention and student support programs as well as programs for the gifted and challenged to ensure that every individual has the opportunity for optimum development and self-expression. High technology education has been implemented across the curriculum ensuring state-of-the-art educational tools and instruction.

Options for higher education close to home include the Gettysburg Area Adult Education Center, an extension of the Harrisburg Area Community College. The coeducational, liberal arts institution of Gettysburg College is an excellent choice for many, enrolling more than 2,100 students in a wide variety of programs. The Lutheran Theological Seminary is also located in Gettysburg. In neighboring counties are excellent choices like the Penn State University extensions, Shippensburg University, Millersville University, and York College of Pennsylvania.

Residents of Adams County have the convenience of a full range of inpatient and outpatient treatment at the Gettysburg Hospital or nearby Hanover Hospital. Gettysburg hospital offers a wide range of physician specialties from cardiology to reconstructive surgery. In addition to the area hospitals, residents are served by a dynamic network of health and human service agencies, a state health center, skilled nursing and other rehabilitation services.

Lifestyle
Scattered throughout Adams County, newcomers will discover charming villages, secluded hamlets, and beautiful towns that claim a rich architectural heritage. Like many rural corners of America’s heartland, the county was settled long ago by friendly people with a strong work ethic and commitment to traditional values. Beautiful older homes line the streets of long-established neighborhoods, while newer construction is available in a growing number of residential developments. Quaint farmhouses or sprawling ranches provide generous acreage for raising and keeping horses.

Recreational opportunities in and around Adams County are exceptional, including some of Pennsylvania’s most beautiful state parks. Caledonia State Park, Michaux State Forest, Codorus State Park, Gifford Pinchot State Park, and Pine Grove Furnace Park encourage hours of fun and relaxation. Swimming, boating, fishing, picnicking, camping, hiking, and biking are just a few of the myriad of activities supported by groomed trails, woodlands, open spaces and acres of shimmering lakes. Winter becomes a magical time for downhill skiing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, sledding and ice-skating. State gamelands and private land are open to the public for in-season hunting, miles of waterways swell with stocked and native trout, and many ponds are home to bass and other desirable catches.

Even within the region’s towns and villages, you’ll find first-rate recreational facilities. Golfers will discover challenging courses throughout Adams County, along with nearby country clubs. Those who enjoy the competition of organized sports and league play will find a variety of teams. Community centers and YMCAs or YWCAs ensure that recreational programs are available to satisfy every age group and interest. Those who desire the thrill of professional sports will find an array of teams in nearby Hershey and Harrisburg as well as Baltimore, Washington DC, and Philadelphia.

Aficionados of the arts can look forward to an equally satisfying calendar of events. Just off Route 30 west of Gettysburg, the Totem Pole Playhouse provides a summer season of Broadway quality shows guaranteed to entertain and delight. Don’t miss the galleries, museums, and theater attractions of Gettysburg, where art and history mingle in unique and fascinating venues. Spicing up the flavor of country living is a year-round schedule of festivals, special events, and fairs. Southeastern Pennsylvania is known for its homespun delicacies, crafts, wonderful fruit, and farmer’s markets. Adding cosmopolitan amenities to the rural lifestyle of Adams County is nearby York County. The Borough of Hanover is particularly convenient to many Adams County residents, playing a vital role in daily life and activities. In fact, Hanover and the surrounding York County communities combine to form a commercial hub, marketplace, and employment center for thousands of people who have settled along the Mason-Dixon Line in the hills of rural Pennsylvania. With its unsurpassed natural beauty, rural setting, and quiet ambiance, it is little wonder that Adams County is experiencing rapid growth and expansion in every sector.

Carroll Valley, Fairfield
Municipal Offices
717-642-8269
www.carrollvalley.org

Chamber of Commerce
717-334-8151
www.gettysburg-chamber.org

Nestled in the scenic Catoctin Mountains about eight miles from Gettysburg, the small communities of Carroll Valley and Fairfield excel in quality of life. Area youth receive an excellent education in the Fairfield Area School District, and recreational amenities in and near the community are outstanding. The 20-acre municipal park in Carroll Valley Borough encourages sports play, picnics, and relaxation. Gracing the western boundary of the park are Lake Carroll and Tom’s Creek. Amenities like Ski Liberty and a lovely golf course as well as premier sites like Caledonia State Park offer four-season outdoor recreation for local residents.

Conewago Township
Borough Hall
717-266-2122
http://conewagotwp.com

Chamber of Commerce
717-637-6130
www.hanoverchamber.com

With its township offices in Hanover, Conewago Township is located near the Maryland border. The township encompasses a number of small communities including Edgegrove, Brushtown, Midway, and Mount Pleasant as well as agricultural, industrial, and commercial areas. Balancing the needs of its residents with quality growth, township planners are dedicated to preserving the rural atmosphere of the region. Attractions in this area include the Hanover Shoe Farms, known internationally as the “Greatest Name in Harness Racing.” The name inspires images of fine horses roaming the township’s open land. As the leading money-producing breeder of Standardbred racehorses, Hanover Shoe Farms’ sires are multiple winners of the most famous of harness racing events. Another popular site is the Conewago Chapel, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Famous for its architectural magnificence as well as its historic importance, the basilica was used by Jesuit missionaries to minister to area Native Americans. Well-preserved embellishments were added through the centuries as the church prospered and grew.

Gettysburg, Biglerville
Gettysburg Borough Hall
717-334-1160
www.gettysburgpa.gov

Biglerville Borough Hall
717-677-9488
www.adamscounty.us/Munic/Pages/Biglerville-Borough.aspx

Chamber of Commerce
717-334-2100
www.gettysburg-chamber.org

Serving as the seat of county government and the largest population center in Adams County, Gettysburg Borough is famous as the site of the Battle of Gettysburg in July of 1863. This area was also immortalized by Abraham Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address delivered in the same year. Dotted by thousands of 2,000 historical markers, monuments, and Civil War museums, the borough has evolved into a hub of tourism, historical research, education, and culture. A treasure for those who appreciate antiques and distinctive architecture, the downtown district features vintage lamps that glow above the streets and quaint sidewalks that line the square. Enhanced by the presence of Gettysburg College and a major hospital, the small-town charm and vast recreational opportunities in and around Gettysburg make it a delightful place to call home. The small borough of Biglerville offers small-town intimacy just three miles away.

Littlestown
Municipal Offices
717-359-5101
www.adamscounty.us/Munic/LittlestownBorough

Chamber of Commerce
717-334-2100
www.gettysburg-chamber.org

The small borough of Littlestown offers a close-knit community atmosphere and family-oriented lifestyle in pastoral Adams County. The heart of the community, the downtown district, is undergoing massive revitalization and renovation that include infrastructure upgrades, attractive street lighting, and structural beautification. This sweeping project reflects the pride that civic leaders and local residents have in this quiet and comfortable hometown. Elements of existing monuments and historic points of pride will be integrated with landscaping, brick and granite paving, artwork, benches, and large shade trees. Within residential neighborhoods, newcomers will find well-kept homes along tranquil streets.

New Oxford
Municipal Offices
717-624-2188
www.adamscounty.us/Munic/Pages/New-Oxford-Borough.aspx

Chamber of Commerce
717-624-2800
www.newoxford.org

Touting itself as the “Antique Capital of Central Pennsylvania,” the borough of New Oxford is located just nine miles east of Gettysburg and five miles north of Hanover. Permanent shops filled with collectibles are complemented by the borough’s famous Annual Antique Market & Craft Show. As “The little town with the beautiful circle,” New Oxford offers an attractive hometown centered by a quaint square, surrounded by scenic countryside and rolling pasture lands. Many of the 18th and 19th-century homes have been restored to their former splendor.