FranklinTownship was formed on the last Tuesday of October 1785 during the quarterly session of the York County Court. It was taken from what was then CumberlandTownship, YorkCounty. This newly formed township was named after Benjamin Franklin and was comprised of mostly woodlands with small parcels of farmland.FranklinTownship encompasses 72 square miles. A total of 135 miles of public roads wind through its boundaries.  Of the 135 miles of roadway, the township maintains 80 miles, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation maintains 37 miles and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources maintains 18 miles.  FranklinTownship maintains the largest amount of roadway compared to all other municipalities within the county. 13 miles of roadway are still dirt covered. The first road traveling through Franklin Township was the "Black's Gap Road", which is known today as Hilltown Road.The highest elevation is recorded at 2,100 feet in the South Mountain area (near Mount Newman), and the lowest elevation is recorded at 530 feet near the Eastern boundary of the township. The elevation of Cashtown is 800 feet, and Rock Top, a wooded hill directly west of Cashtown, is recorded at 1,210 feet.

Several tributaries flow through the township feeding the headwaters of the Potomac River. These tributaries are as follows: The eastern branch of the Conococheague, which includes Hosack Run, Stillhouse Run, Pine Run, Birch Run and Carbaugh Run. Tributaries of the Conewago Creek feed the SusquehannaRiver basin. Marsh Creek and Muscrat Run are also tributaries that travel through the township. There are also 2 major bodies of water in the township: The Long Pine Reservoir, Birch Run Reservoir, and half of the Carbaugh Reservoir (the other half of the Carbaugh Reservoir lies in HamiltonbanTownship).FranklinTownship had several limestone mines within its boundaries in the 1700's and 1800's. These mines were located between Cashtown and Hilltown, and another between Arendtsville and Mummasburg. FranklinTownship also had numerous iron ore mines. Two of these sites were on the George Cole farm in BuchananValley, and another could be found on the Peter Comfort farm, located along the Big Marsh Creek, one mile east of Cashtown. This mine was considered one of the most important mines in AdamsCounty at the time.including minute books, account books, voucher forms and treasurer's bond forms. Supervisors were permitted to work on the roads with their compensation being set by the Board of Auditors. Only non-working supervisors could receive meeting pay from ranging from $1.00 to $4.00.

In 1913, Congress approved the construction of the "Lincoln Highway", which is now part of Chambersburg Road and Old Route 30. The construction was completed in 1922. As late as 1914, there were several tollhouses along the Lincoln Highway. One was located in Cashtown, another at what is now the Kane farm near Tick Tock, and the last one was located somewhere near Mount Newman.The Round Barn, which is still standing today, was constructed in 1914, by Noah Sheely. Sheely wanted to build something that was different. The barn, originally constructed to house farm animals, now serves as a fruit market.The roles of Pennsylvania townships have undergone many changes since their creation, and are sure to undergo many more. To quote Mr. Philip Dewey (TiogaCounty), First President of the State Association of Township Supervisors, during his opening remarks at the first annual Convention in 1922.