Welcome to Germany Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania! Your online resource.
We are nestled in the southern part of Adams County in south-central Pennsylvania.
This site features information about the Germany Township municipal government and the different township committees. Within these pages, you will find information that will explain the township operations, important dates for meetings, recent accomplishments and answers to frequently asked questions. A comprehensive list of the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission and Auditors' meeting minutes and documents are found within. Notices of special meetings will be posted on an as needed basis, so be sure to check back often. Agendas will be available here to better serve those planning to attend upcoming meetings. An archive is also included for review of older committee documents.
For those new to the township or planning to build within the township, a comprehensive list of resource personnel including contact information is available here. Multiple reference documents are available for downloading, including the latest Ordinances, the Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance and the Joint Comprehensive Plan, to name a few. Please visit the web site often to read the latest news of what's happening within the township government and committees.
Here is the Germany Township office contact information:
Germany Township
P.O. Box 121
Littlestown, PA 17340
Phone: (717) 359-7537
Fax: (717) 359-8164
Email: germanytwp@comcast.net
Germany Township Office
103 South Queen Street
Littlestown
Business Hours:
Monday thru Thursday, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
except on the days of Township Supervisor's meetings,
the office hours will be 12:00pm - 5:00pm.
News
Codification Begins
Codification of Township Ordinances has begun; the Board of Supervisors has hired General Code to review all township ordinances. The current Township ordinances will be converted to electronic format and reviewed with recommendations to bring them up to date.
The Germany Township Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission and Board of Auditors will meet during the year on the dates listed below. Any Special Meetings will be posted and advertised on an as needed basis with the date, time, location, and topic(s) to be discussed provided in the notice.
| Board of Supervisors Meeting Dates 2012 |
Board of Supervisors Work Session Dates 2012 |
The Board of Supervisors will conduct their meetings at 6pm in the small pavilion at Eagles Park, 427 Mengus Mills Road, unless otherwise posted. Work Session meetings will be held at the Township Office, 103 South Queen St in Littlestown at 9:30am, on an as needed basis at which time general business may be acted upon.
| Planning Commission Meeting Dates 2012 |
The Germany Township Planning Commission will conduct their meetings at 7pm in the township office, 103 South Queen St in Littlestown, unless otherwise posted.
The Germany Township Board of Auditors will conduct their reorganization meeting on January 4, 2012 at 7pm in the small pavilion at Eagles Park, 427 Mengus Mills Road.
Germany Township consists of approximately 10.9 square miles of land in the southern portion of Adams County, Pennsylvania. The area is mostly rural residential and farms with a scattering of businesses throughout. The main travel corridor of Baltimore Pike (Route 97) will take you north to Gettysburg or South to Westminster Maryland. The main east-west thoroughfare, Frederick Pike (Route 194) cuts across the township on its way to Hanover from Taneytown Maryland. A 2000 census of Germany Township puts the population at 2,269 people, including 773 households and 660 families.
Recreation is available within the township at the local golf course and our residents have access to the Littlestown Borough pool and the YMCA. Be sure to taste the local flavor at the restaurants within the township to savor some good home cooking. Other businesses exist throughout including the family farm, veterinary services, unique shops, vehicle sales/service and many more.
The township does not have its own municipal police force and relies on the Pennsylvania State Police to provide protection to the area and its residents. Fire and Emergency Service coverage is by Alpha Fire Company, which is located within the Borough of Littlestown. As always dial 911 for emergencies.
Education is provided by the Littlestown Area School District with bus service throughout the township.
A Board of Supervisors that consists of three elected officials, who oversee the day-to-day operations, governs the township. An advisory board, the Germany Township Planning Commission, is established to review and provide information about development within the township.
An elected Tax Collector collects all local municipal taxes on income and real estate. The tax collector resides within the township and can assist you in reviewing, paying or updating tax bills.
The township is currently under Adams County Zoning regulations as well as the Township Ordinances. Construction within the township requires a permit. When any form of construction is planned within the township, please contact the township office to discuss your plan. A review of the zoning regulations and ordinances can determine what can and cannot be done in the township.
Be sure to stop by the township office to meet the friendly staff, supervisors, auditors and planning commission members.
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Germany Township originally was part of "Digges Choice", a land grant of 10,000 acres to John Digges on October 14, 1727. The community was settled in 1733 as a part of York County, Pennsylvania. Adams County formed in January 22, 1800 and the Germany Township became annexed within the new county. A 311-acre tract of the original Germany Township was sold to Peter Klein in 1760; it became the oldest town in Adams County, known today as Littlestown. Germany Township is bordered by Mount Joy Township to the west, Mount Pleasant Township to the north, Union Township to the east and the State of Maryland to the south.
The 1800 census established the township population at 1,031. Historical records showed the majority of the area's early settlers were from Germany and Great Britain. From 1819 to 1821, Jacob Fondersmith made Kentucky rifles in the township. In 1824, several merchants in the township began selling imported foreign wines, liquors and other wares. Later, iron ore mines were worked on two of the township farms starting in 1876. A short line railroad served the township and nearby areas, The Littlestown Branch Railroad began operations July 1, 1858 and would eventually becoming part of the Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1863, the rail line was used to transport wounded soldiers from the Battle of Gettysburg. The Gettysburg and Petersburg Company was chartered in 1807 to construct the areas first turnpike, which was completed seven years later. The toll road was built from Gettysburg to a site near Biddles Mill at the Maryland Stateline in 1809. This section would become part of the through line from Pittsburgh to Baltimore. |
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