Civil War landmarks and tourism shape Cumberland Township
Cumberland Township wraps around nearly all of Gettysburg and is home to the battlefields where most of the Battle of Gettysburg took place in 1863 during the American Civil War. The Adams County enclave of around 7,000 residents swells with tourists visiting the area’s many historic landmarks from April through October. “It’s crazy. You take all the back streets to avoid dealing with the tourists,” says Petula Yingling, a Realtor with Keller Williams Keystone Realty, who adds that the proximity to the bustling borough is Cumberland Township’s main draw. “I grew up in Gettysburg. It’s especially great for history buffs with the battlefields, but there are also all the shops and restaurants. You can find anything in Gettysburg.” Largely rural with subdivisions, hotels and the Gettysburg National Military Park, Cumberland Township has a diverse economy that includes agriculture as well as hospitality and tourism.
A mix of new construction and classic architectural styles
Many single-family homes in Cumberland Township rest along wide, sidewalk-lined streets in subdivisions. Communities built in the past 25 years feature neotraditional homes with brick and stone siding and classic Colonial Revivals. Older subdivisions offer ranch-style homes, bi-levels and Cape Cods. New construction is also available. Lots are neatly manicured and sometimes exceed an acre. Buyers looking for more rural landscapes can find similar styles among farms along two-lane roads around the township. A few communities, such as Ridgewood, have wooded lots. Single-family homes range in price from $230,000 to $850,000. Townhouses cost between $170,000 and $330,000. Condos rarely go on the market. Only one unit was sold between January and August 2025 for nearly $300,000. Potential homebuyers should note that properties along creeks are near or within flood hazard areas, according to flood maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Public and private education options in the Gettysburg area
The Gettysburg Area School District earns a B-plus overall rating from Niche. The district has around 2,500 students across three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. James Gettys Elementary serves most of Cumberland Township and receives a B-plus rating. Gettysburg Area Middle gets an A-minus and Gettysburg Area High earns a B-plus. The high school partners with Adams County Technical Institute to provide career-based programs for juniors and seniors. Alternatively, Cumberland Township is home to several private schools, including Adams County Christian Academy, which Niche does not yet rate. Gettysburg is home to the private Gettysburg College and a Harrisburg Area Community College campus.
Outdoor recreation, from battlefield tours to horseback riding
Around 1.5 million people walk through history at Gettysburg National Military Park every year. Residents of Cumberland Township have close access to the park and its various trails that weave through more than 5,700 acres of monument-dotted battlefields and historic sites. Exhibits fill the accompanying museum for an educational experience on a rainy day. Campgrounds are sprinkled around the township, including Artillery Ridge Campground & Horse Park, where guests can enjoy reenactments and horseback riding. Recreation Park in Gettysburg offers typical amenities, such as baseball fields and playgrounds, as well as a skate park and fitness trail. It’s also where the Adams County Farmers Market is held on Saturday mornings. Several golf courses are in the area, including the public 18-hole course at The Links at Gettysburg. The surrounding region offers more outdoor adventure, from skiing at Liberty Mountain Resort to hiking and mountain biking in Michaux State Forest.
Lincoln Square is a hub for restaurants, shops and entertainment
Yingling says residents typically head into Gettysburg to shop and dine. Lincoln Square anchors the borough’s walkable downtown, where residents and tourists mix as they pop in and out of local restaurants, pubs and boutiques. Along with museums, this vibrant city center offers entertainment, with two community theaters and various walking tours. Grocery stores and national retailers line U.S. Route 30. Nearby, The Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg is a name-brand shopping destination with dozens of stores selling clothing, home goods, gifts and more.
Gettysburg events celebrate music, food and history
Life in Cumberland Township is intertwined with the daily happenings in Gettysburg. The borough has a packed calendar of annual events, from a bluegrass festival in August to the National Apple Harvest Festival in October. The biggest occasion of the year is the Gettysburg Reenactment at Daniel Lady Farm, which is part of a week's worth of events marking the anniversary of the three-day Battle of Gettysburg each July.
U.S. Routes 15 and 30 connect commuters to nearby cities
Rabbit Transit provides a fixed-route bus service in Cumberland Township. However, most people drive to get around. Several highways fan out from the center of Gettysburg, including U.S. Route 30, which links boroughs and cities across southern Pennsylvania. Commuters can use U.S. Route 15 to head south towards Frederick , Maryland, or north to Pennsylvania’s capital city of Harrisburg , which is a little over 40 miles away. While Gettysburg Regional Airport is in the township, the closest commercial flights take off from Harrisburg International Airport. WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital is nearby for medical care.
