The Great Seal of Pennsylvania is inscribed on the Keystone at the top of the design; the seven spokes denote the seven original roads of the county, all of which are included in the present highway system; the eight furrows denote the eight connecting roads; both the main and connecting roads were constructed between 1741 and 1778; the ring of 21 stars denotes the townships of the county; the original courthouse, which stood in the middle of the Gettysburg Square from 1804 to 1859, is shown on the centerpiece with the outline of the county’s map and the South Mountains in the background; the High Water Mark on the Gettysburg Battlefield appears in the bottom panel to represent the county’s participation in the most decisive battle of the Civil War; the scrolled ribbons around the entire design show the date of the county’s organization, the XXVI at the top of the centerpiece showing it to be the 26th county in order of establishment and under which is shown a tree representing the fruit industry, a sheaf of wheat representing the agricultural industry, to the left, and to the right a factory representing industry, and the bottom scroll holds the name of the Commonwealth.
