Gettysburg is still a small, rural Pennsylvania town. But the pressures of modern civilization are beginning to take a toll on the town and area. Gettysburg still possesses significant historic resources and an atmosphere that is not too far distant from the time of the Battle of Gettysburg and Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. But Gettysburg's historic atmosphere is not secure. The community is home to a growing population.
Continued development is certain.
Though the National Park Service protects a large portion of the battle area around the town, the town needs improved economic development in order to survive. The traditional businesses of the main streets are in danger, since developments in nearby communities attract customers away from the historic community. Keeping Gettysburg a thriving, economically stable town requires change. The direction of this change is becoming more clear. However, developments in neighboring communities point to conditions adverse to maintaining historic resources.