[8] A large share of the early settlers were Civil War veterans of the Union Army.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.89 square miles (4.90 km2), all land.

[10] With a precipitation slightly above 465 mm,[11] the city can be considered the watershed between the dry climates of the American West to the humid climates of the American East, although closer to the former, with a center characterized by the steppes and medium precipitation marking the east limit of the group B of dry climates (except for the hot versions on the subcontinent) for the 99.9 °W meridian.

For the official data of the NOAA/Weather Service: the average annual precipitation is of 501 mm, by which it strengthens its role of confluence.

The amount of snow is average in proportion to its cold weather surpassing the 20 cm between February and March.

The racial makeup of the city was 97.93% White, 1.26% Native American, 0.07% Asian, and 0.74% from two or more races.

In June 2020, in the midst of national and international protests in opposition to racism following the murder of George Floyd, Gettysburg became the focus of controversy regarding the presence of the Confederate battle flag on the patch of the city's police department.

[19] The historical reference logo for the police emblem and uniform patch was designed in 2009.

[20] George Floyd's uncle resides in Gettysburg and advocated for the logo to change for the two-person police force.