Originally laid out by Peter Klein in 1760, the town was first named "Petersburg". German settlers in the area came to call the town "Kleine Stedtle". As confusion between the town and a neighboring town (also named "Petersburg", now York Springs) grew, the town officially changed its name to Littlestown (essentially a translation of "Kleine Stedtle" from German) in 1795.
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,947 people, 1,586 households, and 1,113 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,517.0 people per square mile (970.7/km²). There were 1,692 housing units at an average density of 1,079.0 per square mile (416.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.26% White, 0.56% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.51% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.27% of the population.
There were 1,586 households out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the borough the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $36,678, and the median income for a family was $42,261. Males had a median income of $31,055 versus $23,658 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $17,310. About 6.9% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.
Residents of Littlestown may attend the local, public schools operated by Littlestown Area School District which provides full day kindergarten through 12th grade. In 2013, the Littlestown Area School District's enrollment had declined to 2,037 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. In 2013, the Pittsburgh Business Times ranked Littlestown Area School District 263rd out of 498 public schools for academic achievement of its pupils. In 2012, Littlestown Area School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), even though Rolling Acres Elementary School declined to Warning AYP status due to lagging reading achievement.
Littlestown Borough high school aged students can attend the taxpayer funded Adams County Tech Prep  for training in the building trades, the culinary arts, Diesel Mechanics, allied health including Emergency medical technician (EMT) certification and other areas. The school is located on the Gettysburg Area High School campus at 1130 Old Harrisburg Road. Adams County Tech Prep is funded by a consortium of the school districts, which includes: Gettysburg Area School District, Littlestown Area School District, Fairfield Area School District, Conewago Valley School District and Bermudian Springs School District.
Littlestown residents may also choose between two local, public charter schools: Vida Charter School and Gettysburg Montessori Charter School. In Pennsylvania, residents may attend public charter schools at no cost to the parents. The tuition is paid by their public school system. By Commonwealth law, if the public school district provides transportation for its own students, then the district must also provide transportation to any school that lies within 10 miles of its borders, as well as, all schools within its borders.
Vida Charter School is a public school located in the former Eisenhower Elementary School, 120 East Broadway, Gettysburg. Vida Charter School offers full day kindergarten through 6th grade. In 2013, Vida Charter School achieved a score 81.1 of out of 100 for student achievement. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher. In 2012, Vida Charter School achieved Adequate yearly Progress (AYP).
Gettysburg Montessori Charter School is a public charter school which offers a private preschool (3 and 4 year olds) and a public full day Kindergarten through 6th grade program. This school operates at 120 E Broadway, Gettysburg. The Gettysburg Montessori Charter School achieved AYP in both 2011 and 2012. In 2013, Gettysburg Montessori Charter School achieved a score of 64 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement.
Littlestown residents may also apply to attend any of the Commonwealth's 14 public cyber charter schools (in 2013) at no additional cost to the parents. The resident’s public school district is required to pay the charter school and cyber charter school tuition for residents who attend these public schools. Residents may also seek admission for their school aged child to any other public school district. When accepted for admission, the student's parents are responsible for paying an annual tuition fee set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. In 2012, the tuition fees for Littlestown Area School District were: Elementary School - $8,680.32, High School - $9,654.27.
Intermediate Unit Lincoln Intermediate Unit #12 provides a wide variety of services to children living in its region which includes Littlestown Borough. Early screening, special educations services, speech and hearing therapy, autistic support, preschool classes and many other services like driver education are available. Services for children during the preschool years are provided without cost to their families when the child is determined to meet eligibility requirements. Intermediate units receive taxpayer funding: through subsidies paid by member school districts; through direct charges to users for some services; through the successful application for state and federal competitive grants and through private grants.
Libraries Community members have access to the Adams County Public Library which is located on 140 Baltimore Street in Gettysburg; the Littlestown Library, located at 232 North Queen Street, Littlestown; the New Oxford Area Library located at 122 North Peter Street, in New Oxford; the Adams County Historical Society Library which is located on 111 Seminary Ridge, in Gettysburg; the Adams County Law Library located in the Court House, 117 Baltimore St Rm 305 in Gettysburg and to the statewide PA Power Library  which is an online library funded with tax dollars from the state's education budget.
Community college At Harrisburg Area Community College Gettysburg Campus, Littlestown Borough residents have access to college courses at a discounted tuition rate for state residents. Littlestown Area School District is not a tax funding district of the College. Littlestown residents contribute to the community college through state taxation and funding.
Recreation and parks
The borough operates the Littlestown Community Pool. The pool facility has been losing money. There is a resistance to raising membership fees, requiring substantial funding from borough taxpayers.
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- "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
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- "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- Littlestown Borough Council (2004). "Emergency and Municipal Services Tax Resolution".
- Pennsylvania Department of Education (October 4, 2013). "District Fast Facts - Littlestown Area School District".
- Pittsburgh Business Times (April 5, 2013). "Guide to Pennsylvania Schools Statewide ranking 2013".
- Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "Littlestown Area School District AYP Overview 2012".
- Pennsylvania Department of Education (2013). "Pupil Transportation -Frequently Asked Questions".
- Pennsylvania Department of Education (October 4, 2013). "Vida Charter School Academic Performance Data 2013".
- Pennsylvania Department of Education, Vida Charter School AYP Overview 2012, September 21, 2012
- Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "Gettysburg Montessori Charter School AYP Overview 2012".
- Pennsylvania Department of Education (October 4, 2013). "Gettysburg Montessori Charter School, Academic Performance Data 2013".
- Pennsylvania Department of Education (2013). "Charter Schools".
- Pennsylvania Department of Education (2013). "What is a Charter School?".
- Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 2012). "Pennsylvania Public School District Tuition Rates".
- Littlestown Borough Council (December 10, 2013). "2014 FINAL BUDGET of the BOROUGH OF LITTLESTOWN".
- David Trask. "Slave to Abolitionist: James W. C. Pennington". Littlestown History Page. Littlestown.net. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
- Pennsylvania Society of New York, Yearbook, 1916, page 58