The three original counties of Kentucky (Jefferson,Fayette andLincoln counties) intersected in what is today Franklin County. Franklin County was established in 1795 from land given byMercer,Shelby, andWoodford counties.[5] Franklin was the 18thKentucky county in order of formation.[6]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 212 square miles (550 km2), of which 208 square miles (540 km2) is land and 4.3 square miles (11 km2) (2.0%) is water.[7]
In recent presidential elections the county has supported both Democrats and Republicans. In 2000 DemocratAl Gore won 50% of the vote to RepublicanGeorge W. Bush's 47%. In 2004, Bush won 50% of the vote to DemocratJohn Kerry's 48%. In 2008 RepublicanJohn McCain defeated DemocratBarack Obama 49.47% to 48.87%, a difference of only 144 votes, only for Obama to narrowly edge outMitt Romney in 2012. However,Donald Trump won the county in 2016. He won it again in 2020, but only by a slim margin of 248 votes. In2023, incumbent Democratic governorAndy Beshear won it by a large margin over Republican attorney generalDaniel Cameron, getting 68% of the vote.
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 51,541. The median age was 41.2 years. 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.0 males age 18 and over.[17][18]
73.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 26.6% lived in rural areas.[19]
There were 21,838 households in the county, of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 31.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[17]
There were 24,000 housing units, of which 9.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 62.5% were owner-occupied and 37.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.0%.[17]
As of thecensus[20] of 2000, there were 47,687 people, 19,907 households, and 12,840 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 227 per square mile (88/km2). There were 21,409 housing units at an average density of 102 per square mile (39/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.98%White, 9.36%Black orAfrican American, 0.13%Native American, 0.72%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.55% fromother races, and 1.24% from two or more races. 1.11% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 19,907 households, out of which 29.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.70% weremarried couples living together, 12.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.50% were non-families. 30.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.86.
22.60% of the population was under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,011, and the median income for a family was $51,052. Males had a median income of $32,826 versus $26,201 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $21,229. About 6.90% of families and 10.70% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 12.80% of those under age 18 and 12.20% of those age 65 or over.
This district serves an area roughly covering the Frankfort neighborhoods known as "downtown", South Frankfort (the vicinity of the state capitol building), and Bellepoint. It operates two schools:
Leslie Morris Park on Fort Hill: 120 acres (0.49 km2) of woodland overlooking downtown Frankfort. It contains trails that guide visitors through the remains of earthwork forts that were the main defensive position for Union troops protecting the city during an 1864Civil War skirmish.
