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Franklin, Tennessee | |
|---|---|
 Historic Downtown Franklin | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location withinWilliamson County andTennessee | |
  Franklin  Franklin | |
| Coordinates:35°55′45″N86°51′27″W / 35.92917°N 86.85750°W /35.92917; -86.85750 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Williamson |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Ken Moore |
| • City Administrator | Eric Stuckey |
| Area | |
• Total | 44.73 sq mi (115.86 km2) |
| • Land | 44.52 sq mi (115.31 km2) |
| • Water | 0.21 sq mi (0.55 km2) |
| Elevation | 643 ft (196 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 83,454 |
| • Rank | 7th in Tennessee |
| • Density | 1,874.5/sq mi (723.74/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) | 37064, 37065, 37067, 37068, 37069[3] |
| Area code | 615 and 629 |
| FIPS code | 47-27740[4] |
| GNIS ID | 1284816[5] |
| Website | franklintn |
Franklin is a city in and thecounty seat ofWilliamson County, Tennessee, United States.[6] About 21 miles (34 km) south ofNashville, it is one of the principal cities of theNashville metropolitan area andMiddle Tennessee. As of2020, its population was 83,454. It is theseventh-most populous city inTennessee.[7]
The city developed on both sides of theHarpeth River, a tributary of theCumberland River. In the 19th century, Franklin (as the county seat) was the trading and judicial center for primarily rural Williamson County and remained so well into the 20th century as the county remained rural and agricultural in nature.
Since 1980, areas of northern Franklin have been developed for residential and related businesses, in addition to modern service industries. The population has increased rapidly as growth moved in all directions from the core. Despite recent growth and development, Franklin is noted for its many older buildings and neighborhoods, which are protected by city ordinances.[8]
The area was home to seven Native American tribes.[9][10]
The City of Franklin was founded October 26, 1799, by Abram Maury Jr. (1766–1825). Later a state senator, he is buried with his family in the current Founders Pointe neighborhood. Maurynamed the town after national founding fatherBenjamin Franklin.[11][12]
Ewen Cameron built a log house in 1798, the first in the new settlement. Cameron was born February 23, 1768, in Bogallan,Ferintosh, Scotland. He emigrated toVirginia in 1785 and came to Tennessee shortly after it was admitted to the Union. Cameron died on February 28, 1846, after living 48 years in the same house. He and his second wife, Mary, were buried in the old City Cemetery.
This area is part ofMiddle Tennessee, and farmers prospered in thepre-Civil War years, with the cultivation of tobacco and hemp as commodity crops, and raising of livestock.[citation needed]
During theCivil War, Tennessee was occupied by Union troops from 1862. Franklin was the site of a major battle in theFranklin–Nashville Campaign. TheSecond Battle of Franklin was fought on November 30, 1864, resulting in almost 10,000 casualties (killed, wounded, captured, and missing). Forty-four buildings were temporarily converted to use asfield hospitals. TheCarter,Carnton, and theLotz[13] houses from this era are still standing and are among the city's numerous examples of period architecture.
After the Civil War, slavery was abolished and the franchise was extended to African-American men. Most joined the Republican Party, which had gained their freedom.
On July 6, 1867, a political rally ofUnion League African American Republicans in Franklin was disrupted by Conservatives, who were mostly White but included some Blacks. Later that evening, what became known as the "Franklin Riot" broke out. Black Union League men were ambushed by Whites at the town square and returned fire. An estimated 25 to 39 men were wounded, most of them Black. One White man was killed outright, and at least three Black people died of wounds soon after the confrontation.[14][15][16]
On August 15, 1868, in Franklin,Samuel Bierfield became the first Jewish man to belynched in the United States. He was fatally shot by a large group of masked men believed to beKu Klux Klan (KKK) members. They attacked him for treating Blacks equally to Whites in his store. Bowman, a Black man who worked for Bierfield and was with him at his store, was fatally wounded in the attack and soon died.[17]
After theReconstruction era, white violence continued againstAfrican Americans, as the minority struggled to retain dominance. Violence increased toward the turn of the century, and whites used intimidation and attacks to keep Blacks away from voting.
Five African Americans werelynched in Williamson County from 1877 to 1950, most during the decades around the turn of the century. It was a time of high social tensions and legal racial oppression in the South.[18][19] These murders took place in Franklin, when men were taken from the courthouse or county jail by mobs before trial.
Among them wasAmos Miller, a 23-year-old Black man who was forcibly taken from the courtroom by a White mob during his 1888 trial in a sexual assault case. He was hanged from the railings of the balcony of the county courthouse.[20] The alleged victim was a 50-year-old woman.[21] On April 30, 1891,Jim Taylor, another African-American man, was lynched on Murfreesboro Road in Franklin by another mob, accused of killing a White man.
Amemorial to Confederate soldiers was erected in 1899 by fourteen women of theUnited Daughters of the Confederacy to honor Confederate soldiers, including the 6,125 casualties of the Battle of Franklin.[22] A news report described how as the last piece of the statue was being raised, a buggy ran into a rope, causing the statue to swing into the shaft, breaking out a piece from the hat of the figure. This event resulted in many nicknaming the monument as "Chip".[23]
Population growth slowed noticeably from 1910 to 1940 (see table in Demographics section), as many African Americans left the area in theGreat Migration to northern industrial cities for jobs and to escapeJim Crow conditions.
Since the late 20th century, however, Franklin has rapidly developed as a suburb of Nashville, Tennessee. Franklin's population has increased more than fivefold since 1980, when its population was 12,407. In 2010, the city had a population of 62,487.[24] As of 2017[update] Census estimates, it is the state's seventh-largest city. In 2017, the City of Franklin was ranked the 8th fastest-growing city in the nation by theU.S. Census Bureau, increasing 4.9 percent between July 1, 2016, and July 1, 2017.[25]
One of the first major manufacturers to establish operations in the county was theDortch Stove Works, which opened a factory in Franklin in 1928.[26] The factory was later developed as aMagic Chef factory, producing electric and gas ranges; Magic Chef was prominent in the Midwest from 1929. When the factory was closed due to extensive restructuring in the industry, the building fell into disuse. The factory complex was restored in the late 1990s adapted for offices, restaurants, retail and event spaces. It is considered a "model historic preservation adaptive reuse project".
After the passage of theNational Historic Preservation Act of 1966, some Franklin residents have worked to identify and preserve its most significant historic assets. Fivehistoric districts are listed on theNational Register of Historic Places, as are many individual non-historic but older structures.[citation needed]
Historic preservation and church leaders developed the "Fuller Story", a project to recognize the lives and contributions of African Americans to Franklin. In October 2021 a statue of a soldier of theUnited States Colored Troops was installed in front of the old Williamson County Courthouse on Franklin Square. It marks the contributions of thousands of African Americans in ending the Civil War and reuniting the Union. The square was the site of a former slave market and it holds the Confederate monument.[27]
The "Fuller Story" project was approved by the Franklin Board Of Mayor and Aldermen. Before the statue was erected, in 2018, the first of several planned historic plaques was installed; these mark the history of slavery, theReconstruction era andJim Crow, and civil rights in Franklin.[28]
Franklin is home to an armed forces memorial, on the grounds of the Williamson County Archives. It honors Williamson County men who served in American wars from theCreek War to theGulf War.[29] Around the seal of Franklin are placed engraved bricks that radiate in a circle. The largest brick is in honor ofGeorge Jordan, an African-American man and former slave. As aBuffalo Soldier, he fought in theIndian Wars inNew Mexico. He is the only man from Williamson County to receive theCongressional Medal of Honor.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 41.4 square miles (107.3 km2), of which 41.2 square miles (106.8 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km2), or 0.52%, is covered by water.[24]
| Climate data for Franklin (Franklin Sewage Plant), Tennessee (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 78 (26) | 83 (28) | 93 (34) | 94 (34) | 96 (36) | 108 (42) | 108 (42) | 106 (41) | 107 (42) | 96 (36) | 88 (31) | 91 (33) | 108 (42) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 66.9 (19.4) | 71.8 (22.1) | 78.1 (25.6) | 83.7 (28.7) | 88.1 (31.2) | 93.4 (34.1) | 96.1 (35.6) | 95.8 (35.4) | 92.8 (33.8) | 85.3 (29.6) | 76.9 (24.9) | 68.7 (20.4) | 97.7 (36.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 49.1 (9.5) | 53.4 (11.9) | 62.2 (16.8) | 71.9 (22.2) | 79.5 (26.4) | 87.3 (30.7) | 90.8 (32.7) | 90.2 (32.3) | 84.8 (29.3) | 73.8 (23.2) | 61.6 (16.4) | 52.5 (11.4) | 71.4 (21.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 38.9 (3.8) | 42.3 (5.7) | 50.0 (10.0) | 59.0 (15.0) | 67.4 (19.7) | 75.8 (24.3) | 79.7 (26.5) | 78.5 (25.8) | 72.3 (22.4) | 60.5 (15.8) | 49.4 (9.7) | 42.1 (5.6) | 59.7 (15.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 28.6 (−1.9) | 31.1 (−0.5) | 37.8 (3.2) | 46.2 (7.9) | 55.4 (13.0) | 64.3 (17.9) | 68.5 (20.3) | 66.9 (19.4) | 59.8 (15.4) | 47.2 (8.4) | 37.1 (2.8) | 31.8 (−0.1) | 47.9 (8.8) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 10.4 (−12.0) | 14.0 (−10.0) | 20.9 (−6.2) | 30.4 (−0.9) | 40.4 (4.7) | 53.0 (11.7) | 59.3 (15.2) | 57.3 (14.1) | 44.8 (7.1) | 31.6 (−0.2) | 22.0 (−5.6) | 16.4 (−8.7) | 7.9 (−13.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −22 (−30) | −15 (−26) | 0 (−18) | 21 (−6) | 30 (−1) | 39 (4) | 43 (6) | 41 (5) | 30 (−1) | 21 (−6) | −3 (−19) | −11 (−24) | −22 (−30) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 4.25 (108) | 4.76 (121) | 5.16 (131) | 5.16 (131) | 5.39 (137) | 4.39 (112) | 4.57 (116) | 3.61 (92) | 4.00 (102) | 3.47 (88) | 3.83 (97) | 5.20 (132) | 53.79 (1,366) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.9 (2.3) | 0.3 (0.76) | 0.4 (1.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 1.7 (4.3) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 11.9 | 11.2 | 12.7 | 11.1 | 12.3 | 11.2 | 10.6 | 9.0 | 8.4 | 9.1 | 10.0 | 12.2 | 129.7 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.3 |
| Source:NOAA[30][31] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 1,552 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,632 | 5.2% | |
| 1890 | 2,250 | 37.9% | |
| 1900 | 2,180 | −3.1% | |
| 1910 | 2,924 | 34.1% | |
| 1920 | 3,123 | 6.8% | |
| 1930 | 3,377 | 8.1% | |
| 1940 | 4,120 | 22.0% | |
| 1950 | 5,475 | 32.9% | |
| 1960 | 6,977 | 27.4% | |
| 1970 | 9,497 | 36.1% | |
| 1980 | 12,407 | 30.6% | |
| 1990 | 20,098 | 62.0% | |
| 2000 | 41,842 | 108.2% | |
| 2010 | 62,487 | 49.3% | |
| 2020 | 83,454 | 33.6% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 88,558 | [32] | 6.1% |
| Sources:[33][2] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[34] | Pop 2010[35] | Pop 2020[36] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 34,377 | 50,104 | 62,607 | 82.16% | 80.18% | 75.02% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 4,316 | 4,157 | 4,304 | 10.31% | 6.65% | 5.16% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 80 | 123 | 130 | 0.19% | 0.20% | 0.16% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 663 | 2,352 | 6,395 | 1.58% | 3.76% | 7.66% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 17 | 21 | 49 | 0.04% | 0.03% | 0.06% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 30 | 91 | 407 | 0.07% | 0.15% | 0.49% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 334 | 880 | 2,874 | 0.80% | 1.41% | 3.44% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2,025 | 4,759 | 6,688 | 4.84% | 7.62% | 8.01% |
| Total | 41,842 | 62,487 | 83,454 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 83,454 people, 32,690 households, and 23,675 families residing in the city.
As of thecensus[4] of 2010, 62,487 people, 16,128 households, and 11,225 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,393.3 inhabitants per square mile (538.0/km2). The 17,296 housing units averaged 575.9 per square mile (222.4/km2). Theracial makeup of the city was 84.53% White, 10.35% African American, 4.84% Latino, 1.61% Asian, 0.24% Native American, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.17% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races.
Of the 16,128 households, 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% weremarried couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were not families; 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.09.In the city, the population was distributed as 27.9% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 38.1% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $75,871, and for a family was $91,931. Males had a median income of $66,622 versus $43,193 for females. Theper capita income for the CDP was $36,445. About 5.0% of families and 7.0% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over. Less than 5.0% of the eligible workforce was unemployed.[37]
Franklin is home to health-care-related businesses such asCommunity Health Systems,Acadia Healthcare,Iasis Healthcare,Tivity Health, Home Instead Senior Care, MedSolutions Inc, and Renal Advantage Inc.
Nissan,[38]Mitsubishi Motors,[39]Clarcor,CKE Restaurants,Jackson National Life, Triangle Tyre Company,Provident Music Group,World Christian Broadcasting,Mars Petcare, Franklin American Mortgage, Kaiser Aluminum,[40] Lee Company, Ramsey Solutions,Video Gaming Technologies, andAtmos Energy also have corporate or regional headquarters in Franklin.
In-N-Out Burger will open a hub and distribution center in Franklin by 2026; a privately-held company with its roots in the west, it will be their easternmost expansion.[41] The company's hub will involve a $125.5 million investment.[42]
According to the city's 2024Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[43] the top employers in the city were:
| # | Employer | # of employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Community Health Systems | 3,923 |
| 2 | Williamson Medical Center | 1,900 |
| 3 | Lee Company | 1,616 |
| 4 | Nissan North America | 1,550 |
| 5 | Cigna Healthcare | 1,500 |
| 6 | MARS Petcare US | 1,240 |
| 7 | Schneider Electric | 1,080 |
| 8 | Ramsey Solutions | 1,054 |
| 9 | eviCore Healthcare | 653 |
| 10 | Jackson National Life Insurance Co. | 634 |
The city is run by a mayor, electedat-large in the city, and a board of eightaldermen. Four of the latter are elected fromsingle-member districts of roughly equal population, and four are elected at-large. All electoral offices are for four-year terms, with the ward alderman elected in one cycle, and the mayor and at-large aldermen elected two years later. The city's policies and procedures are decided by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.[citation needed]
Resolutions, municipal ordinances, and the municipal code are carried out by the city's various departments. These are: Administration, Building and Neighborhood Services, Engineering, Finance, Fire, Human Resources, Information Technology, Law, Planning and Sustainability, Parks, Police, Sanitation and Environmental Services, Streets, and Water Management. These 14 departments are overseen by theCity Administrator, a professional manager hired by the Board of Aldermen.[44]
In theTennessee House of Representatives, Franklin is divided between three districts; District 61, currently represented byRepublicanGino Bulso,[45] District 63, represented by RepublicanGlen Casada,[46] and District 65, represented by RepublicanLee Reeves.[47] Franklin is included inTennessee SenateDistrict 27, which is coterminous with Williamson County, and held by RepublicanJack Johnson, the current Senate Majority Leader.
For grades K-8, most of the city is served by theFranklin Special School District; high school students attendWilliamson County School District. Outerlying portions of the city are in the Williamson County district for grades K-12.[48]
Franklin's private schools includeBattle Ground Academy,Franklin Classical School, Franklin Christian Academy, Montessori School of Franklin, New Hope Academy and Thales Academy.[49]
Interstate 65 passes through the eastern part of the city and provides four exits in the city. U.S. Routes31 and431 intersect in the city, and form aconcurrency, connecting the city to Nashville to the north. U.S. Route 31 connects the city toSpring Hill andColumbia to the south, and US 431 connects toLewisburg to the south.State Route 96 connects the city toMurfreesboro to the east, andDickson to the west.State Route 246 also connects the city to Columbia to the southwest, and serves as an alternative to US 31.State Route 441 begins in the northern part of the city, and connects toBrentwood.State Route 397, also designated as US 31/431 Truck and Mack Hatcher Memorial Parkway, serves as a bypass around thebusiness district of the city to the east. Other major thoroughfares in Franklin include Cool Springs Boulevard and McEwen Drive, both of which have interchanges with I-65.[51]
The City of Franklin Water Management Department operates a system that provides water and wastewater services to a majority of city residents and some residents of surrounding areas.[52] Some areas of Franklin may receive water and wastewater services from the Mallory Valley Utility District, the Milcrofton Utility District, and the HB&TS Utility District.
Electricity is provided by the Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation (MTEMC), which serves several of the suburban counties of Nashville and purchases power from theTennessee Valley Authority (TVA).[53]
Natural gas service is provided byAtmos Energy.[54]
Pilgrimage is a music festival put together byKevin Griffin, who lives and works as a musician in Franklin. Premiering in 2015, it draws nationally prominent acts from a variety of genres. Pilgrimage is held in late September and takes place at The Park at Harlinsdale. In addition to musical acts, it features children's activities, food, and a marketplace showcasing local crafts.[56]
Franklin's Main Street Festival involves artisans, four stages, two carnivals, and two food courts installed in the historic Franklin Square and Downtown District. Arts and crafts booths run from First to Fifth Avenue.[57]
Pumpkinfest is an annual fundraiser for the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County, held on the Saturday beforeHalloween. The holiday theme is carried through activities including music, children's amusements, local artisans, and food.[58]
Dickens of a Christmas is an annual event that attracts approximately 50,000 visitors. It takes place in Historic Downtown Franklin and is celebrated during the second week in December. Costumed volunteers masquerade as figures fromCharles Dickens'A Christmas Carol. Music and dancing are a big part of the festival, and local school and church musical groups often perform.Victorian cuisine is served to visitors, and an arts and crafts bazaar features prominently in Public Square.[59]
Franklin is an active participant in theSister Cities program. Sister Cities of Franklin & Williamson County[66] was founded as an outgrowth of Leadership Franklin in March 2002. The City of Franklin has relationships with the following municipalities:
Carleton Place,Ontario, Canada (2008)[67]
County Laois, Ireland (2008)[67]
Bad Soden am Taunus,Hesse, Germany (2016)[67]Notes
In 1888, Amos Miller, a Black man accused of raping a White woman, was dragged from court in Franklin and hung from the courthouse railings.
Further reading
Municipalities and communities ofWilliamson County, Tennessee,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
