Franklin County, North Carolina | |
|---|---|
 Franklin County Courthouse in Louisburg | |
 Seal  Logo | |
| Motto(s): | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofNorth Carolina | |
 North Carolina's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:36°05′N78°17′W / 36.09°N 78.28°W /36.09; -78.28 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  North Carolina |
| Founded | 1779 |
| Named after | Benjamin Franklin |
| Seat | Louisburg |
| Largest community | Louisburg |
| Area | |
• Total | 494.57 sq mi (1,280.9 km2) |
| • Land | 491.80 sq mi (1,273.8 km2) |
| • Water | 2.77 sq mi (7.2 km2) 0.56% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 68,573 |
• Estimate (2024) | 79,771 |
| • Density | 139.43/sq mi (53.835/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 13th |
| Website | www |
Franklin County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofNorth Carolina. As of the2020 census, the population was 68,573.[1] Itscounty seat isLouisburg.[2] Franklin County is included in theRaleigh-Cary, NCMetropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in theRaleigh-Durham-Cary, NC Combined Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 2,368,947 in 2023.[3]
The county was formed in 1779 from the southern half ofBute County. It is named forBenjamin Franklin.[4] It is a part of theResearch Triangle.
The integration of Franklin County Schools in 1965–1968 was marked by a federal lawsuit and some violence against African-American residents. TheNorth Carolina Humanities Council funded the Tar River Center for History and Culture atLouisburg College to prepare "An Oral History of School Desegregation in Franklin County, North Carolina."[5][6]
The "Franklin County Song" was selected in a 1929 contest by the county historical association as the song most suitable for public occasions. The words were written by Fred U. Wolfe, an agriculture teacher at Gold Sand. Sung to the tune "Maryland, My Maryland" ("O Christmas Tree"), the song was incorporated in the Bicentennial programs of 1979. At the evening convocation of January 29, Mrs. Beth Norris announced to the audience that Wolfe (retired and residing in North, South Carolina) was aware his song was part of the program that night.[7]
With loyalty we sing thy praise,
Glory to thy honored name!
Our voices loud in tribute raise,
Making truth thy pow'r proclaim.
Thy past is marked with vict'ry bold;
Thy deeds today can ne'er be told,
And heroes brave shall e'er uphold
Franklin's name forevermore.
We love thy rich and fruitful soil,
Wood, and stream, and thriving town.
We love the gift of daily toil,
Making men of true renown.
Thy church and school shall ever stand
To drive the darkness from our land—
A true and loyal, valiant band,
Sons of Franklin evermore.
A shrine of promise, pow'r and truth,
Lasting righteousness and peace,
A land of hope for toiling youth,
Yielding songs that never cease.
Let ev'ry son and daughter stay
The hand of vice that brings decay.
When duty's voice we shall obey,
Franklin's name shall live for aye.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 494.57 square miles (1,280.9 km2), of which 491.80 square miles (1,273.8 km2) is land and 2.77 square miles (7.2 km2) (0.56%) is water.[8]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 7,502 | — | |
| 1800 | 8,529 | 13.7% | |
| 1810 | 10,166 | 19.2% | |
| 1820 | 9,741 | −4.2% | |
| 1830 | 10,665 | 9.5% | |
| 1840 | 10,980 | 3.0% | |
| 1850 | 11,713 | 6.7% | |
| 1860 | 14,107 | 20.4% | |
| 1870 | 14,134 | 0.2% | |
| 1880 | 20,829 | 47.4% | |
| 1890 | 21,090 | 1.3% | |
| 1900 | 25,116 | 19.1% | |
| 1910 | 24,692 | −1.7% | |
| 1920 | 26,667 | 8.0% | |
| 1930 | 29,456 | 10.5% | |
| 1940 | 30,382 | 3.1% | |
| 1950 | 31,341 | 3.2% | |
| 1960 | 28,755 | −8.3% | |
| 1970 | 26,820 | −6.7% | |
| 1980 | 30,055 | 12.1% | |
| 1990 | 36,414 | 21.2% | |
| 2000 | 47,260 | 29.8% | |
| 2010 | 60,619 | 28.3% | |
| 2020 | 68,573 | 13.1% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 79,771 | [10] | 16.3% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13] 1990–2000[14] 2010[15] 2020[1] | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 42,285 | 61.66% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 15,785 | 23.02% |
| Native American | 259 | 0.38% |
| Asian | 452 | 0.66% |
| Pacific Islander | 17 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed | 2,813 | 4.1% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 6,962 | 10.15% |
As of the2020 census, there were 68,573 people, 26,720 households, and 20,443 families residing in the county.
At the2010 census,[17] there were 60,619 people, 23,023 households, and 16,317 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 123 people per square mile (47 people/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 66.0%White, 26.7%Black orAfrican American, 0.5%Native American, 0.5%Asian, 0.0%Pacific Islander, 4.4% fromother races, and 1.8% from two or more races. 7.9% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 23,023 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% weremarried couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.3% under the age of 20, 5.5% from 20 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.1 years. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,696, and the median income for a family was $51,353. Males had a median income of $41,025 versus $34,562 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $21,399. About 12.3% of families and 16.1% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 20.6% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over.
There were 26,577 housing units at an average density of 54 units per square mile (21 units/km2). 13.4% of housing units were vacant.
There were 23,023 occupied housing units in the town. 17,029 were owner-occupied units (74.0%), while 5,994 were renter-occupied (26.0%). The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% of total units. The rental unit vacancy rate was 7.6%.[17]
Franklin County is governed by an appointedcounty manager and a seven-memberBoard of Commissioners who are elected in staggered four-year terms. Five are chosen by district and the other two at-large.[18] Additional county officials who are elected includeSheriff,Register of Deeds,Board of Education andClerk of Superior Court.[19]
Franklin County is patrolled by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office located in Louisburg. The current sheriff is Kevin White, who was elected in 2022.[20]Bunn,Franklinton, Louisburg andYoungsville have their own municipal police departments, regulated by the respective town governments. The community ofLake Royale near Bunn also has its own police department.[21] Franklin County also is covered by Troop C, District IV of theNorth Carolina Highway Patrol, located inHenderson, North Carolina.[22]
Franklin County is a member of theKerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments.[23]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Franklin County, from 1912 until 1964, was a typicalSolid South entity, withDemocratic presidential candidates nearly always receiving 80 percent or more of the popular vote.George Wallace garnered the majority of the vote in 1968 as a third-party candidate. Beginning in 1972, the county swung in the opposite direction, with theRepublican candidate earning the majority of the vote in most elections since.
The county's economy and population is growing due to its proximity to growth in Wake County.[25][26]
Franklin County Schools operates 16 schools throughout the county, ranging frompre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. They include four high schools, four middle schools and eight elementary schools.[27]
Franklin County is home to the two-year Methodist-affiliatedLouisburg College and to a satellite campus ofVance-Granville Community College.[28]
Youngsville Academy, a college-preparatory, tuition-free charter school, opened in July 2015. Wake Preparatory Academy, a charter school with an enrollment of 750, opened in 2022.
Geographic data related toFranklin County, North Carolina atOpenStreetMapPlaces adjacent to Franklin County, North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||
Municipalities and communities ofFranklin County, North Carolina,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Towns |  | |
| CDP | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Greater Raleigh Metropolitan Region (Raleigh–Cary, MSA; part of theResearch Triangle) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Principal cities |  | |
| Other significant cities | ||
| Counties | ||
| Major universities | ||
| Transportation | ||
| Miscellaneous | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
