Franklin County was erected and established in 1875, four decades after the independence of Texas, from land ceded by neighboringTitus County.[3] Although the origin of the county's name is not recorded, it is generally believed to have been named after JudgeBenjamin C. Franklin, the first appointed justice in theRepublic of Texas.[4][5]
Franklin County was one of the last 30 prohibition,[6] or entirelydry, counties in the state of Texas.[7] Citizens of itscounty seat,Mount Vernon, voted to allow beer and wine sales, both on and off premises in May 2013.[2]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 295 square miles (760 km2), of which 284 square miles (740 km2) is land and 10 square miles (26 km2) (3.5%) is water.[8]
U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1850–2010[11] 2010–2020[12]
Franklin County, Texas– Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
At the2000 U.S. census, there were 9,458 people, 3,754 households, and 2,732 families residing in the county.[15] Thepopulation density was 33 people per square mile (13 people/km2). There were 5,132 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.19%White, 3.94%Black orAfrican American, 0.63%Native American, 0.21%Asian, 5.14% fromother races, and 0.88% from two or more races. 8.90% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. In 2020, the population was 10,359 and its racial and ethnic makeup was 76.03%non-Hispanic white, 3.80% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.59% some other race, 4.44% multiracial, and 14.05% Hispanic or Latino of any race.[12]
In 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $31,955, and the median income for a family was $37,064. Males had a median income of $28,806 versus $19,361 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $17,563. About 12.50% of families and 15.60% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 21.20% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over. The median household income at the2020 census increased to $59,632; the mean income was $82,203.[16]
According to a study[17] ordered by the Mount Vernon Economic Development Corporation in 2013, the local retail trade area population is 12,771 people. The county has 720 homes valued at $200,000 or more, 70 homes of $500,000 or more, and 72 homes valued at more than $1,000,000. Most of these homes are centered onLake Cypress Springs, which was twice voted the Most Beautiful Lake in Texas by the readers of Dallas' "D" magazine (2005, 2010). The lake is located about 10 miles south of Mount Vernon. The EDC study determined the average sale price of lakefront property on Lake Cypress Springs (2012) was $484,000, with 91 percent of the 1,400 water-front homes being second residences. This concentration of second residences causes the population of the county to increase between 3,000 and 8,000 people on weekends and during holidays, according to estimates by the Franklin County Water District,[18] which oversees the lake and its visitors.
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