Franklin, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
 Simpson County Courthouse in Franklin (2007) | |
 Location of Franklin in Simpson County, Kentucky. | |
| Coordinates:36°43′21″N86°34′39″W / 36.72250°N 86.57750°W /36.72250; -86.57750 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Simpson |
| Established | November 2, 1820 |
| Government | |
| • Type | City Commission |
| Area | |
• Total | 14.86 sq mi (38.48 km2) |
| • Land | 14.75 sq mi (38.19 km2) |
| • Water | 0.11 sq mi (0.29 km2) |
| Elevation | 709 ft (216 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 10,176 |
• Estimate (2022)[2] | 10,344 |
| • Density | 690.1/sq mi (266.43/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes | 42134-42135 |
| Area codes | 270 & 364 |
| FIPS code | 21-28918 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0492443 |
| Website | www |
Franklin is ahome rule-class city[3] in and thecounty seat ofSimpson County,Kentucky, United States.[4] The county is located on the south central border of the state, and its population was 10,176 at the2020 census.
Kentucky Downs, formerly known as Dueling Grounds Racetrack (owned by Corey Johnsen & Ray Reid), is located in Franklin on the Kentucky–Tennessee border. Kentucky Downs hosts the Kentucky Cup Turf Festival, a full card of world-class horse racing featuring four major turf stakes. Kentucky Downs also hosts year-round simulcasts for the Kentucky-Tennessee market.
Franklin was formally incorporated by thestate assembly on November 2, 1820,[5] on a 62-acre (250,000 m2) tract of land. This tract was purchased from William Hudspeth and was named for Founding FatherBenjamin Franklin.[6] Thepost office was established on September 29, 1822, with Robert W. Simpson as postmaster.[7]On January 7, 1948, Captain Thomas Mantell of the Kentucky Air National Guard died in a plane crash near Franklin, Kentucky, while pursuing an unidentified flying object. The incident, which involved multiple eyewitness reports across Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee, became one of the earliest and most widely publicized UFO-related fatalities in U.S. history. A historical marker commemorating the event is located at the Simpson County Tourism office.[8]
On March 1, 1968,Johnny Cash andJune Carter Cash were married at the Franklin First United Methodist church by Reverend Leslie Chapman.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Franklin has ahumid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[9]
| Climate data for Franklin, KY (1991-2020, coordinates:36°41′16″N86°30′22″W / 36.6878°N 86.5061°W /36.6878; -86.5061) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.79 (96) | 3.96 (101) | 4.72 (120) | 4.86 (123) | 5.38 (137) | 4.43 (113) | 4.25 (108) | 3.48 (88) | 3.31 (84) | 3.70 (94) | 3.83 (97) | 4.83 (123) | 50.54 (1,284) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 1.5 (3.8) | 1.3 (3.3) | 0.6 (1.5) | 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) | 0.9 (2.3) | 4.3 (10.9) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 7.4 | 7.3 | 8.3 | 7.1 | 8.4 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 4.8 | 5.1 | 4.6 | 6.7 | 7.8 | 80.8 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.01 in) | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.6 | 2.7 |
| Source:[10] | |||||||||||||
Franklin is located at36°43′21″N86°34′39″W / 36.72250°N 86.57750°W /36.72250; -86.57750 (36.722487, -86.577566).[11]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19 km2), all land.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1830 | 280 | — | |
| 1860 | 828 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,808 | 118.4% | |
| 1880 | 1,686 | −6.7% | |
| 1890 | 2,324 | 37.8% | |
| 1900 | 2,166 | −6.8% | |
| 1910 | 3,063 | 41.4% | |
| 1920 | 3,154 | 3.0% | |
| 1930 | 3,056 | −3.1% | |
| 1940 | 3,940 | 28.9% | |
| 1950 | 4,343 | 10.2% | |
| 1960 | 5,329 | 22.7% | |
| 1970 | 6,553 | 23.0% | |
| 1980 | 7,738 | 18.1% | |
| 1990 | 7,607 | −1.7% | |
| 2000 | 7,996 | 5.1% | |
| 2010 | 8,408 | 5.2% | |
| 2020 | 10,176 | 21.0% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 10,524 | [12] | 3.4% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[13] | |||
As of thecensus[14] of 2020, there were 10,176 people residing in the city. The population density was 690 inhabitants per square mile (270/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 80.20%White, 13.00%African American, 0.10%Native American, 0.40%Asian, 0.10%Pacific Islander, and 6.20% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 3.00% of the population.
The median income for a household in the city was $54,784. Theper capita income for the city was $23,835. About 16.8% of the population is below thepoverty line.
Public education in Franklin is administered by Simpson County School District, which operates Franklin Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary School and Simpson Elementary School, Franklin-Simpson Middle School andFranklin-Simpson High School as well as an alternative school called Franklin-Simpson High School West Campus.[15]
Franklin Mennonite Elementary School and Faith Baptist Academy are private institutions.
Franklin has apublic library, theGoodnight Memorial Library.[16]
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Municipalities and communities ofSimpson County, Kentucky,United States | ||
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| City |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Other | |
