Franklin County, Indiana | |
|---|---|
 Franklin County Courthouse inBrookville Historic District | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofIndiana | |
 Indiana's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:39°25′N85°04′W / 39.42°N 85.06°W /39.42; -85.06 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Indiana |
| Founded | February 1, 1811 (authorized) |
| Named after | Benjamin Franklin |
| Seat | Brookville |
| Largest town | Brookville (entirely within county) Batesville (partial) |
| Area | |
• Total | 391.05 sq mi (1,012.8 km2) |
| • Land | 384.43 sq mi (995.7 km2) |
| • Water | 6.62 sq mi (17.1 km2) 1.69% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 22,785 |
• Estimate (2023) | 23,096 |
| • Density | 59.1/sq mi (22.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | www |
| Indiana county number 24 | |
Franklin County is acounty on the eastern border of theU.S. state ofIndiana. In the2020 United States census, the county population was 22,785.[1] Thecounty seat is the town ofBrookville.[2] Franklin County is part of theCincinnati, OH–KY–IN Metropolitan Statistical Area. The only incorporated city in Franklin County isBatesville, which lies mostly in adjoiningRipley County.
Franklin County lies on the eastern edge of Indiana; its eastern border abuts the western border ofOhio. Its low rolling hills, once completely wooded, have been partially cleared and leveled for agricultural use. The carved drainages are still largely brush-filled.[3]According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 391.05 square miles (1,012.8 km2), of which 384.43 square miles (995.7 km2) (or 98.31%) is land and 6.62 square miles (17.1 km2) (or 1.69%) is water.[4]
Brookville Lake extends into the county's northern part, formed by a dam of the same name on the East Branch of theWhitewater River, a tributary of theGreat Miami River. The West Branch of the Whitewater River enters the county's northwestern part fromFayette County and joins the east branch at Brookville, to form the Whitewater River, flowing southeastward intoDearborn County. The southern and southwestern parts of Franklin County are drained by Salt Creek, Pipe Creek, and Blue Creek, which flow northeastward into Whitewater River.[3] The highest point in the county (1,070 feet/330 meters ASL) is a small hill 1.0 mile (1.6 km) north ofAndersonville.[5]
The future state of Indiana was first regulated by congressional passage of theNorthwest Ordinance in 1787. In 1790 the Territory was divided into two counties, with Knox covering much of present-day Indiana. In 1810, a portion of Knox was partitioned to create Wayne County, and shortly thereafter a portion further south was partitioned to create Franklin; the authorizing act was dated February 1, 1811. It was named for statesmanBenjamin Franklin.[6][7]
Some early settlers of Franklin County werePrimitive Baptists who came with Elder William Tyner from Virginia in 1797, after the American Revolutionary War. They organized the first church congregation in the Whitewater Valley, theLittle Cedar Grove Baptist Church.[8] They raised a log chapel southeast of Brookville in 1805.
Another European-American landmark is theBig Cedar Baptist Church and Burying Ground on Big Cedar Creek Road, between the road to Reily and the Oxford Pike. The original church was established in 1817, as an arm of the Little Cedar Baptist church. The brick building was built in 1838. This church congregation, similar to many pioneer Baptist groups in the country, was originallyPrimitive Baptist or Hardshell. In the 1830s modernism reached the county, bringing innovations such asSunday schools, Missionary Societies, and the playing of organs. Organs were particularly anathema to the Primitive Party, who considered it akin to Aaron's golden calf.
The Big Cedar congregation divided into two over these issues, but the two groups arrived at an amicable settlement. Both congregations continued to use the same building: the Primitives, or Hardshells, had worship in the church on the first and third Sabbath of each month, and the Modernists or Missionary Baptists used the church on the second and fourth Sundays. Each congregation had a wood shed. The building is now maintained in connection with the Big Cedar Cemetery Association.[9]
GovernorsJames B. Ray,Noah Noble andDavid Wallace were known as the "Brookville Triumvirate." They had each lived in Brookville and were elected to consecutive terms as Indiana governor. Noble and Ray were political adversaries.[10]
James B. Goudie Jr. (1769–1836), Speaker of the Indiana House, was also from Franklin County.
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In recent years, average temperatures in Brookville have ranged from a low of 17 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −31 °F (−35 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in September 1951. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.68 inches (68 mm) in September to 4.90 inches (124 mm) in May.[11]
The county government is a constitutional body, and is granted specific powers by theConstitution of Indiana, and by theIndiana Code.
County Council: The legislative branch of the county government; controls spending and revenue collection in the county. Representatives are elected to four-year terms from county districts. They set salaries, the annual budget, and special spending. The council has limited authority to impose local taxes, in the form of an income and property tax that is subject to state level approval, excise taxes, and service taxes.[12][13]
Board of Commissioners: The executive body of the county; commissioners are elected county-wide to staggered four-year terms. One commissioner serves as president. The commissioners execute acts legislated by the council, collect revenue, and manage county government.[12][13]
County Officials: The county has other elected offices, includingsheriff,coroner,auditor,treasurer,recorder,surveyor, and circuitcourt clerk. These officers are elected to four-year terms. Members elected to county government positions are required to declareparty affiliations and to be residents of the county.[13]
Franklin County is part ofIndiana's 6th congressional district;Indiana Senate districts 42 and 43;[14] andIndiana House of Representatives districts 55, 67 and 68.[15]
Franklin County is aRepublican stronghold, and increasingly so in recent presidential elections. The 2012 election and every subsequent one broke the record for the strongest Republican support ever in county history. In 2024, it was the most Republican county in the state of Indiana.[16]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 1,712 | 37.05% | 2,872 | 62.15% | 37 | 0.80% |
| 1892 | 1,610 | 35.47% | 2,859 | 62.99% | 70 | 1.54% |
| 1896 | 1,760 | 38.07% | 2,844 | 61.52% | 19 | 0.41% |
| 1900 | 1,738 | 38.10% | 2,781 | 60.96% | 43 | 0.94% |
| 1904 | 1,757 | 40.36% | 2,501 | 57.45% | 95 | 2.18% |
| 1908 | 1,670 | 38.23% | 2,616 | 59.89% | 82 | 1.88% |
| 1912 | 929 | 23.37% | 2,306 | 58.00% | 741 | 18.64% |
| 1916 | 1,495 | 37.24% | 2,426 | 60.42% | 94 | 2.34% |
| 1920 | 3,137 | 45.51% | 3,671 | 53.26% | 85 | 1.23% |
| 1924 | 3,296 | 44.43% | 3,915 | 52.78% | 207 | 2.79% |
| 1928 | 3,426 | 47.19% | 3,817 | 52.58% | 17 | 0.23% |
| 1932 | 2,687 | 36.02% | 4,704 | 63.06% | 68 | 0.91% |
| 1936 | 2,952 | 41.21% | 3,891 | 54.31% | 321 | 4.48% |
| 1940 | 4,381 | 58.11% | 3,142 | 41.68% | 16 | 0.21% |
| 1944 | 3,796 | 59.82% | 2,530 | 39.87% | 20 | 0.32% |
| 1948 | 3,566 | 55.13% | 2,860 | 44.22% | 42 | 0.65% |
| 1952 | 4,630 | 64.04% | 2,548 | 35.24% | 52 | 0.72% |
| 1956 | 4,429 | 63.02% | 2,573 | 36.61% | 26 | 0.37% |
| 1960 | 4,108 | 53.73% | 3,523 | 46.08% | 14 | 0.18% |
| 1964 | 2,956 | 42.26% | 4,021 | 57.48% | 18 | 0.26% |
| 1968 | 3,468 | 52.28% | 2,386 | 35.97% | 780 | 11.76% |
| 1972 | 4,324 | 66.74% | 2,131 | 32.89% | 24 | 0.37% |
| 1976 | 3,557 | 51.96% | 3,234 | 47.25% | 54 | 0.79% |
| 1980 | 4,551 | 59.10% | 2,834 | 36.80% | 316 | 4.10% |
| 1984 | 5,202 | 69.62% | 2,225 | 29.78% | 45 | 0.60% |
| 1988 | 4,777 | 65.70% | 2,472 | 34.00% | 22 | 0.30% |
| 1992 | 3,831 | 46.91% | 2,456 | 30.07% | 1,880 | 23.02% |
| 1996 | 4,167 | 52.25% | 2,808 | 35.21% | 1,000 | 12.54% |
| 2000 | 5,587 | 67.00% | 2,591 | 31.07% | 161 | 1.93% |
| 2004 | 6,977 | 69.83% | 2,925 | 29.27% | 90 | 0.90% |
| 2008 | 7,018 | 65.95% | 3,404 | 31.99% | 220 | 2.07% |
| 2012 | 7,424 | 70.17% | 2,909 | 27.50% | 247 | 2.33% |
| 2016 | 8,669 | 78.12% | 1,969 | 17.74% | 459 | 4.14% |
| 2020 | 9,691 | 80.64% | 2,137 | 17.78% | 190 | 1.58% |
| 2024 | 9,810 | 81.52% | 2,061 | 17.13% | 163 | 1.35% |
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 10,763 | — | |
| 1830 | 10,190 | −5.3% | |
| 1840 | 13,349 | 31.0% | |
| 1850 | 17,968 | 34.6% | |
| 1860 | 19,549 | 8.8% | |
| 1870 | 20,223 | 3.4% | |
| 1880 | 20,092 | −0.6% | |
| 1890 | 18,366 | −8.6% | |
| 1900 | 16,388 | −10.8% | |
| 1910 | 15,335 | −6.4% | |
| 1920 | 14,806 | −3.4% | |
| 1930 | 14,498 | −2.1% | |
| 1940 | 14,412 | −0.6% | |
| 1950 | 16,034 | 11.3% | |
| 1960 | 17,015 | 6.1% | |
| 1970 | 16,943 | −0.4% | |
| 1980 | 19,612 | 15.8% | |
| 1990 | 19,580 | −0.2% | |
| 2000 | 22,151 | 13.1% | |
| 2010 | 23,087 | 4.2% | |
| 2020 | 22,785 | −1.3% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 23,096 | [18] | 1.4% |
| US Decennial Census[19] 1790–1960[20] 1900–1990[21] 1990–2000[22] 2010–2013[1] | |||
As of the2010 United States census, there were 23,087 people, 8,579 households, and 6,447 families in the county.[23] The population density was 60.1 inhabitants per square mile (23.2/km2). There were 9,538 housing units at an average density of 24.8 per square mile (9.6/km2).[4] The racial makeup of the county was 98.3% white, 0.2% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population.[23] In terms of ancestry, 40.3% wereGerman, 14.7% wereAmerican, 13.1% wereIrish, and 9.5% wereEnglish.[24]
Of the 8,579 households, 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.6% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 24.9% were non-families, and 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.07. The median age was 40.0 years.[23]
The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $60,300. Males had a median income of $43,443 versus $32,612 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,090. About 8.6% of families and 11.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.8% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.[25]
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 21,790 | 95.6% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 23 | 0.1% |
| Native American (NH) | 25 | 0.1% |
| Asian (NH) | 91 | 0.4% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 1 | 0.004% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 636 | 2.8% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 219 | 1% |
School districts include:[27]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)Places adjacent to Franklin County, Indiana | |
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Municipalities and communities ofFranklin County, Indiana,United States | ||
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| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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