Franklin County is a
county
A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposes Chambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...
located in the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...
of
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County
, LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham
, area_total_km2 = 135,765 ...
. As of the
2020 census, the population was 32,113.
Its
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...
is
Russellville.
Its name is in honor of
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin ( April 17, 1790) was an American polymath who was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. Encyclopædia Britannica, Wood, 2021 Among the leading inte ...
, famous
statesman,
scientist
A scientist is a person who conducts scientific research to advance knowledge in an area of the natural sciences.
In classical antiquity, there was no real ancient analog of a modern scientist. Instead, philosophers engaged in the philosoph ...
, and
printer
Printer may refer to:
Technology
* Printer (publishing), a person or a company
* Printer (computing), a hardware device
* Optical printer for motion picture films
People
* Nariman Printer (fl. c. 1940), Indian journalist and activist
* James ...
.
It is a
dry county, although the city of Russellville is wet.
History
Franklin County was established on February 6, 1818.
Colbert County
Colbert County
Colbert County () is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census the county's population was 57,227. The county seat is Tuscumbia. The largest city is Muscle Shoals.
The county is named i ...
was originally established on February 6, 1867, after it split from Franklin County over political issues after the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...
. It was abolished eight months later by an Alabama
constitutional convention and then reestablished on February 24, 1870.
Musical history
Many musicians and songwriters are from Franklin County including
Billy Sherrill
Billy Norris Sherrill (November 5, 1936 – August 4, 2015) was an American record producer, songwriter, and arranger best known for his association with country artists, notably Tammy Wynette and George Jones. Sherrill and business partner Gl ...
, Ricky Pierce, Eddie Martin and many others.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...
, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.0%) is water.
Adjacent Counties
*
Colbert County
Colbert County () is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census the county's population was 57,227. The county seat is Tuscumbia. The largest city is Muscle Shoals.
The county is named i ...
(north)
*
Lawrence County (east)
*
Winston County (southeast)
*
Marion County (south)
*
Itawamba County, Mississippi (southwest)
*
Tishomingo County, Mississippi
Tishomingo County is a county located in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 19,593. Its county seat is Iuka.
History
Tishomingo County was organized February 9, 1836, from Ch ...
(northwest)
National protected area
*
William B. Bankhead National Forest (part)
Transportation
Major Highways
*
U.S. Highway 43
*
State Route 13
*
State Route 17
*
State Route 19
*
State Route 24
*
State Route 172
*
State Route 187
*
State Route 237
*
State Route 241
*
State Route 243
*
State Route 247
Rail
*
Norfolk Southern Railway
*
Redmont Railway
Demographics
2000
At the
2000 census there were 31,223 people, 12,259 households, and 8,949 families living in the county. The population density was 49 people per square mile (19/km
2). There were 13,749 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8/km
2). The
racial makeup
A race is a categorization of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally viewed as distinct within a given society. The term came into common usage during the 1500s, when it was used to refer to groups of variou ...
of the county was 89.68% White (non-Hispanic), 4.21% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 4.62% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. 5.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 12,259 households 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 24.50% of households were one person and 12.10% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.97.
The age distribution was 24.50% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.
The median household income was $27,177 and the median family income was $34,274. Males had a median income of $27,497 versus $18,631 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,814. About 15.20% of families and 18.90% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 24.60% of those under age 18 and 24.10% of those age 65 or over.
2010
At the
2010 census there were 31,704 people, 12,286 households, and 8,741 families living in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile (22 km
2). There were 14,022 housing units at an average density of 21.7 per square mile (8/km
2). The
racial makeup
A race is a categorization of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally viewed as distinct within a given society. The term came into common usage during the 1500s, when it was used to refer to groups of variou ...
of the county was 83.0% White (non-Hispanic), 3.9% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 10.5% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. 14.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 12,286 households 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 26.1% of households were one person and 12.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.05
The age distribution was 24.8% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% 65 or older. The median age was 37.8 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.3 males.
The median household income was $33,942 and the median family income was $44,352. Males had a median income of $31,997 versus $22,747 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,094. About 14.9% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 26.2% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.
2020
As of the
2020 United States census
The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...
, there were 32,113 people, 11,048 households, and 7,669 families residing in the county.
Education
There are two school systems and one community college in Franklin County; Russellville City Schools and Franklin County Schools. Northwest Shoals Community College has a campus in Phil Campbell.
Russellville City Schools
include:
*Russellville High School
*Russellville Middle School
*Russellville Elementary School (grades 3 - 5)
*West Elementary School (grades Kindergarten - 2)
Franklin County Schools
include:
*Belgreen High School (grades K - 12)
*East Franklin Junior High School (grades K - 9)
*Phil Campbell High School (two separate buildings serving grades K - 12)
*Red Bay High School (grades K - 12)
*Tharptown High School (grades K-12)
*Vina High School (grades K - 12)
There is also the Franklin County Career-Technical Center, located next to Belgreen High School.
Government
Like most rural counties in Alabama, Franklin County has gone solidly Republican in the 21st century, but it has flirted with the party at a federal level since the 1950s. In a pattern typical of most rural Alabama counties, Franklin County supported the
Dixiecrats in
1948 and
George Wallace in
1968, but unlike other counties, had been won by Republicans in
1956 and
1960, cracking the wall of the
Solid South
The Solid South or Southern bloc was the electoral voting bloc of the states of the Southern United States for issues that were regarded as particularly important to the interests of Democrats in those states. The Southern bloc existed especial ...
before full-fledged turnover in
1964
Events January
* January 1 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved.
* January 5 - In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patriarc ...
and beyond.
As is the case with most rural counties nationwide that supported
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...
in the
1996 election, the county has turned on the Democratic Party. In the
2020 election,
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of P ...
won convincingly over
Joe Biden, 83–17, continuing a backsliding trend for Democratic candidates in the rural South.
Communities
Cities
*
Red Bay
*
Russellville (county seat)
Towns
*
Hodges
*
Phil Campbell
*
Vina
Census-designated places
*
Belgreen
*
Spruce Pine
Unincorporated communities
*
Atwood
*
Burntout
*
Frankfort
*
Halltown
*
Liberty Hill
*
Nix
*
Old Burleson
*
Pleasant Site
*
Pogo
See also
*
National Register of Historic Places listings in Franklin County, Alabama
*
Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Franklin County, Alabama
References
External links
Franklin County, AlabamaFranklin County Chamber of CommerceBay Tree Council for the Performing Arts
{{authority control
1818 establishments in Alabama Territory
Populated places established in 1818
Counties of Appalachia