Franklin is a town in and the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

Macon County, North Carolina Macon County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,014. Its county seat is Franklin. The Nantahala River runs through Macon County, flowing into the Little Tennessee River in ...

, United States. It is situated within the

Nantahala National Forest The Nantahala National Forest () is the largest of the four national forests in North Carolina, lying in the mountains and valleys of western North Carolina. The Nantahala is the second wettest region in the Continental US, after the Pacific Nor ...

. The population was reported to be 4,175 in the 2020 census, an increase from the total of 3,845 tabulated in 2010. The town developed around a 1,000-year-old

platform mound A platform mound is any earthwork or mound intended to support a structure or activity. It typically refers to a flat-topped mound, whose sides may be pyramidal. In Eastern North America The indigenous peoples of North America built substru ...

, the center of the historic

Cherokee The Cherokee (; , or ) people are one of the Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, they were concentrated in their homelands, in towns along river valleys of what is now southwestern ...

town of

Nikwasi Nikwasi () which translates to "Star Place". Nikwasi is the site of the Cherokee town which is first found in colonial records in the early 18th century, but is much older. The town covered about on the floodplain of the Little Tennessee River. ...

. Franklin is a popular destination for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, specifically in relation to the Nantahala National Forest, the

Great Smoky Mountains The Great Smoky Mountains (, ''Equa Dutsusdu Dodalv'') are a mountain range rising along the Tennessee–North Carolina border in the southeastern United States. They are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains and form part of the Blue Ridg ...

, and the

Appalachian Trail The Appalachian Trail, also called the A.T., is a hiking trail in the Eastern United States, extending almost between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine, and passing through 14 states.Gailey, Chris (2006)"Appalachian Tra ...

. The town and the surrounding area is rich in gems and minerals, and is known locally as the "Gem Capital of The World."

History

Cherokee influence

Prior to the arrival of

European European, or Europeans, may refer to: In general * ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe ** Ethnic groups in Europe ** Demographics of Europe ** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe and other West ...

settlers, the area was home to tribes within the

Cherokee Nation The Cherokee Nation ( or ) is the largest of three list of federally recognized tribes, federally recognized tribes of Cherokees in the United States. It includes people descended from members of the Cherokee Nation (1794–1907), Old Cheroke ...

. The Cherokee called this area

, or "center of activity". Nikwasi was an ancient and important Cherokee town, centered around an ancient platform mound believed to be at least 1000-years-old. The Cherokee built their Council House on top of the mound. In the 21st century, the remains of Nikwasi Mound are still visible in downtown Franklin. It was privately owned until Franklin purchased the site in 1946 and it was added to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

in 1980. In 1819, the Cherokee were forcibly relocated to the

Qualla Boundary The Qualla Boundary or The Qualla is territory held as a land trust by the United States government for the federally recognized Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), who reside in Western North Carolina. The area is part of the large histori ...

, which today is the home the federally recognized tribe of the

Eastern Band of Cherokee The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), (Cherokee: ᏣᎳᎩᏱ ᏕᏣᏓᏂᎸᎩ, ''Tsalagiyi Detsadanilvgi'') is a federally recognized Indian tribe based in western North Carolina in the United States. They are descended from the small ...

European settlement

The city was named by European-American settlers for

Jesse Franklin Jesse Franklin (March 24, 1760 – August 31, 1823) was the Democratic-Republican U.S. senator from the U.S. state of North Carolina between 1799 and 1805 and between 1807 and 1813. In 1804, Franklin briefly served as President pro tempore of ...

, one of two state commissioners who surveyed and organized the town in 1820 as the county seat, for what would become Macon County in 1828. Jesse Franklin was later elected by the state legislature as the

United States Senator The United States Senate consists of 100 members, two from each of the 50 U.S. state, states. This list includes all senators serving in the 119th United States Congress. Party affiliation Independent Senators Angus King of Maine and Berni ...

from North Carolina (popular election of senators did not become custom until the 20th century). He was later elected and served North Carolina as its 20th governor. The city of Franklin was not formally incorporated until 1855. In August 1923, Franklin's first hospital opened. Three years later the first permanent hospital in North Carolina west of

Asheville Asheville ( ) is a city in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. Located at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, it is the county seat of Buncombe County. It is the most populous city in Western North Carolina a ...

was constructed downtown and named Angel Brothers Hospital. It was renamed Angel Hospital in 1940 and expanded in 1957, 1977, and 1991. A new $68 million

Angel Medical Center Angel Medical Center is a hospital located in Franklin, North Carolina certified by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The hospital is licensed for 30 beds, plus a 17-bed emergency department. It is affiliated with Mis ...

was built and opened in 2022 on the east side of town. In 1946, the people of Franklin raised money to buy the site of Nikwasi Mound and vowed to preserve it. Schoolchildren were among those who donated money to buy it from one of the many private owners who had held it since the Cherokee were forced from their historic town. In 2015, Franklin transferred title to the mound to the Nikwasi Initiative, a partnership among the Town of Franklin, Macon County, the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians and Mainspring Conservation Trust. The Initiative plans to develop the site as an historical and cultural site, including a museum in a building adjacent to the mound.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the town has a total area of , of which is land and (0.78%) is water. The

Cullasaja River The Cullasaja River ()
, from the North Carolina Collection's website at the

Highlands Highland is a broad term for areas of higher elevation, such as a mountain range or mountainous plateau. Highland, Highlands, or The Highlands, may also refer to: Places Africa * Highlands, Johannesburg, South Africa * Highlands, Harare, Zimbab ...

flows into the

Little Tennessee River The Little Tennessee River (known locally as the Little T) is a tributary of the Tennessee River that flows through the Blue Ridge Mountains from Georgia, into North Carolina, and then into Tennessee, in the southeastern United States. It dra ...

at Franklin. Franklin and Macon County have numerous waterfalls and hiking trails.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,175 people, 1,817 households, and 1,030 families residing in the town.

2010 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2010, there were 3,845 people, 1,627 households, and 899 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 1,916 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 82.3%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 1.9%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.40% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.03%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, 0.49% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race were 13.01% of the population. There were 1,627 households, out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 12.4% were a single person household and 44.7% were non-families. 40.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.79. In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.3% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.8 males. The median income for a household in the town was $30,425. Males had a median income of $33,957 versus $27,363 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the town was $19,761. About 15.2% of families and 20.9% 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 ...

, including 28.4% of those under age 18 and 16.2% of those age 65 or over.

Growth and cost of living

Franklin's rate of population growth is 12% higher than the national average. Located in the Great Smoky Mountains, Franklin is situated more than one hour from

. It is two hours from

Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

;

Knoxville, Tennessee Knoxville is a city in Knox County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. It is located on the Tennessee River and had a population of 190,740 at the 2020 United States census. It is the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Division ...

; or

Greenville, South Carolina Greenville ( ; ) is a city in Greenville County, South Carolina, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 70,720 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of municipalities in South Carolina, sixth-most pop ...

. Due to its proximity to these major cities, combined with a relatively rural location and lower cost of living, Franklin has developed as a destination for persons seeking retirement, recreational, permanent, or second homes. The 2010

cost-of-living index A cost-of-living index is a theoretical price index that measures relative cost of living over time or regions. It is an index that measures differences in the price of goods and services, and allows for substitutions with other items as pric ...

in Franklin: 86.7 (less than average, U.S. average is 100).

Climate

In the summer Franklin has temperatures in the lower 80s, while during the winter temperatures rarely fall below the upper teens. The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 84.50 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 24.00 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature variations between night and day tend to be moderate during summer with a difference that can reach 22 degrees Fahrenheit, and moderate during winter with an average difference of 25 degrees Fahrenheit. The annual average precipitation in Franklin is 55.50 inches and rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is March with an average rainfall of 5.76 inches.

Recreation

Hiking

The mountains that surround Franklin are lined with many hiking trails including the famous

. The AT runs north and south, passing 10 miles west of Franklin; it can be accessed at many locations in the area. Some 40 miles of side trails interlace with the AT in the region as well. Another, lesser known trail also passes through the area:

Bartram Trail The Bartram Trail follows the approximate route of 18th-century naturalist William Bartram's southern journey from March 1773 to January 1777. Bartram explored much of the territory which is now the states of North and South Carolina, Georgia ...

, named for American botanist

William Bartram William Bartram (April 20, 1739 – July 22, 1823) was an American naturalist, writer and explorer. Bartram was the author of an acclaimed book, now known by the shortened title Bartram's ''Travels'', which chronicled his explorations of the S ...

, who documented the native flora and fauna of the area in 1775. Bartram Trail climbs into the hills of the Franklin area; hikers may follow the explorer's footsteps and discover the exuberant natural world in which he took such delight. Both the Appalachian Trail and Bartram Trail cross over

Wayah Bald Wayah Bald is a high-altitude treeless open area in Nantahala National Forest, near Franklin, North Carolina. The Wayah Bald Observation Tower is located at the area's highest point (5,385 feet); the stone observation tower was built by the Civ ...

, one of the best known places in the Franklin area for

sightseeing Tourism is travel for pleasure, and the commercial activity of providing and supporting such travel. UN Tourism defines tourism more generally, in terms which go "beyond the common perception of tourism as being limited to holiday activity o ...

Gem mining

The Franklin area is famous for its gem mining. Franklin hosts the jewelry and gem show, "Macon County Gemboree", twice a year. The Cowee Valley north of Franklin attracts thousands of visitors annually to its mines, which continue to yield valuable stones. There are also other gem mines located throughout the area. Among the native stones found are

ruby Ruby is a pinkish-red-to-blood-red-colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum ( aluminium oxide). Ruby is one of the most popular traditional jewelry gems and is very durable. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapph ...

sapphire Sapphire is a precious gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum, consisting of aluminium oxide () with trace amounts of elements such as iron, titanium, cobalt, lead, chromium, vanadium, magnesium, boron, and silicon. The name ''sapphire ...

, and

garnet Garnets () are a group of silicate minerals that have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives. Garnet minerals, while sharing similar physical and crystallographic properties, exhibit a wide range of chemical compositions, de ...

s. The Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum is free to the public and is noted for its exhibits.

Waterfalls

Cullasaja Falls

Cullasaja Falls is a

waterfall A waterfall is any point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf. Waterfalls can be formed in seve ...

in Southwestern

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

. The waterfall is located on the

Cullasaja River The Cullasaja River ()
, from the North Carolina Collection's website at the

and is part of the

Mountain Waters Scenic Byway The Mountain Waters Scenic Byway is a National Forest Scenic Byway that traverses through the Nantahala National Forest, in Western North Carolina. It features two river gorges, hardwood forests and countryside vistas. Route description The f ...

. ''Cullasaja'' comes from a Cherokee word meaning "honey locust place." The falls is the last major waterfall on the Cullasaja river.Kevin Adams, ''North Carolina Waterfalls'', p. 470 The falls is a long cascade over the course of . The height of the falls is given as 200 ft (61 m) in Kevin Adams' book, ''North Carolina Waterfalls'' and 250 ft (77.1 m) by NCWaterfalls.com. However, Google Earth gives a height (based on the elevation of the water at the top of the falls and the elevation of the plunge pool at the bottom of the falls) of 137 ft (42 m). The falls may be glimpsed by people driving along Highway 64, but it is difficult to see more fully from the road. The falls are located beside of a series of blind curves on with sheer rock cliffs above and below the road. A small pull-off is located near the falls, but walking on the road puts visitors in danger of being hit by a passing vehicle.

Dry Falls

Dry Falls, also known as Upper Cullasaja Falls, is a 65-foot (20.1 m)

located in the

, northwest of

Highlands, North Carolina Highlands is an incorporation (municipal government), incorporated town in Macon County, North Carolina, Macon County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located on a plateau in the southern Appalachian Mountains, within the Nantahala National F ...

. Dry Falls flows on the

Cullasaja River The Cullasaja River ()
, from the North Carolina Collection's website at the

Cullasaja Falls Cullasaja Falls ()
, from the North Carolina Collection's website at the University of North Caroli ...

. Dry Falls flows over an overhanging bluff that allows visitors to walk up under the falls and remain relatively dry when the waterflow is low, hence its name. Visitors will get wet if the waterflow is high. The falls has been called Dry Falls for a long time, but has also gone by a few other names, including High Falls, Pitcher Falls, and Cullasaja Falls.Kevin Adams, ''North Carolina Waterfalls'', p. 467 Dry Falls is located on the side of U.S. Highway 64 southeast of Franklin, North Carolina. There is a parking area on the side of the road, where visitors can park before walking the short path with stairs to the falls. The

United States Forest Service The United States Forest Service (USFS) is an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture. It administers the nation's 154 United States National Forest, national forests and 20 United States Natio ...

has made improvements to the parking area and has reopened the public area.

Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls is a 45-foot (20.1 m)

located in the

, southeast of Franklin. With a short curve of roadway that passes behind the falls, this is the only waterfall in the state where one can drive a vehicle under the water. Bridal Veil Falls flows on a tributary of the

Cullasaja River The Cullasaja River ()
, from the North Carolina Collection's website at the

U.S. Highway 64 southeast of Franklin. Highway 64 originally used the curve of roadway behind the falls exclusively, so that all traffic went behind them. But this caused problems with icing of the roadway during freezing weather, and Hwy. 64 has been re-routed around the front of the falls since. A parking area is located on the side of the road, so that visitors can park and view the falls from there. In 2003, a massive boulder slid off the left side of the falls, blocking that side of the drive-under completely. However, in July 2007, that boulder was removed by a local developer.

Quarry Falls

Quarry Falls is a small

(or perhaps large rapid in high water) located beside US Hwy. 64 southeast of Franklin, North Carolina. Known to locals as "Sliding Rock", it is best known for the large, deep pool at the bottom. It is a popular place for swimming during warm weather.

Scottish Tartans Museum

Franklin has been home to the Scottish Tartans Museum since 1994. It shows materials common to some of the Scots-Irish immigrants who settled in this area in the late eighteenth century and later.

Education

The local public school system is run by Macon County Schools. Franklin High School serves grades 9–12. Macon Early College is a high school that offers college classes. East Franklin Elementary school serves younger grades.

Media

'' The Franklin Press'' has been published weekly in Franklin since 1888. It is the oldest standing business in Macon County. The ''Press'' was preceded by four other Macon County newspapers: ''The Franklin Observer'' and ''The Western Carolinian'' (both of which began in 1860), the ''Macon Advance'' (started in 1877), and ''The Western Reporter'' (1880-1881). None of them lasted more than a few years.

Library

The Macon County Public Library, which is partially county funded but not part of county government, is part of the Fontana Regional Library system.

Macon County Airport

The

Macon County Airport Macon County Airport is a public use airport in Macon County, North Carolina, United States. Owned by the Macon County Airport Authority, it is located three nautical miles (6 km) northwest of central business district of Franklin, No ...

is located in the Iotla Valley, just north of Franklin, and reports

ASOS ASOS or Asos may refer to: * Asos, a village in Greece * ASOS (retailer), a UK online fashion store * '' A Storm of Swords'', a book in the ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' saga by G. R. R. Martin * Action short of strike, industrial action undertake ...

weather station A weather station is a facility, either on land or sea, with instruments and equipment for measuring atmosphere of Earth, atmospheric conditions to provide information for weather forecasting, weather forecasts and to study the weather and clima ...

information as "Franklin" at :00, :20, and :40 past each hour.

Notable people

Shawn Bryson Adrian Shawn Bryson (born November 30, 1976) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers. College career Bryson playe ...

played for the

Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East div ...

and

Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. The team plays their home game ...

during his time in the

NFL The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The N ...

* Kevin Corbin NC State Senator, also served two terms in the NC House of Representatives * Helen Wendler Deane histophysiologist *

Charles Frazier Charles Frazier (born November 4, 1950) is an American novelist. He won the 1997 National Book Award for Fiction for '' Cold Mountain''. Biography Early life Frazier was born in Asheville, North Carolina, grew up in Andrews and Franklin, No ...

author of award-winning novel '' Cold Mountain,'' was raised in Franklinid=tDVWkTVnYwQC&pg=PA278&lpg=PA278&dq=%22Charles+Frazier%22+%22franklin,+north+carolina%22&source=bl&ots=WPGlvBRBqR&sig=RfBvT1y3yk9_f4j1IT-QtHAbbm8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjB_4r5xrDcAhWFsaQKHZpAADUQ6AEIODAC#v=onepage&q=%22Charles%20Frazier%22%20%22franklin%2C%20north%20carolina%22&f=false ''Vale of Humility: Plain Folk in Contemporary North Carolina Fiction'', by George Hovis, Google Books
Retrieved July 21, 2018. *

Alexander Key Alexander Hill Key (September 21, 1904 – July 25, 1979) was an American science fiction writer who primarily wrote children's literature. Early life Alexander Key was born in 1904 in LaPlatte, Maryland to Alexander Hill and Charlotte ( ...

novelist, lived for a time on Wayah Valley Road near Franklin *

Cory Asbury Cory Hunter Asbury (born October 15, 1985) is an American Christian musician, worship pastor, songwriter, and former member of the Bethel Music collective. Starting as an intern with the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri, in ...

Christian and Country singer, songwriter, and former worship pastor for

Bethel Music Bethel Music is an American Christian music label and publishing group. Beginning as a local music ministry, it became a global outreach collective of songwriters and musicians. History Between 2009 and 2013, Bethel Music developed a record la ...

was raised in Franklin, working locally at Sunset Restaurant in his teenage years.

References

External links

Official website of Franklin, NC

Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce
{{authority control County seats in North Carolina Towns in Macon County, North Carolina Towns in North Carolina