Frankston is a town in Anderson County, Texas, United States. With a population of 1,126 at the 2020 United States census, it is one of the most populous communities of the county area.

History

Two theories are given as to how Frankston derived its name. The one most accepted—and shown on the city's official website—is that Frankston was named for Frankie Miller, a young woman who donated land for the downtown city park. An alternate theory for the name of the town was that Frankston was named after Frank Miller, who owned the land when the railway was built. The Miller house still stands as a historical landmark in the southeastern part of town, on ACR 19. The state bought the land from him and named the city in his honor. The original Main Street still holds the name Miller Street. The junction of Highways 155 and 175 is now the center of the town.

Geography

Frankston is located in northeastern Anderson County at the intersection of U.S. Highway 175 and State Highway 155. 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 , all land. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

system, Frankston has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...

, ''Cfa'' on climate maps.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,126 people, 456 households, and 317 families residing in the town. According to the 2000 United States census, there were 1,209 people residing in the town of Frankston. Per 2000's census statistics, the racial and ethnic makeup of the town was 86.68%

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 ...

, 10.92%

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 ...

, 0.17% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.91% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latino Americans of any race were 2.81% of the population. By 2020, its

non-Hispanic white Non-Hispanic Whites, also referred to as White Anglo Americans or Non-Latino Whites, are White Americans who are classified by the United States census as "White" and not of Hispanic or Latino origin. According to annual estimates from the Unit ...

and Black or African American population remained the majority. The town's population had a median household income of $46,250 in 2020, up from $28,125 in 2000. About 12.8% of families and 17.1% of the population lived at or 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 14.0% of those under age 18 and 25.6% of those age 65 or over according to the 2000 U.S. census.

Government

Frankston's City Hall building, on the west side of downtown, also includes its police department and an annex for the Anderson County sheriff's department. Frankston is served by a volunteer fire department. Anderson County operates a subcourthouse located on the southwest corner of Frankston's downtown square. The

U.S. Postal Service The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or simply the Postal Service, is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the executive branch of the federal governmen ...

operates a post office at 400 E. Main Street.

Education

Frankston is served by the Frankston Independent School District.

Transportation

* U.S. Highway 175 * State Highway 155 * Farm to Market Road 19 A railroad line operated by the

Southern Pacific Railroad The Southern Pacific (or Espee from the railroad initials) was an American Railroad classes#Class I, Class I Rail transport, railroad network that existed from 1865 to 1996 and operated largely in the Western United States. The system was oper ...

(originally built and operated by the Texas & New Orleans Railroad) served Frankston from 1902 until its abandonment in the mid-1980s. The only remaining vestige of the rail line in the city is a building used by the railroad company as a depot; it now serves as Frankston's public library.

Notable people

* Frank Beard, drummer for

ZZ Top ZZ Top is an American rock band formed in Houston, Texas, in 1969. For almost 56 years, it consisted of vocalist-guitarist Billy Gibbons, drummer Frank Beard (musician), Frank Beard, and bassist-vocalist Dusty Hill prior to his death in 2021. ZZ ...

* Herbert H. Reynolds, 11th president of Baylor University

References

External links

City of Frankston official websiteFrankston City Park historical marker
from Texas Historic Sites Atlas (Texas Historical Commission)
Frankston Railroad Depot historical marker
from Texas Historic Sites Atlas (Texas Historical Commission) * {{authority control Towns in Anderson County, Texas Towns in Texas U.S. Route 175