Franklin, Connecticut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Town of Franklin
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| Franklin, Connecticut | ||
Congregational Church
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 New London County and Connecticut Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region and Connecticut |
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| Country |  United States |
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| U.S. state |  Connecticut |
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| County | New London | |
| Region | Southeastern CT | |
| Incorporated | 1786 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Selectman-town meeting | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 19.6 sq mi (50.8 km2) | |
| • Land | 19.5 sq mi (50.5 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2) | |
| Elevation | 315 ft (96 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,863 | |
| • Density | 95.05/sq mi (36.67/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) | |
| ZIP Code |
06254
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| Area code(s) | 860/959 | |
| FIPS code | 09-29910 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0213431 | |
Franklin is a small town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. It is part of the Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region. In 2020, about 1,863 people lived there. The town also includes a village called North Franklin.
Contents
History of Franklin
Europeans first settled in the area that is now Franklin in 1663. This area was originally part of the larger town of Norwich. The people living here wanted to form their own church community, called an "ecclesiastical society." They asked for this in 1710 but were told no.
Forming a Church Community
Six years later, in 1716, their request was approved. They created the second church community of Norwich, also known as the West Farms. During a religious movement called the First Great Awakening, this community faced some disagreements. These arguments were partly about where to build their meetinghouse. They were also fueled by conflicts between different groups within the church, known as the Old and New Lights.
Because of these disagreements, the minister, Henry Willes, left in 1749. In 1758, another part of the community, the eastern section, was allowed to form its own church group. This was called the Eighth, or Pautipaug, society of Norwich. The exact boundaries between these two church communities were finally decided in 1761.
Becoming a Town
The West Farms and Pautipaug church communities officially joined together to form the Town of Franklin in 1786. The town was named after the famous American inventor and statesman, Benjamin Franklin.
Until 1861, Franklin's borders reached east to the Shetucket River. This included the early village of Baltic. In 1861, a new town called Sprague was created. It was formed from parts of Franklin and Lisbon. This change gave Franklin the boundaries it has today.
Geography of Franklin
Franklin covers a total area of about 19.6 square miles (50.8 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 19.5 square miles (50.5 square kilometers), is land. A very small part, about 0.1 square miles (0.2 square kilometers), is water.
People of Franklin
In 2020, the town of Franklin had 1,863 people living there. There were 702 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. About 511 of these were families.
Population Details
- The average number of people in a household was 2.59.
- The average number of people in a family was 3.06.
- About 23.4% of the people were under 18 years old.
- About 17.3% of the people were 65 years old or older.
- The average age of people in Franklin was 44.6 years.
- For every 100 females, there were about 103.6 males.
Income and Economy
The median household income was $41,845. This means that half of the households earned more than this amount, and half earned less. The median family income was higher, at $91,875. The average income per person in the town was $25,477. About 3.7% of the population lived below the poverty line, meaning they had very low incomes.
Emergency Services
Franklin has important services to keep its residents safe.
Police Services
Franklin does not have its own police department because it is a smaller town. Instead, the Connecticut State Police (Troop K) helps keep the town safe and responds to emergencies.
Fire Department
Franklin has an all-volunteer fire department. This means that the firefighters are volunteers who give their time to help the community. Chief David Wheeler leads the department. They provide fire, rescue, and emergency services for the town.
Notable Places to See
- Ashbel Woodward House – This historic house was built in 1835. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992, meaning it is an important historical site.
Famous People from Franklin
Many interesting people have connections to Franklin:
- Lafayette S. Foster (1806–1880) – He was born in Franklin. He became a United States senator and a judge on the Connecticut Supreme Court.
- Jacob Kingsbury (1756–1837) – An Army Officer who served during several important wars, including the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.
- Orsamus H. Marshall (1813–1884) – He was a former leader, called Chancellor, of the University of Buffalo.
- Uriah Tracy (1755–1807) – Born in Franklin, he was a patriot who supported American independence. He served as a congressman and a U.S. senator. He was the first person buried in the Congressional Cemetery.
- Ashbel Woodward (1804–1885) – He was a medical doctor and a historian. He also served as a surgeon in the 26th Connecticut Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War.
See also
In Spanish: Franklin (Connecticut) para niños
