Franklin, Kansas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Franklin, Kansas
Unincorporated community
KDOT map of Crawford County (legend)
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Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Crawford
Area
• Total	1.72 sq mi (4.46 km2)
• Land	1.71 sq mi (4.43 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation	988 ft (301 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	473
• Density	274.7/sq mi (106.05/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	66735
Area code	620
GNIS ID	475147

Franklin is an unincorporated community in Crawford County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the community and nearby areas was 473. Franklin is located along U.S. Route 69, 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Arma, or 5.9 miles (9.5 km) north of Frontenac.

History

Franklin began as a mining community in the early 1900s. It is located just off Highway 69 Bypass which is a major corridor between Kansas City and Pittsburg, Ks./Joplin, Mo. Franklin was a shipping point on the Joplin & Pittsburg electric railroad. The first post office in Franklin was established in 1908.

On May 4, 2003, a high-end F4 tornado ripped through Franklin, the path reached over 0.5 miles (0.80 km) wide at points. Franklin was all but destroyed, the U.S. Post Office, community center, and approximately 1/3 of family homes were destroyed. Four deaths and approximately 20 injuries were reported.

Area attractions

Opened on May 1, 2012, the Miner’s Hall Museum was established to preserve and present authentic materials and artifacts that document the history of coal mining and its impact on Southeast Kansas, as well as to be a vital partner in the educational and cultural life of Southeast Kansas through its collections and programs.

Franklin Sidewalk National and Kansas Historic Site & Guinness World Record Holder Listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior March 16, 2007 and on the Kansas Register of Historic Places November 18, 2006. Constructed in 1936 with federal funding assistance, the Franklin Sidewalk connects two rural mining communities in Crawford County - Arma and Franklin. The 3-foot wide sidewalk begins at the south edge of Arma and stretches south 1.7 miles to the south edge of Franklin. It has become well known as the "longest sidewalk connecting two communities". It runs adjacent to Business 69 Highway also known as "Jefferson Highway" and the "Frontier Military Scenic Byway".

Fiction

In Disney's 1985 film Return to Oz, Dorothy Gale lived with Aunt Em and Uncle Henry outside of Franklin or near it in Crawford County.

Demographics

For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Franklin as a census-designated place (CDP).

Notable people

• Frank Wayenberg, baseball player