Franklin, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Franklin, Louisiana
|
|
|---|---|
| City of Franklin | |
Historic lampposts lining Franklin's Main Street
|
|
Location of Franklin in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana.
|
|
.svg)
Location of Louisiana in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | St. Mary |
| Incorporated | 1820 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 10.49 sq mi (27.17 km2) |
| • Land | 9.92 sq mi (25.70 km2) |
| • Water | 0.57 sq mi (1.48 km2) |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 6,728 |
| • Density | 678.09/sq mi (261.82/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
70538
|
| Area code(s) | 337 |
| FIPS code | 22-27155 |
Franklin is a charming city located in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, United States. It's known as the parish seat, which means it's the main town where the local government offices are. In 2010, about 7,660 people lived there.
The city sits along the beautiful Bayou Teche. It's about 47 miles southeast of Lafayette and 28 miles southeast of New Iberia. Franklin is also part of a larger group of towns called the Morgan City Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
Exploring Franklin's Past
Franklin was founded in 1808 by Joseph Carlin and his family. It was first called "Carlin's Settlement." The town was named after the famous Benjamin Franklin. In 1811, it became the parish seat, and by 1820, it was officially a town.
Many different people settled in Franklin early on, including French, Acadian, German, Danish, and Irish families. However, after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, many English settlers also moved there. This mix of cultures has given Franklin its unique look and feel.
Long ago, Franklin was a busy port for sugar. This was because many large sugar farms grew in the area. Later, when railroads became popular, Franklin became a town known for its sawmills. The First United Methodist Church in Franklin was built in 1806. This makes it the very first Protestant church in Louisiana!
Grand Sugar Plantations
By the 1830s, Bayou Teche was like a main highway, with many large farms called plantations along its banks. The people who owned these sugar cane plantations were some of the richest farmers in the southern United States.
You can still see their wealth in the amazing plantation homes and mansions they built in Franklin. Many of these beautiful buildings are still standing today and are well cared for. They give Franklin its special architectural style.
Franklin's Historic District is a special area listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it has over 420 important old buildings. Some of the famous plantation homes in Franklin include the Alice C. Plantation House, Arlington Plantation House, and the Dixie Plantation House.
Franklin During the Civil War
During the Civil War, a battle called the Battle of Irish Bend (also known as Nerson's Woods) happened near Franklin. This battle took place on April 14, 1863.
Even though the Confederate soldiers, led by General Richard Taylor, were greatly outnumbered, they fought bravely. They caused many losses for the Union troops, who were led by General Cuvier Grover. About 400 soldiers were killed or hurt in this fight. This battle helped stop the Union army from invading Texas.
Franklin's Location and Landscape
Franklin is located at 29°47′30″N 91°30′30″W / 29.79167°N 91.50833°W. It sits about 10 feet above sea level.
The city covers a total area of about 10.49 square miles (27.2 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 9.92 square miles (25.7 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.57 square miles (1.5 square kilometers), is water.
Two main highways, Louisiana Highway 182 and Louisiana Highway 87, pass through or near Franklin. These roads can take you to nearby towns like Baldwin, Jeanerette, and New Iberia. You can also use LA-182 and U.S. Highway 90 (which will become Interstate 49) to travel to Lafayette or Morgan City.
Understanding Franklin's Climate
| Climate data for Franklin 3 NW, Louisiana (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 87 (31) |
90 (32) |
94 (34) |
95 (35) |
99 (37) |
104 (40) |
100 (38) |
102 (39) |
100 (38) |
98 (37) |
89 (32) |
87 (31) |
104 (40) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 62.7 (17.1) |
66.7 (19.3) |
72.4 (22.4) |
77.9 (25.5) |
83.9 (28.8) |
88.4 (31.3) |
89.8 (32.1) |
90.2 (32.3) |
87.3 (30.7) |
80.4 (26.9) |
71.5 (21.9) |
65.0 (18.3) |
78.0 (25.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 53.2 (11.8) |
57.1 (13.9) |
62.6 (17.0) |
68.4 (20.2) |
75.4 (24.1) |
80.4 (26.9) |
82.0 (27.8) |
82.0 (27.8) |
78.6 (25.9) |
70.3 (21.3) |
60.8 (16.0) |
55.2 (12.9) |
68.8 (20.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 43.7 (6.5) |
47.5 (8.6) |
52.8 (11.6) |
59.0 (15.0) |
66.8 (19.3) |
72.4 (22.4) |
74.2 (23.4) |
73.9 (23.3) |
70.0 (21.1) |
60.2 (15.7) |
50.1 (10.1) |
45.5 (7.5) |
59.7 (15.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 12 (−11) |
8 (−13) |
22 (−6) |
33 (1) |
43 (6) |
54 (12) |
60 (16) |
59 (15) |
44 (7) |
31 (−1) |
23 (−5) |
10 (−12) |
8 (−13) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 5.63 (143) |
4.00 (102) |
4.02 (102) |
4.67 (119) |
4.68 (119) |
7.63 (194) |
8.01 (203) |
7.62 (194) |
5.59 (142) |
4.26 (108) |
4.22 (107) |
4.94 (125) |
65.27 (1,658) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 9.1 | 8.4 | 7.1 | 6.6 | 7.5 | 12.3 | 14.1 | 13.5 | 10.6 | 6.8 | 7.0 | 8.6 | 111.6 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Franklin has a warm and humid climate, typical of Louisiana. Summers are hot, and winters are mild. The city receives a good amount of rain throughout the year.
Who Lives in Franklin?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 891 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,265 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,702 | 34.5% | |
| 1890 | 2,127 | 25.0% | |
| 1900 | 2,692 | 26.6% | |
| 1910 | 3,857 | 43.3% | |
| 1920 | 3,504 | −9.2% | |
| 1930 | 3,271 | −6.6% | |
| 1940 | 4,274 | 30.7% | |
| 1950 | 6,144 | 43.8% | |
| 1960 | 8,673 | 41.2% | |
| 1970 | 9,325 | 7.5% | |
| 1980 | 9,584 | 2.8% | |
| 1990 | 9,004 | −6.1% | |
| 2000 | 8,354 | −7.2% | |
| 2010 | 7,660 | −8.3% | |
| 2020 | 6,728 | −12.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Franklin's Population in 2020
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 2,389 | 35.51% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 3,700 | 54.99% |
| Native American | 53 | 0.79% |
| Asian | 39 | 0.58% |
| Other/Mixed | 247 | 3.67% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 300 | 4.46% |
In 2020, the 2020 United States census counted 6,728 people living in Franklin. These people made up 2,743 households and 1,466 families.
Learning in Franklin: Schools
The St. Mary Parish School Board manages the public schools in Franklin.
Public Elementary Schools
- W. P. Foster Elementary School
- LaGrange Elementary School
Public Secondary Schools
- Franklin Junior High School
- Franklin Senior High School
Private Schools in Franklin
These schools are not run by the St. Mary Parish School Board:
- St. John Elementary School
- Hanson Memorial High School
Famous People from Franklin
Many interesting people have come from Franklin, Louisiana!
Actors from Franklin
- Ned Romero, an actor.
- Jerome Bonaparte "Black Jack" Ward, an actor who appeared in over 140 cowboy movies between 1927 and 1946.
Politicians and Public Servants
- C. C. Aycock, who served three terms as Lieutenant governor of Louisiana. He was also a former Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives.
- Joshua Baker, who was the Governor of Louisiana in 1868.
- Carl W. Bauer, a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives and the Louisiana State Senate.
- Ralph Norman Bauer, who was the Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1940 to 1948.
- Donelson Caffery, a Louisiana State Senator and United States Senator. He was also a soldier in the Confederate Army.
- Patrick T. Caffery, a Louisiana State Representative and United States Representative. He was Donelson Caffery's grandson.
- Murphy J. Foster, who was the Governor of Louisiana from 1892 to 1900 and also a U.S. Senator.
- Murphy J. Foster, Jr., who was the Governor of Louisiana from 1996 to 2004. He was also a member of the Louisiana State Senate.
- Henry Johnson, who was the Governor of Louisiana from 1824 to 1828. He was also a judge for St. Mary Parish.
- Alexander Porter, a lawyer, politician, and farmer who served as a U.S. Senator from 1833 to 1837. He also served in the Louisiana House and on the Louisiana Supreme Court. He built a famous home called Oaklawn Manor.
- Gaston J. Sigur, Jr., who worked as the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs for the U.S. government.
Sports Stars from Franklin
- Wallace Francis, a football player who was a wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills and the Atlanta Falcons.
- Ernie Ladd, a football player known as "The Big Cat." He played for Grambling University and then professionally for teams like the San Diego Chargers and the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. He was also a professional wrestler.
- Leonard Marshall, a football player for the New York Giants.
- Warren Wells, a professional football player for the Detroit Lions and Oakland Raiders.
- John Porche, an athletic trainer for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He was honored in their Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.
Movies Made in Franklin
Franklin, Louisiana, has been a filming location for several movies:
- Easy Rider (1969)
- The Drowning Pool (1975)
- All the King's Men (2006)
Images for kids
-
Historic lampposts lining Franklin's Main Street
-
Location of Franklin in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana.
-
Location of Louisiana in the United States
See also
In Spanish: Franklin (Luisiana) para niños
