Franklin is a lovely town in Macon County, North Carolina, United States. It's also the county seat, which means it's the main town where the county government is located. Franklin is nestled inside the beautiful Nantahala National Forest. In 2020, about 4,175 people lived here, which was more than in 2010.

This town grew up around a very old platform mound. This mound is about 1,000 years old! It was once the center of the historic Cherokee town called Nikwasi.

Aerial view of downtown Franklin

Franklin is a super popular spot for people who love to hike and explore the outdoors. It's close to the Nantahala National Forest, the Great Smoky Mountains, and the famous Appalachian Trail. The town and its surroundings are also known for having lots of cool gems and minerals. That's why it's often called the "Gem Capital of The World"!

Franklin's Past: A Look at Its History

Cherokee Roots: The Ancient Town of Nikwasi

Long before European settlers arrived, the Cherokee people lived in this area. They called their town Nikwasi, which meant "center of activity." Nikwasi was a very old and important Cherokee town. It was built around an ancient platform mound, which is believed to be at least 1,000 years old. The Cherokee built their Council House right on top of this mound.

Today, you can still see parts of the Nikwasi Mound in downtown Franklin. It was owned by private people for a long time. But in 1946, the town of Franklin bought the site to protect it. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Sadly, in 1819, the Cherokee people were forced to move to the Qualla Boundary. This area is now home to the Eastern Band of Cherokee, a federally recognized tribe.

In 1946, the people of Franklin worked together to buy the Nikwasi Mound site. They wanted to make sure it would be saved. Even schoolchildren helped by donating money! In 2015, the town gave the mound to the Nikwasi Initiative. This group includes the Town of Franklin, Macon County, the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, and Mainspring Conservation Trust. They plan to create a historical and cultural site there, possibly with a museum.

European Settlers and Town Growth

European-American settlers named the town Franklin after Jesse Franklin. He was one of two state officials who helped plan the town in 1820. Franklin was chosen to be the county seat for Macon County, which was created in 1828. Jesse Franklin later became a United States Senator for North Carolina. He was also the 20th governor of North Carolina. The town of Franklin officially became a town in 1855.

In 1923, Franklin got its first hospital. A few years later, in 1926, the first permanent hospital west of Asheville was built downtown. It was called Angel Brothers Hospital. It grew over the years and was renamed Angel Hospital. A brand new, modern hospital, Angel Medical Center, opened in 2022 on the east side of town.

Geography: Rivers, Mountains, and Waterfalls

Franklin covers about 3.9 square miles (10.1 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

The Cullasaja River flows from Highlands and meets the Little Tennessee River in Franklin. Franklin and Macon County are famous for their many waterfalls and hiking trails.

Population: How Many People Live Here?

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	207	—
1890	281	35.7%
1900	335	19.2%
1910	379	13.1%
1920	773	104.0%
1930	1,094	41.5%
1940	1,249	14.2%
1950	1,975	58.1%
1960	2,173	10.0%
1970	2,336	7.5%
1980	2,640	13.0%
1990	2,873	8.8%
2000	3,490	21.5%
2010	3,845	10.2%
2020	4,175	8.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2020, about 4,175 people lived in Franklin. The town has been growing steadily over the years.

Franklin is located in the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains. It's about an hour away from Asheville. It's also about two hours from big cities like Atlanta, Georgia, Knoxville, Tennessee, and Greenville, South Carolina. Because it's close to these cities but still has a quiet, rural feel and a lower cost of living, many people choose Franklin for vacations, retirement, or to live permanently.

Climate: What's the Weather Like?

In the summer, Franklin usually has warm temperatures in the low 80s Fahrenheit (around 27-29 Celsius). In the winter, it rarely gets colder than the upper teens Fahrenheit (around -8 Celsius).

The warmest month is July, with an average high of about 84.5 degrees Fahrenheit (29.2 Celsius). The coldest month is January, with an average low of about 24 degrees Fahrenheit (-4.4 Celsius). The temperature usually changes quite a bit between day and night, both in summer and winter.

Franklin gets about 55.5 inches (141 cm) of rain each year. Rain is spread out pretty evenly throughout the year. March is usually the wettest month.

Climate data for Franklin, North Carolina (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1882–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	78 (26)	78 (26)	85 (29)	91 (33)	91 (33)	100 (38)	101 (38)	99 (37)	98 (37)	91 (33)	82 (28)	78 (26)	101 (38)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	48.3 (9.1)	52.6 (11.4)	60.1 (15.6)	69.0 (20.6)	75.6 (24.2)	81.5 (27.5)	84.3 (29.1)	83.3 (28.5)	78.5 (25.8)	69.8 (21.0)	59.9 (15.5)	51.2 (10.7)	67.8 (19.9)
Daily mean °F (°C)	37.2 (2.9)	40.7 (4.8)	47.6 (8.7)	55.4 (13.0)	63.3 (17.4)	70.5 (21.4)	74.0 (23.3)	73.1 (22.8)	67.6 (19.8)	57.1 (13.9)	46.5 (8.1)	40.0 (4.4)	56.1 (13.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	26.1 (−3.3)	28.8 (−1.8)	35.1 (1.7)	41.8 (5.4)	50.9 (10.5)	59.6 (15.3)	63.7 (17.6)	62.9 (17.2)	56.7 (13.7)	44.4 (6.9)	33.1 (0.6)	28.9 (−1.7)	44.3 (6.8)
Record low °F (°C)	−15 (−26)	−5 (−21)	−3 (−19)	17 (−8)	25 (−4)	34 (1)	45 (7)	40 (4)	27 (−3)	15 (−9)	3 (−16)	−8 (−22)	−15 (−26)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	5.34 (136)	4.44 (113)	4.91 (125)	4.97 (126)	4.46 (113)	5.00 (127)	4.09 (104)	4.69 (119)	4.33 (110)	3.76 (96)	4.32 (110)	5.19 (132)	55.50 (1,410)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	1.0 (2.5)	0.7 (1.8)	0.2 (0.51)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.7 (1.8)	2.6 (6.6)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	10.2	9.9	11.9	10.3	10.6	13.5	11.8	10.4	8.6	6.8	7.9	9.9	121.8
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	0.5	0.3	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.7	1.6
Source: NOAA

Fun Things to Do in Franklin

Hiking Adventures in the Mountains

The mountains around Franklin are full of amazing hiking trails. One of the most famous is the Appalachian Trail (AT). The AT passes about 10 miles west of Franklin. You can get onto the trail at many spots nearby. There are also about 40 miles of smaller trails that connect with the AT in this area.

Another cool trail is the Bartram Trail. It's named after an American botanist, William Bartram. He explored this area in 1775 and wrote about the plants and animals he found. Hikers can follow his path and discover the beautiful nature he loved.

Both the Appalachian Trail and the Bartram Trail cross over Wayah Bald. This is one of the best places near Franklin to enjoy amazing views!

Gem Mining: Dig for Treasures!

The Franklin area is super famous for its gem mining. Franklin even hosts a jewelry and gem show called "Macon County Gemboree" twice a year. The Cowee Valley, just north of Franklin, brings thousands of visitors every year to its mines. People still find valuable stones there! You can also find other gem mines all around the area. Some of the cool native stones found here include ruby, sapphire, and garnets. The Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum is free to visit and has awesome exhibits.

Waterfalls: Nature's Amazing Showers

Franklin is home to several stunning waterfalls.

Cullasaja Falls

Cullasaja Falls is a beautiful waterfall in Southwestern North Carolina. It's on the Cullasaja River inside the Nantahala National Forest. The name Cullasaja comes from a Cherokee word meaning "honey locust place." This is the last big waterfall on the Cullasaja River. It's a long, flowing cascade that stretches for about 0.2 miles (0.3 km).

The waterfall is very tall, possibly over 200 feet (61 meters)! You can catch a glimpse of it from U.S. Highway 64. But it's hard to see it fully from the road because it's next to sharp curves and steep cliffs. There's a small pull-off area, but be careful if you walk on the road because of passing cars.

Dry Falls

Dry Falls, also called Upper Cullasaja Falls, is a 65-foot (20.1 meter) waterfall. It's also in the Nantahala National Forest. Dry Falls is special because it flows over a cliff that hangs out. This means you can walk right under the waterfall! If the water isn't too high, you can stay pretty dry, which is how it got its name. If there's a lot of water, you might get wet!

Dry Falls is located right off U.S. Highway 64. There's a parking area where you can stop. Then, you can take a short path with stairs down to the falls. The United States Forest Service has made the parking area better for visitors.

Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls is a 45-foot (20.1 meter) waterfall located southeast of Franklin. What makes this waterfall unique is that a road used to go right behind it! This was the only waterfall in North Carolina where you could drive your car under the water.

Like Dry Falls, Bridal Veil Falls flows over a cliff that hangs over. You can walk behind it and stay dry if the water isn't flowing too much. During dry times, the stream might almost disappear.

The old U.S. Highway 64 used to go behind the falls. But this caused problems with ice in winter. So, Highway 64 was rerouted to go around the front of the falls. There's still a parking area where you can stop and enjoy the view. In 2003, a huge rock fell and blocked part of the drive-under area. But in 2007, it was removed.

Quarry Falls

Quarry Falls is a smaller waterfall, or maybe a big rapid when the water is high. It's located next to US Highway 64. Locals often call it "Sliding Rock." It's best known for the large, deep pool at its bottom. It's a popular spot for swimming when the weather is warm.

Scottish Tartans Museum

Since 1994, Franklin has been home to the Scottish Tartans Museum. This museum shows items related to the Scots-Irish immigrants. Many of these people settled in this area in the late 1700s and later.

Education: Learning in Franklin

Franklin High School

The local public schools are managed by Macon County Schools.

Franklin High School serves students in grades 9 through 12.
Macon Early College is a high school that also lets students take college classes.
East Franklin Elementary School is for younger students.

Media: Local News

The Franklin Press is a newspaper that has been published weekly in Franklin since 1888. It's the oldest business still running in Macon County! Before the Press, there were four other newspapers in Macon County, but none of them lasted very long.

Library: Books and More

The Macon County Public Library is part of the Fontana Regional Library system. It gets some funding from the county.

Macon County Airport

The Macon County Airport is located just north of Franklin. It provides weather information for pilots and others.

Famous People from Franklin

Shawn Bryson – A professional football player who played for the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions in the NFL.
Kevin Corbin – A North Carolina State Senator. He also served in the NC House of Representatives.
Helen Wendler Deane – A scientist who studied tissues and their functions.
Charles Frazier – The author of the award-winning novel Cold Mountain. He grew up in Franklin.
Alexander Key – A novelist who lived near Franklin for a time.

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Franklin, North Carolina Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.

Franklin, North Carolina facts for kids

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