Franklin, Tennessee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Franklin
City
Historic Downtown Franklin
Flag Seal
Location within Williamson County and Tennessee
Franklin Location in Tennessee Show map of Tennessee Franklin Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
County	Williamson
Area
• Total	44.73 sq mi (115.86 km2)
• Land	44.52 sq mi (115.31 km2)
• Water	0.21 sq mi (0.55 km2)
Elevation	643 ft (196 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	83,454
• Rank	7th in Tennessee
• Density	1,874.49/sq mi (723.74/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code(s)	37064, 37065, 37067, 37068, 37069
Area code	615
FIPS code	47-27740
GNIS ID	1284816

Franklin is a city in Tennessee, United States. It is the main city of Williamson County, Tennessee. Franklin is about 21 miles (34 km) south of Nashville. It is one of the biggest cities in the area around Nashville.

In 2020, about 83,454 people lived in Franklin. This makes it the seventh-largest city in Tennessee. Many famous people, especially country music stars like Billy Ray Cyrus and pop singer Miley Cyrus, live in Franklin.

The city grew up along the Harpeth River. For a long time, Franklin was the main place for trading and law in Williamson County. This was because the county was mostly farms. Since the 1980s, Franklin has grown a lot. New homes and businesses have been built. Even with all this growth, Franklin is known for its many old buildings and neighborhoods. The city works to protect these historic places.

History of Franklin

Franklin United States Post Office

The city of Franklin was started on October 26, 1799. It was founded by Abram Maury, Jr., who was a state senator. He named the town after Benjamin Franklin, a very important person in American history. Benjamin Franklin was a good friend of Dr. Hugh Williamson, who Williamson County was named after.

The first European-American house in Franklin was built by Ewen Cameron. He was born in Scotland in 1768. He moved to Virginia in 1785 and then came to Tennessee. His family has lived in Franklin ever since 1798.

During the American Civil War, a very important battle happened in Franklin. This was the Battle of Franklin on November 30, 1864. Many soldiers were hurt or lost their lives in this battle. About 10,000 people were killed, wounded, or captured. Many buildings in the city were used as hospitals. Some of these historic homes, like the Carter, Carnton, and Lotz homes, are still standing today.

Franklin has grown a lot since 1980. Its population was 12,407 then, and by 2012, it was about 68,280. Many people who live in Franklin travel to Nashville for work. However, Franklin and Williamson County also have many businesses of their own.

1988 Christmas Eve Tornado

On Christmas Eve in 1988, a very strong tornado hit Franklin. It was an F4 tornado, and sadly, one person died.

Geography of Franklin

Franklin is located at 35°55′45″N 86°51′27″W / 35.92917°N 86.85750°W / 35.92917; -86.85750.

The city covers a total area of about 44.73 square miles (115.86 km²). Most of this area is land, about 44.52 square miles (115.31 km²). A small part, about 0.21 square miles (0.55 km²), is covered by water.

Population of Franklin

People in Franklin (2020)

In 2020, there were 83,454 people living in Franklin. There were 32,690 households and 23,675 families.

People in Franklin (2010)

In 2010, Franklin had 62,487 people. There were 16,128 households and 11,225 families. The city had about 1,393 people per square mile.

Most people in Franklin were White (84.53%). About 10.35% were African American, and 4.84% were Latino.

In 38.6% of households, there were children under 18. About 56.2% of households were married couples. The average household had 2.55 people. The average family had 3.09 people.

The median age in the city was 33 years old. This means half the people were younger than 33, and half were older.

The median income for a household was $75,871. For families, it was $91,931. Only a small number of families (5.0%) and people (7.0%) lived below the poverty line.

Economy of Franklin

Franklin is home to many businesses. A lot of them are in the healthcare industry. Some big healthcare companies here include Community Health Systems and Acadia Healthcare.

Other large companies also have offices or headquarters in Franklin. These include car companies like Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors. You can also find Mars Petcare, which makes pet food, and Atmos Energy, a natural gas company.

Top Employers in Franklin

Here are some of the biggest employers in Franklin, based on a 2020 report:

Education in Franklin

Franklin has many schools for students of all ages.

Public Schools

For younger students (kindergarten through 8th grade), most of Franklin is served by the Franklin Special School District. High school students usually go to schools in the Williamson County School District. Some parts of the city are in the Williamson County district for all grades.

Private Schools

Franklin also has several private schools. These include Battle Ground Academy, Franklin Classical School, Franklin Christian Academy, and Montessori School of Franklin.

Colleges and Universities

There are several places for higher education in Franklin:

• Belmont University, Williamson Center campus
• Columbia State Community College, Franklin campus. This is a two-year college.
• Lipscomb University, a SPARK satellite campus
• New College Franklin
• Williamson College

City Services and Transport

Transportation in Franklin

Interstate 65 runs through the eastern part of Franklin. This highway has four exits in the city. U.S. Route 31 and U.S. Route 431 also meet in Franklin. They connect the city to Nashville in the north.

Other important roads include State Route 96, which goes to Murfreesboro and Dickson. State Route 397 helps drivers go around the main part of the city.

Utilities in Franklin

The City of Franklin Water Management Department provides water and wastewater services to most residents. Other areas might get these services from different utility districts.

Electricity in Franklin comes from the Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation (MTEMC). They buy power from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

Natural gas service is provided by Atmos Energy.

Parks in Franklin

Sunset observed from Long Lane in Franklin

Franklin has many parks where people can enjoy nature and outdoor activities:

• Aspen Grove Park
• Bicentennial Park
• Carter's Hill Park
• Collins Farm
• Del Rio Park
• Eastern Flank Battlefield Park
• Fieldstone Park
• Fort Granger
• Liberty Park
• The Park at Harlinsdale Farm
• Pinkerton Park
• Jim Warren Park
• Winstead Hill
• New Southeastern Park Complex

Festivals in Franklin

Franklin is known for its fun festivals throughout the year.

Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival

The Pilgrimage Festival is a big music event. It was started in 2015 by musician Kevin Griffin, who lives in Franklin. The festival brings famous music artists from many different styles. It happens in late September at The Park at Harlinsdale. Besides music, there are activities for kids, food, and a market with local crafts.

Main Street Festival

Franklin's Main Street Festival is a lively event. It features artists, four stages for performances, two carnival areas, and two food courts. The festival takes over the historic Franklin Square and Downtown District. You can find arts and crafts booths along Main Street.

Pumpkinfest

Pumpkinfest is a yearly event held on the Saturday before Halloween. It helps raise money for the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County. The festival has a Halloween theme with music, fun activities for kids, local artists, and lots of food.

Dickens of a Christmas

Dickens of a Christmas is a popular annual event that brings about 50,000 visitors. It takes place in Historic Downtown Franklin during the second week of December. Volunteers dress up as characters from Charles Dickens' famous story, A Christmas Carol. Music and dancing are a big part of the festival. Local school and church groups often perform. Visitors can enjoy food from the Victorian time, and there's a large arts and crafts market.

Famous People from Franklin

Sister Cities

Franklin takes part in the Sister Cities program. This program connects cities around the world to promote friendship and understanding. Sister Cities of Franklin & Williamson County started in 2002. Franklin has special relationships with these cities:

• Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada (2008)
• County Laois, Ireland (2008)
• Bad Soden am Taunus, Hesse, Germany (2016)