Franklin is a small town in West Virginia, United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of Pendleton County. In 2020, about 486 people lived there. Franklin was founded in 1794 and got its name from an early settler named Francis Evick.

History of Franklin
Geography and Climate
- Climate in Franklin
Fun Things to Do in Franklin
Population Facts
- Franklin's Population in 2010
Arts and Culture
- Festivals in Franklin
- Historic Buildings and Sites
Getting Around Franklin
Images for kids
See also

History of Franklin

Franklin is located in the Allegheny Mountains, near the Monongahela National Forest. It sits along the South Branch of the Potomac River. Native American groups lived in this area for many centuries before English settlers arrived in the mid-1700s.

During the French and Indian War, there were battles between settlers and Native Americans in 1758. These battles happened near Upper Tract and Fort Seybert, which are about ten miles from where Franklin is today. The land for Franklin was first claimed by brothers Francis and George Evick in 1769.

Becoming the County Seat

Pendleton County was formed in 1787 from parts of other counties in Virginia. At first, court meetings were held at Captain Zeruiah Stratton's home. Around 1789, Francis Evick offered some of his land to create a county seat. More land was divided from Evick's property to form the new town.

On December 19, 1794, the Virginia General Assembly officially made Franklin a town. It was recognized as the main town for Pendleton County. Franklin grew steadily in the early 1800s. It became a local hub for businesses and different types of work. By 1834, the town had many skilled workers, like shoemakers, blacksmiths, and carpenters.

The Civil War and Beyond

When the American Civil War started in 1861, Pendleton County chose to support Virginia, even though many residents supported the Union. There were small fights between Union and Confederate soldiers throughout the war.

A major battle near Franklin happened in May 1862. Confederate General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson led his Valley Campaign. He wanted to distract the Union Army from their push towards Richmond, the Confederate capital. On May 8, 1862, Jackson's forces fought Union soldiers at the Battle of McDowell, about 30 miles from Franklin. After the battle, the Union forces retreated towards Franklin. Jackson followed them for almost a week. The armies had a brief clash at McCoy's Mill, just south of Franklin. However, Jackson soon returned to the Shenandoah Valley to continue his campaign.

Franklin did not grow much right after the Civil War. But in the early 1900s, things changed. In 1917, the town's borders expanded, streets were paved, and public water and electricity were added.

Disasters and Rebuilding

On April 17, 1924, a huge fire destroyed the entire business area of Franklin. It caused about $500,000 in damage, which would be around $6.5 million today. Most of the town's center, including its shops and the Pendleton County Courthouse, were rebuilt after this fire.

Another disaster hit Franklin in 1985. The South Branch of the Potomac River flooded badly during the 1985 Election day floods. The river rose to 22.6 feet, much higher than its normal flood level of 7 feet.

Geography and Climate

Franklin is located at coordinates 38°38′51″N 79°19′54″W / 38.64750°N 79.33167°W / 38.64750; -79.33167.

The United States Census Bureau says the town covers about 0.56 square miles (1.46 square kilometers), and all of it is land.

Climate in Franklin

The weather in Franklin has mild changes between high and low temperatures. There is also enough rainfall throughout the year.

Climate data for Franklin, WV (1991-2020 normals, coordinates:38°40′32″N 79°18′33″W / 38.6756°N 79.3092°W / 38.6756; -79.3092
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	43.3 (6.3)	46.6 (8.1)	55.3 (12.9)	66.8 (19.3)	74.1 (23.4)	81.1 (27.3)	84.3 (29.1)	82.7 (28.2)	76.8 (24.9)	67.7 (19.8)	55.7 (13.2)	46.4 (8.0)	65.1 (18.4)
Daily mean °F (°C)	32.5 (0.3)	34.6 (1.4)	42.6 (5.9)	52.4 (11.3)	60.9 (16.1)	68.1 (20.1)	71.8 (22.1)	70.4 (21.3)	64.1 (17.8)	54.2 (12.3)	43.7 (6.5)	35.8 (2.1)	52.6 (11.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	21.8 (−5.7)	22.7 (−5.2)	29.9 (−1.2)	38.0 (3.3)	47.7 (8.7)	55.2 (12.9)	59.3 (15.2)	58.1 (14.5)	51.4 (10.8)	40.7 (4.8)	31.6 (−0.2)	25.1 (−3.8)	40.1 (4.5)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	2.47 (63)	2.06 (52)	3.22 (82)	3.36 (85)	4.22 (107)	3.44 (87)	4.84 (123)	3.54 (90)	3.84 (98)	2.55 (65)	2.36 (60)	2.56 (65)	38.46 (977)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	8.1 (21)	8.1 (21)	3.5 (8.9)	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)	1.2 (3.0)	5.8 (15)	26.7 (68.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	8.6	7.3	10.4	10.2	12.6	10.6	10.5	9.4	8.4	6.2	7.5	8.8	110.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.01 in)	2.1	2.6	1.5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.5	1.9	8.6

Fun Things to Do in Franklin

Besides its historical spots, Franklin and Pendleton County offer many places for outdoor fun. Franklin Gorge is a popular place for rock climbing. Franklin is also close to some of West Virginia's most famous state and national parks, like Seneca Rocks, Spruce Knob, and Smoke Hole Canyon.

Population Facts

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	273	—
1900	205	—
1910	200	−2.4%
1920	320	60.0%
1930	431	34.7%
1940	613	42.2%
1950	777	26.8%
1960	758	−2.4%
1970	695	−8.3%
1980	780	12.2%
1990	914	17.2%
2000	797	−12.8%
2010	721	−9.5%
2020	486	−32.6%
2021 (est.)	482	−33.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

Franklin's Population in 2010

In 2010, the census showed that 721 people lived in Franklin. There were 313 households, and 173 of them were families. The town had about 1287.5 people per square mile.

Most of the people living in Franklin were White (96.5%). A small number were African American (1.0%), Native American (0.6%), or Asian (0.4%). About 0.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in Franklin was 55.5 years old. About 14.4% of residents were under 18. Many residents, 36.2%, were 65 years or older. The town had more females (55.8%) than males (44.2%).

Arts and Culture

Festivals in Franklin

Franklin hosts two popular festivals each year. The Treasure Mountain Festival happens every third weekend in September. The annual Trout Fest takes place in May. Both festivals bring many visitors from nearby areas.

Historic Buildings and Sites

Much of Franklin's town center is part of the Franklin Historic District. This area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

Bank of Franklin (1925) This building was constructed after the 1924 fire. It was built in a Neoclassical style. The bank closed in 1933.
Dr. Preston Boggs House (1900) This house on North Main Street was built around 1900. It shows an elaborate Queen Anne Style. It has an octagonal tower and several bay windows.
Ernest Bowman House (1900) Next to the Dr. Preston Boggs House, this home also shows Queen Anne Style. It has unique porches and projecting sections.
Franklin Presbyterian Church (1922) The Presbyterian Church in Franklin was started in 1866. The current church building began construction in 1918. It was designed in a Gothic Revival style.
Franklin United Methodist Church (1881) This church was built in 1881. It combines elements of Gothic Revival and Italianate styles.
McCoy House (1848) This house was built in 1848 for William McCoy, a local leader. It is a two-story brick house with a Greek Revival Style porch. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
Johnson House and Drug Store (1878) This brick building on Main Street housed the Johnson family and their drug store for many years.
Pendleton County Courthouse (1925) Franklin has had four courthouses. The current one was finished in 1925 after the previous one was destroyed by the 1924 fire. It was designed in a Colonial Revival Style.
The Ananias Pitsenbarger Farm and the Priest Mill are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Getting Around Franklin

Getting to and from Franklin mainly involves using two-lane roads that wind through the mountains. U.S. Route 33 is the main road going east and west through Franklin. U.S. Route 220 is the main road going north and south. Both roads run together for a short part on the north side of town.