Franklin, Delaware County, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Franklin, New York
Town
Upjohn Church in Franklin
Franklin, Delaware County, New York Location in New York
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Delaware
Government
• Type	Town Council
Area
• Total	81.53 sq mi (211.2 km2)
• Land	81.25 sq mi (210.4 km2)
• Water	0.28 sq mi (0.7 km2)
Elevation	1,251 ft (381 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,288
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	13775, 13846
Area code(s)	607
FIPS code	36-025-27232
GNIS feature id	978970

Franklin is a town located in Delaware County, New York, United States. In 2020, about 2,288 people lived there. The town also includes a village called Franklin, which is its main population center. Franklin town is situated on the northern border of Delaware County.

History of Franklin

Early Days and Founding

Before the American Revolution, the area was mostly home to Lenape (Delaware) people. Hunters and fur trappers also visited the land. After the war, people from New York City bought large areas of land, hoping to sell it to new settlers. Many settlers moved into the nearby town of Harpersfield.

On April 10, 1792, the State Legislature created the town of Franklin. It was formed from a part of Harpersfield. The new town was named Franklin. Its first meeting was held at the home of Sluman Wattles.

The Franklin Patent, a large piece of land about 30,000 acres (12,000 ha) east of the town, was owned by six men. One of them was William Franklin, the oldest son of famous statesman Benjamin Franklin. Over time, the town of Franklin changed as new areas were developed and separated.

First Settlers and Town Changes

Sluman Wattles was the first European-American settler in Franklin in 1785. Other early settlers included Nathaniel Edgerton, James Follett, and Asa Turner. Many of these new residents came from New England.

In 1797, a part of Franklin became the town of Walton. The law said that Franklin and Walton would share their money and care for people in need. Later, other parts of Franklin were separated to form new towns: Meredith in 1800, Sidney in 1801, and a part of Otego in 1822.

Franklin was first part of Otsego County. But on May 30, 1797, Delaware County was officially formed. Franklin was one of seven towns that met to create the new county.

Growth and Development

By 1800, Franklin had a population of 1,390 people. Most residents lived in small settlements like Bartlett Hollow and Leonta. On September 30, 1800, Franklin got the first United States post office in Delaware County. Elias Osborn was its first postmaster.

The land was rich with different types of trees like pine, oak, and maple. Lumber was taken to the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers. From there, it was floated on rafts to cities for sale. Farmers also grew a lot of grain.

The Catskill and Susquehanna Turnpike was a toll road built to help trade. It connected Catskill and Wattle's Ferry. Towns along this 89-mile (143 km) road grew with taverns and hotels. The villages of Franklin and Treadwell became busy trading centers for farmers.

Changes in Agriculture and Community Life

During the 19th century, farming in Franklin changed. Before the Civil War, raising sheep and producing wool became more important than growing grain. Traffic on the Catskill Turnpike decreased as canals and railroads offered better transportation.

Even with these changes, Franklin continued to grow. In 1793, the Baptist and Congregational churches were formed. By 1865, there were eight churches in town.

In 1835–36, the community worked to improve roads. They built a well-designed road between Franklin and Oneonta. The village of Franklin became the main center of the town. In 1836, the village officially became an incorporated village.

Education in Franklin

Formal education started with a schoolhouse in Bartlett Hollow. By 1840, Franklin had 25 school districts. Residents wanted higher education. In 1835, the state approved the creation of the Delaware Literary Institute (DLI).

Three large buildings were built for DLI with money from Franklin's citizens. Students from Franklin and other states came to this school.

The American Civil War and new public schools led to fewer students at DLI. In 1929, the Franklin Central School was created. The next year, voters named it the Delaware Literary Institute and Franklin Central School. This name kept a part of the school's history alive.

Mid-19th Century and Beyond

By 1860, Franklin had 3,308 people. Franklin village had many beautiful homes and a busy Main Street.

Franklin has a long history of supporting the military. A local militia was formed in 1792. During the War of 1812, men from Franklin served at Sackets Harbor, New York and New York City. In 1845, Franklin's militia helped keep peace in Delhi during a time of land disputes. Many Franklin men also served in the American Civil War and other wars.

Franklin's first newspaper, The Weekly Visitor, started in 1855. It was later replaced by other newspapers. The First National Bank of Franklin opened in 1863. It served the community until 1933, when it closed during the Great Depression.

After the Civil War, dairy farming became very important in Franklin. Milk, butter, and cheese production increased. A creamery association was formed to sell dairy products, often to New York City. The town also had many other businesses like dry goods stores, hardware stores, and doctors.

The railroad did not come directly through Franklin, except for one stop called Franklin Depot. The Delaware Literary Institute eventually led to the founding of a normal school (teacher training school) in Oneonta. This school later became SUNY Oneonta. Franklin's population slowly declined for a while. But it started to grow again as people bought homes for retirement or recreation.

The Ouleout Valley Cemetery, started in 1873, is known for its beautiful gate. The Soldiers' Monument was built in 1889 to honor veterans, especially from the Civil War. Memorial Day events are held there every year.

Many community groups were started in the mid-19th century. These include the volunteer Fire Department, Masonic Lodge, and the Free Library. They have all helped shape life in Franklin.

In the 20th century, the town government controlled alcohol sales through licenses. The money collected often helped people in need. Franklin continues to be a "dry" town in the 21st century.

In 1990, Franklin had 2,471 people. The number of active farms decreased, and more people owned homes but did not live there full-time. Franklin Central School completed a building project in 1991. An annual Franklin Day is held in August to raise money for Stone Hall.

In 1983, the village of Franklin was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This honor helps protect Franklin's historic buildings.

In 1992, the town of Franklin celebrated its 200th birthday with many events. A large parade was held on Main Street. The Ouleout Valley Historical Society published a book about the town's history.

Geography

Franklin is in the northern part of Delaware County. It shares borders with Otsego County to the north. It also borders the towns of Davenport, Meredith, Delhi, Hamden, Walton, and Sidney.

The town has beautiful views of forested hills, streams, and ponds. It also has historic homes and winding roads. The land is mostly hilly with shaly loam soil. The valleys have gravelly loam and alluvium. Ouleout Creek is the main waterway. It flows west into the Susquehanna River. Its smaller streams are Handsome Brook and Croton Creek.

The United States Census Bureau says the town covers a total area of 81.5 square miles (211.2 km²). About 81.2 square miles (210.4 km²) of this is land, and 0.27 square miles (0.7 km²) (or 0.34%) is water.

Population Information

In 2000, there were 2,621 people living in Franklin. There were 1,026 households and 725 families. The population density was about 32.2 inhabitants per square mile (12.4/km²).

About 31.6% of households had children under 18. Most households (60.7%) were married couples. About 24.9% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age was 41 years.

Communities and Locations

• Bartlett Hollow – a small community southwest of Franklin village. It is located on Route 357.
• Brooklyn – a former small community north of Franklin village.
• Franklin – this is the main village within the town. It is on Route 357.
• Leonta – a former small community northeast of Franklin village. It is also on Route 357.
• Merrickville – a small community south of Bartlett Hollow.
• North Franklin – a location in the northeastern part of the town.
• Treadwell – a small community northeast of the village. It is on County Highway 14.

See also

In Spanish: Franklin (condado de Delaware, Nueva York) para niños