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Franklin County, Arkansas facts for kids

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Not to be confused with Franklin, Arkansas.
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Franklin County
U.S. county
Tugboat drifts down the Arkansas River paralleling a set of railroad tracks while both cross under a long bridge with concrete and steel arches in front of the Ozark Mountains in the background
A dark red brick rectangular two and a half-story courthouse hidden behind large trees with a tall flagpole in the front yard
A Moderne-style brick and stone rectangular courthouse structure with a clock tower and flagpole on the right side. The large rectangular windows of the second level reflect a bright blue sky with large white clouds
A small, square fieldstone shelter with a roof at the end of a hiking trail. Looking over the edge of the fieldstone retaining wall is the dark green treetops of the Ozark National Forest as the sun sets behind a cloudy sky
Historic log cabin structure built atop a historic hand-dug wine cellar with a concrete patio now serving as the winery's restaurant
Looking across the Arkansas River from an overlook on Reed Mountain, the flat farmlands of the Arkansas River Valley stands in stark contrast to the mountain itself. Trees, roads, and homes are scattered along the river bottoms, and elevation slowly rises in the distance. Far in the background are the outlines of mountains in the orange-red sunset-colored sky
Clockwise from top: The Ozark Bridge over the Arkansas River, Franklin County Courthouse in Ozark, the Wiederkehr Wine Cellar near Altus, Sunset from Reed Mountain overlooking the Arkansas River Valley, Overlook at White Rock Mountain in the Ozark National Forest, Franklin County Courthouse in Charleston
Flag of Franklin County
Flag
 Official seal of Franklin County
Seal
Map of Arkansas highlighting Franklin County
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Map of the United States highlighting Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Arkansas
Founded December 19, 1837
Named for Benjamin Franklin
Seat Ozark (northern district);
Charleston (southern district)
Largest city Ozark
Area
 • Total 620 sq mi (1,600 km2)
 • Land 609 sq mi (1,580 km2)
 • Water 11 sq mi (30 km2)  1.7%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 17,097
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 17,468 Increase
 • Density 27.58/sq mi (10.65/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 4th

Franklin County is a place in Arkansas that's like a big neighborhood or district, called a county. In 2020, about 17,097 people lived there. It has two main towns where the county government offices are, called county seats: Charleston and Ozark. The county was created on December 19, 1837. It was named after Benjamin Franklin, a very important American leader and inventor.

History of Franklin County

Franklin County was formed from parts of Crawford County in December 1837. Back then, Franklin County was much bigger than it is today. It even included parts of what is now Logan County, which was created later in 1871.

At first, the county had only one courthouse in Ozark. To help the county grow, the government gave land grants in 1853. This was to encourage building and running the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad. This railroad helped connect towns and move goods.

After some financial issues, the railroad was reorganized in 1875. Many new towns were started in the 1890s along the railroad tracks, especially on the north side of the Arkansas River. Farmers bought land that used to belong to the railway company.

Because it was sometimes hard for people to cross the river, a second courthouse was built in Charleston. This made it easier for people living south of the river to access county services. This likely happened after 1892.

Later, in 1906, the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway bought the railway line. By 1917, it became a key part of the MoPac system. This system then joined the Union Pacific Railroad in 1982.

A famous reality TV show called The Simple Life, starring Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton, was filmed in Altus in 2003.

Geography of Franklin County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Franklin County covers a total area of about 620 square miles. Most of this area, about 609 square miles, is land. The remaining 11 square miles, which is about 1.7%, is water.

Major Highways

These are the main roads that run through Franklin County:

  • I-40 (AR).svg Interstate 40
  • US 64.svg U.S. Highway 64
  • Arkansas 22.svg Highway 22
  • Arkansas 23.svg Highway 23
  • Arkansas 41.svg Highway 41
  • Arkansas 60.svg Highway 60
  • Arkansas 96.svg Highway 96

Neighboring Counties

Franklin County shares borders with these other counties:

Protected Natural Areas

Part of the Ozark National Forest is located within Franklin County. This is a large area of protected land with forests and natural beauty.

Population and People

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1840 2,665 —
1850 3,972 49.0%
1860 7,298 83.7%
1870 9,627 31.9%
1880 14,951 55.3%
1890 19,934 33.3%
1900 17,395 −12.7%
1910 20,638 18.6%
1920 19,364 −6.2%
1930 15,762 −18.6%
1940 15,683 −0.5%
1950 12,358 −21.2%
1960 10,213 −17.4%
1970 11,301 10.7%
1980 14,705 30.1%
1990 14,897 1.3%
2000 17,771 19.3%
2010 18,125 2.0%
2020 17,097 −5.7%
2023 (est.) 17,468 −3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010
USA Franklin County, Arkansas age pyramid
Age pyramid of Franklin County's population

2020 Census Information

In 2020, the 2020 United States census counted 17,097 people living in Franklin County. There were 6,723 households and 4,537 families.

Most people in Franklin County identify as White (about 88.91%). Other groups include Native American, Asian, Black or African American, and people of mixed races. About 2.87% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

Communities in Franklin County

Franklin County has several cities, one town, and some smaller communities.

Cities

Town

Unincorporated Communities

These are smaller places that are not officially organized as cities or towns:

Ghost Towns

  • Sub Rosa (a town that no longer exists)

Townships

Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas; some may have incorporated cities or towns within part of their boundaries. Arkansas townships have limited purposes in modern times. However, the United States Census does list Arkansas population based on townships (sometimes referred to as "county subdivisions" or "minor civil divisions"). Townships are also of value for historical purposes in terms of genealogical research. Each town or city is within one or more townships in an Arkansas county based on census maps and publications. The townships of Franklin County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township.

  • Alix
  • Barham
  • Black Oak
  • Boston
  • Cobb
  • Cravens
  • Donald
  • Grover
  • Hogan
  • Hurricane
  • Ivy
  • Limestone
  • McIlroy
  • Middle
  • Mill Creek
  • Miller
  • Morgan
  • Mountain
  • Mulberry
  • Prairie
  • Shores
  • Six Mile
  • Walker
  • Wallace
  • Watalula
  • Weaver
  • White Oak
  • White Rock
  • Wittich

Education

Students in Franklin County attend schools in several different school districts:

  • Charleston School District
  • County Line School District
  • Huntsville School District
  • Jasper School District
  • Mulberry School District
  • Ozark School District

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Franklin (Arkansas) para niños

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