Franklin County, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Franklin County
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Franklin County Courthouse in Carnesville
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Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
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 Georgia's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Georgia |
| Founded | February 25, 1784 |
| Named for | Benjamin Franklin |
| Seat | Carnesville |
| Largest city | Lavonia |
| Area | |
| • Total | 266 sq mi (690 km2) |
| • Land | 261 sq mi (680 km2) |
| • Water | 5.0 sq mi (13 km2) 1.15%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 23,424 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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24,782  |
| • Density | 88.06/sq mi (34.00/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 9th |
Franklin County is a place in the northeast part of the state of Georgia. It's a type of local government area called a county. In 2020, about 23,424 people lived here. The main town, or county seat, is Carnesville.
Franklin County was created on February 25, 1784. It was one of Georgia's first counties, named after the famous American patriot, Benjamin Franklin. When it was first formed, Franklin County was much bigger. It included land that is now part of many other counties in Georgia and even some parts of South Carolina. Today, a large part of Lake Hartwell is next to Franklin County.
Contents
What is Franklin County like?
Geography and Land
Franklin County covers about 266 square miles. Most of this area is land, with about 5 square miles being water. The county is in a region called the Piedmont. This area has rolling hills and is between the mountains and the flat coastal plains.
Most of the county's water flows into the Broad River. This river is part of the larger Savannah River system. The northeastern part of the county is near the Tugaloo River, which also flows into the Savannah River. Lake Hartwell is a big lake that borders Franklin County.
Neighboring Counties
Franklin County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Stephens County (north)
- Oconee County, South Carolina (northeast)
- Hart County (east)
- Elbert County (southeast)
- Madison County (south)
- Banks County (west)
Working and Learning in Franklin County
Economic Growth
Franklin County has a special group called the Industrial Building Authority. This group works to bring new businesses and jobs to the county. It's made up of the mayors from the five cities in Franklin County and two other members.
Education for All Ages
Franklin County has its own public school system. It serves students from kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade.
- The system has three elementary schools.
- There is one middle school and one high school.
- An alternative school is also available.
In 2020, about 3,570 students were enrolled in the Franklin County School System. The system has over 600 staff members. It's the largest employer in the county. The graduation rate for students is very high, at 90.7%.
There is also a private school:
- Shepherd's Hill Academy is a Christian private school for grades 7-12.
For higher education, there is a college:
- Emmanuel University is a private, Christian college. It's located in Franklin Springs. Students at Emmanuel University play sports in NCAA Division II.
Fun Things to Do
Franklin County has many places to visit and enjoy:
- Lake Hartwell: This is a huge man-made lake, covering 56,000 acres. It was built to help control floods and is now a popular spot for fun activities.
- Tugaloo State Park: This park is 393 acres and sits right on Lake Hartwell. It has a beach, places to camp, and nature trails for exploring.
- Victoria Bryant State Park: This 502-acre park offers an 18-hole golf course. You can also swim in the Broad River here. The park has campsites and a place for archery.
- Cromer's Mill Covered Bridge: This is a historic covered bridge.
- Ty Cobb museum: Located in Royston, this museum celebrates the famous baseball player.
Getting Around
Main Roads
Several important highways pass through Franklin County:
Interstate 85
U.S. Route 29
State Route 8
State Route 17
State Route 17 Business
State Route 51
State Route 59
State Route 63
State Route 77 Connector
State Route 106
State Route 145
State Route 174
State Route 184
State Route 198
State Route 281- 25px State Route 320
State Route 326
State Route 327
State Route 328
State Route 403 (this is another name for I-85)
Airports
- Franklin County Airport (Georgia) (18A) has a 5,000-foot runway. It offers fuel for planes.
- Broad River Air Park (3GE3) is a private airport. It has a 3,000-foot runway next to Interstate 85.
Services and Facilities
Railroad
The Hartwell Railroad moves goods by train. It operates through the eastern part of Franklin County. This includes areas like Martin, Lavonia, Canon, and Royston.
Utilities
Electricity in Franklin County comes from two companies: Hart EMC and Jackson EMC. Georgia Power also provides electricity. Water services are managed by the cities of Lavonia, Martin, Royston, and Carnesville. Franklin County also provides water in rural areas. Natural gas is supplied by the cities of Toccoa and Royston.
Hospital
St. Mary's Sacred Heart Hospital is located in Lavonia. It is the only hospital in Franklin County. The hospital has 56 beds for patients. It also has an emergency room that is open 24/7. There are surgical rooms and a gym that is open to the public.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 1,041 | — | |
| 1800 | 6,859 | 558.9% | |
| 1810 | 10,815 | 57.7% | |
| 1820 | 9,040 | −16.4% | |
| 1830 | 10,107 | 11.8% | |
| 1840 | 9,886 | −2.2% | |
| 1850 | 11,513 | 16.5% | |
| 1860 | 7,393 | −35.8% | |
| 1870 | 7,893 | 6.8% | |
| 1880 | 11,453 | 45.1% | |
| 1890 | 14,670 | 28.1% | |
| 1900 | 17,700 | 20.7% | |
| 1910 | 17,894 | 1.1% | |
| 1920 | 19,957 | 11.5% | |
| 1930 | 15,902 | −20.3% | |
| 1940 | 15,612 | −1.8% | |
| 1950 | 14,446 | −7.5% | |
| 1960 | 13,274 | −8.1% | |
| 1970 | 12,784 | −3.7% | |
| 1980 | 15,185 | 18.8% | |
| 1990 | 16,650 | 9.6% | |
| 2000 | 20,285 | 21.8% | |
| 2010 | 22,084 | 8.9% | |
| 2020 | 23,424 | 6.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 24,782 | 12.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-1980 1980-2000 2010 |
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2020 Population Count
In 2020, the census counted 23,424 people living in Franklin County. There were 8,460 households, which are groups of people living together. About 6,123 of these were families.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 19,262 | 82.23% |
| Black or African American | 1,888 | 8.06% |
| Native American | 34 | 0.15% |
| Asian | 261 | 1.11% |
| Pacific Islander | 3 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed | 855 | 3.65% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,121 | 4.79% |
2010 Population Count
The 2010 United States census showed 22,084 people in the county. Most people were white (87.3%). About 8.4% were Black or African American. People of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.9% of the population.
The average age of people in the county was about 40.9 years old. The average income for a family was around $44,667 per year.
Towns and Cities
Cities
Town
Census-designated place
Famous People from Franklin County
- Ernest Vandiver - He was the Governor of Georgia from 1959 to 1963.
- FPS Russia - A popular YouTube personality.
- Ty Cobb - A legendary baseball player, part of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- Dee Dowis - A talented quarterback for the Air Force Academy. He was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
- Tony Jones - A professional football player in the NFL.
- Gary Walker - Another professional football player in the NFL.
- Terry Kay - A well-known author.
- Omer Clyde "O.C." Aderhold - He was the president of the University of Georgia.
- D. W. Brooks - A successful farmer and businessman.
- Pauline Bray Fletcher - A nurse and camp director.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Franklin (Georgia) para niños
