Franklin County, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Franklin County
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Franklin County Courthouse in Greenfield
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Location within the U.S. state of Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Massachusetts |
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| Founded | 1811 | |
| Named for | Benjamin Franklin | |
| Seat | Greenfield | |
| Largest city | Greenfield | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 725 sq mi (1,880 km2) | |
| • Land | 699 sq mi (1,810 km2) | |
| • Water | 25 sq mi (60 km2) 3.5% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 71,029 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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70,836  |
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| • Density | 97.97/sq mi (37.827/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Congressional districts | 1st, 2nd | |
Franklin County is a nongovernmental county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. At the 2020 census, the population was 71,029, which made it the least populous county on the Massachusetts mainland, and the third least populous county in the state. Its traditional county seat and most populous city is Greenfield. Its largest town by area is New Salem. Franklin County comprises the Greenfield Town, MA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Springfield-Greenfield Town, MA Combined Statistical Area.
Contents
History
Franklin County was created on June 24, 1811, from the northern third of Hampshire County. It was named for Benjamin Franklin. Franklin County's government was abolished by the state government in 1997, at the county's request.
Geography and climate
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 724.57 square miles (1,876.6 km2), of which 699 square miles (1,810 km2) is land, 25 square miles (65 km2) and (3.5%) is water. Central and southern Franklin County is dominated by the northern end of the Pioneer Valley, with steep hills rising on either side of the Connecticut River.
The high point of Franklin County is Crum Hill, 2,841 feet (866 m), located in the town of Monroe.
Climate
The climate in Franklin County is typically cool temperate. The area is also somewhat maritime, with relatively high year-round precipitation. Summers are warm and humid with frequent evening storms, and winters are cool to cold with frequent snow and subfreezing (below 31 °F) temperatures.
Protected areas
- Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Paul C. Jones Working Forest (privately owned with conservation easement) around Brushy Mountain, Shutesbury
Various Department of Conservation & Recreation properties.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 29,268 | — | |
| 1830 | 29,501 | 0.8% | |
| 1840 | 28,812 | −2.3% | |
| 1850 | 30,870 | 7.1% | |
| 1860 | 31,434 | 1.8% | |
| 1870 | 32,635 | 3.8% | |
| 1880 | 36,001 | 10.3% | |
| 1890 | 38,610 | 7.2% | |
| 1900 | 41,209 | 6.7% | |
| 1910 | 43,600 | 5.8% | |
| 1920 | 49,361 | 13.2% | |
| 1930 | 49,612 | 0.5% | |
| 1940 | 49,453 | −0.3% | |
| 1950 | 52,747 | 6.7% | |
| 1960 | 54,864 | 4.0% | |
| 1970 | 59,210 | 7.9% | |
| 1980 | 64,317 | 8.6% | |
| 1990 | 70,092 | 9.0% | |
| 2000 | 71,535 | 2.1% | |
| 2010 | 71,372 | −0.2% | |
| 2020 | 71,029 | −0.5% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 70,836 | −0.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2018 |
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2010 census
At the 2010 census, there were 71,372 people, 30,462 households, and 18,317 families in the county. The population density was 102.1 inhabitants per square mile (39.4/km2). There were 33,758 housing units at an average density of 48.3 per square mile (18.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.2% white, 1.3% Asian, 1.1% black, 0.3% American Indian, 1.0% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.2% of the population. The largest ancestry groups were:
- 20.0% English
- 19.8% Irish
- 15.9% French
- 12.6% Polish
- 12.0% German
- 9.1% Italian
- 7.2% French Canadian
- 4.5% Scottish
- 3.9% American
- 2.1% Swedish
- 2.0% Scotch-Irish
- 1.8% Puerto Rican
- 1.5% Russian
- 1.3% Dutch
- 1.3% Portuguese
- 1.3% Lithuanian
- 1.0% Welsh
Of the 30,462 households, 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.9% were non-families, and 30.5% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 44.2 years.
The median household income was $52,002 and the median family income was $65,760. Males had a median income of $45,480 versus $37,309 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,544. About 7.7% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.
Demographic breakdown by town
Income
The ranking of unincorporated communities that are included on the list are reflective if the census designated locations and villages were included as cities or towns. Data is from the 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.
| Rank | Town | Per capita income |
Median household income |
Median family income |
Population | Number of households |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deerfield | CDP | $39,291 | $90,625 | $91,786 | 252 | 83 | |
| 1 | Hawley | Town | $37,094 | $63,750 | $79,167 | 378 | 154 |
| 2 | Leverett | Town | $36,750 | $74,500 | $87,188 | 1,756 | 702 |
| 3 | Shutesbury | Town | $36,472 | $67,708 | $85,972 | 1,834 | 745 |
| Massachusetts | State | $35,051 | $65,981 | $83,371 | 6,512,227 | 2,522,409 | |
| 4 | Whately | Town | $34,183 | $78,750 | $89,500 | 1,529 | 629 |
| Northfield | CDP | $33,956 | $67,900 | $88,068 | 1,004 | 440 | |
| 5 | New Salem | Town | $33,776 | $64,833 | $72,083 | 953 | 402 |
| 6 | Ashfield | Town | $33,569 | $66,429 | $69,375 | 1,771 | 742 |
| 7 | Conway | Town | $33,385 | $80,313 | $85,000 | 1,793 | 705 |
| 8 | Deerfield | Town | $33,111 | $69,744 | $85,231 | 5,096 | 2,145 |
| 9 | Leyden | Town | $32,348 | $72,500 | $78,167 | 633 | 272 |
| South Deerfield | CDP | $31,773 | $51,107 | $80,147 | 1,926 | 931 | |
| 10 | Gill | Town | $31,288 | $59,800 | $70,833 | 1,428 | 566 |
| 11 | Sunderland | Town | $31,090 | $54,208 | $73,403 | 3,696 | 1,525 |
| 12 | Northfield | Town | $31,001 | $61,667 | $73,697 | 3,034 | 1,276 |
| 13 | Shelburne | Town | $30,751 | $59,145 | $77,063 | 1,957 | 811 |
| 14 | Heath | Town | $30,557 | $63,333 | $72,981 | 483 | 214 |
| 15 | Warwick | Town | $29,135 | $59,531 | $67,500 | 601 | 269 |
| 16 | Colrain | Town | $29,035 | $53,813 | $64,375 | 1,729 | 703 |
| 17 | Charlemont | Town | $28,555 | $53,281 | $64,000 | 1,160 | 505 |
| 18 | Wendell | Town | $28,480 | $56,750 | $62,143 | 1,076 | 452 |
| 19 | Rowe | Town | $28,354 | $50,938 | $56,667 | 386 | 183 |
| Franklin County | County | $28,313 | $52,246 | $65,713 | 71,495 | 30,362 | |
| 20 | Bernardston | Town | $28,117 | $50,556 | $66,000 | 2,193 | 948 |
| United States | Country | $27,915 | $52,762 | $64,293 | 306,603,772 | 114,761,359 | |
| 21 | Buckland | Town | $27,308 | $61,750 | $73,125 | 2,297 | 869 |
| Shelburne Falls | CDP | $27,155 | $49,635 | $62,500 | 1,886 | 815 | |
| 22 | Greenfield | City | $26,229 | $46,018 | $56,063 | 17,565 | 7,717 |
| 23 | Montague | Town | $24,823 | $41,980 | $57,234 | 8,455 | 3,733 |
| 24 | Erving | Town | $23,775 | $53,661 | $57,692 | 1,755 | 689 |
| Orange | CDP | $22,652 | $50,407 | $51,979 | 3,926 | 1,534 | |
| 25 | Monroe | Town | $22,647 | $30,714 | $56,875 | 122 | 72 |
| Turners Falls | CDP | $22,590 | $36,623 | $48,796 | 4,620 | 2,039 | |
| 26 | Orange | Town | $22,434 | $44,282 | $50,536 | 7,815 | 3,334 |
| Millers Falls | CDP | $21,386 | $50,550 | $58,516 | 1,129 | 443 |
Transportation
Franklin County is served by buses run by the Franklin Regional Transit Authority. Southeastern Franklin County is also served by the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, with transportation to destinations in neighboring Hampshire County.
Major highways
I‑91
US 5
US 202
Route 2
Route 2A
Route 8A
Route 10
Route 47
Route 63
Route 78
Route 112
Route 116
Route 122
Notable person
- David Dunnels White, Medal of Honor nominee for capturing Major General Custis Lee, son of Robert E. Lee, at the Battle of Sailors Creek, Virginia, April 6, 1865. He was born in Cheshire, Massachusetts, in 1844, and was buried in the Bozrah Cemetery in East Hawley, Massachusetts, in 1924.
Communities
City
- Greenfield (traditional county seat)
Towns
Census-designated places
Other unincorporated communities
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Franklin (Massachusetts) para niños
