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Franklin County, Mississippi facts for kids

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Franklin County
U.S. county
Monument at Midway Cemetery, Meadville, Mississippi.
Monument at Midway Cemetery, Meadville, Mississippi.
Map of Mississippi highlighting Franklin County
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Map of the United States highlighting Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Mississippi
Founded 1809
Named for Benjamin Franklin
Seat Meadville
Largest town Bude
Area
 • Total 567 sq mi (1,470 km2)
 • Land 564 sq mi (1,460 km2)
 • Water 3.0 sq mi (8 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 8,118
 • Estimate 
(2018)
 7,788
 • Density 14.317/sq mi (5.528/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 3rd

Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 8,118, making it the fourth-least populous county in Mississippi. Its county seat is Meadville. The county was formed on December 21, 1809, from portions of Adams County and named for Founding Father Benjamin Franklin. It is bisected by the Homochitto River, which runs diagonally through the county from northeast to southwest.

History

This was the fourth county organized in Mississippi. It was initially developed for agriculture, specifically cotton plantations based on enslaved labor of African Americans. Cotton continued to be important to the economy through the 19th century and into the early 20th century.

This still rural county has had a decline in population by about half since 1910. It is the fourth least populous county in the state. Mechanization of agriculture and the blight of the boll weevil both reduced the need for farm workers; they left the area and often the state. Many African Americans went north or west in the Great Migration before and after World War II. The county in the 21st century is majority white in population; in the 2000 census, African Americans composed more than 36% of the population. (See Demographics section below.)

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 567 square miles (1,470 km2), of which 564 square miles (1,460 km2) is land and 3.0 square miles (7.8 km2) (0.5%) is water.

Major highways

  • US 84.svg U.S. Highway 84
  • US 98.svg U.S. Highway 98
  • Circle sign 33.svg Mississippi Highway 33

Adjacent counties

National protected area

  • Homochitto National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1810 2,016 —
1820 3,821 89.5%
1830 4,622 21.0%
1840 4,775 3.3%
1850 5,904 23.6%
1860 8,265 40.0%
1870 7,498 −9.3%
1880 9,729 29.8%
1890 10,424 7.1%
1900 13,678 31.2%
1910 15,193 11.1%
1920 14,156 −6.8%
1930 12,268 −13.3%
1940 12,504 1.9%
1950 10,929 −12.6%
1960 9,286 −15.0%
1970 8,011 −13.7%
1980 8,208 2.5%
1990 8,377 2.1%
2000 8,448 0.8%
2010 8,118 −3.9%
2018 (est.) 7,788 −4.1%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2013

2020 census

Franklin County racial composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 4,910 63.97%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 2,563 33.39%
Native American 2 0.03%
Asian 8 0.1%
Other/Mixed 132 1.72%
Hispanic or Latino 60 0.78%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,675 people, 2,928 households, and 2,096 families residing in the county.

Communities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

See also

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