Franklin County, Missouri facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Franklin County
U.S. county
The Franklin County Courthouse in Union
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Founded	December 11, 1818
Named for	Benjamin Franklin
Seat	Union
Largest city	Washington
Area
• Total	931 sq mi (2,410 km2)
• Land	923 sq mi (2,390 km2)
• Water	8.0 sq mi (21 km2)  0.9%
Population  (2020)
• Total	104,682
• Density	110/sq mi (40/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	2nd

Franklin County is a place in the state of Missouri, USA. In 2020, about 104,682 people lived here. The main town, or county seat, is Union. The county was created in 1818. It is named after Benjamin Franklin, one of the important people who helped start the United States.

Franklin County is near St. Louis, Missouri. It has many wineries that make wine. This area is part of the Missouri Rhineland, which is famous for its vineyards along the Missouri River.

History

Long ago, different groups of indigenous people lived in this area. When Europeans arrived, the Osage tribe lived here. The first Europeans were from the Spanish Empire. They built a fort called San Juan del Misuri in what is now Washington.

After the American Revolutionary War, people from the new United States moved west. Daniel Boone, a famous explorer, settled here around 1799. For about 20 years, most new settlers came from Kentucky and Virginia. They brought their slaves to work on the land.

In 1833, many German families started moving to Franklin County. Soon, there were more German settlers than slave owners. The German people did not support slavery. Their children later fought for the Union during the American Civil War. In 1864, a Confederate General named Sterling Price rode through the county with his soldiers.

Before the Civil War, steamboats carried goods and people on the Missouri River. After the war, railroads became very important for transportation. Factories and other industries also started in the county after the war.

Franklin County is known for its wineries. Bias Vineyard and Röbller Vineyard are examples. These wineries are part of the Missouri Rhineland. German immigrants started these vineyards in the mid-1800s. Before Prohibition, Missouri was the second-largest wine-producing state. Prohibition stopped almost all wine making. The state's wine industry has been growing again since the 1960s.

Geography

Franklin County covers about 931 square miles. Most of it is land, about 923 square miles. The rest is water. It is one of the largest counties in Missouri.

The Missouri River forms the northern border of the county. The river has changed its path over time. This means some parts of nearby counties are now south of the river, and some parts of Franklin County are north of it.

The Bourbeuse River also flows through the county for 107 miles. It has a deep, narrow valley and is very winding. It flows into the Meramec River near Union. This river is mostly wild, with few bridges.

The county is in the Ozarks region. It has steep hills, deep valleys, caves, springs, and sinkholes. These are common in karst areas, where the ground is made of soft rocks like limestone. People used to mine for lead, copper, zinc, and clay here.

The soil in most of the county is thin and rocky. It is not good for farming. But near the Missouri River, the soil is rich and thick. Farmers grow crops like corn, wheat, and soybeans there. Much of the county is covered with thick forests that have grown back since the 1920s.

More people are moving to the county, especially near Washington and Union. Areas like St. Albans are becoming like suburbs of St. Louis County. But most of the county is still rural and has large wild areas.

Neighboring Counties

• Warren County (north)
• St. Charles County (northeast)
• St. Louis County (northeast)
• Jefferson County (east)
• Washington County (southeast)
• Crawford County (southwest)
• Gasconade County (west)

Main Roads

• Interstate 44
• U.S. Route 50
• U.S. Route 66 (1926–79)
• Route 30
• Route 47
• Route 100
• Route 185

Population Facts

In 2000, there were 93,807 people living in Franklin County. The population density was about 102 people per square mile. Most people (97.47%) were White. About 0.94% were Black or African American. About 0.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino. Many people had German (44.9%), Irish (10.7%), or English (7.7%) backgrounds.

The median age in the county was 36 years old. This means half the people were younger than 36, and half were older.

2020 Census Information

Here's a quick look at the different groups of people living in Franklin County in 2020:

Economy

In December 2018, the unemployment rate in Franklin County was 2.9%. This was lower than the average for the state and the country.

Many people in Franklin County work in manufacturing, which means making things in factories. This is especially true in the cities of Washington and Union. Other big job areas include trade and transportation, education and healthcare, and construction.

Some of the largest employers in Franklin County are manufacturing companies like Magnet LLC and Cardinal Brands Hazel Division. Schools like the Meramec Valley R-III School District also employ many people. Small farms and wineries are also important to the county's economy.

Education

Many adults in Franklin County have finished high school (59.1%). Some have also earned college degrees: 10.6% have an Associate Degree, 10.9% have a Bachelor's Degree, and 7.5% have a Graduate Degree.

School Districts

Here are the different school districts in Franklin County:

Elementary School Districts

Public Schools

• New Haven Public School District – New Haven
  • New Haven Elementary School (Kindergarten–6th grade)
  • New Haven Middle School (7th–8th grade)
  • New Haven High School (9th–12th grade)
• Meramec Valley R-III School District – Pacific
  • Meramec Valley Community School (Pre-Kindergarten)
  • Meramec Valley Early Childhood Center (Pre-Kindergarten)
  • Truman Elementary School (Kindergarten–5th grade)
  • Robertsville Elementary School (Kindergarten–5th grade) – Robertsville
  • Zitzman Elementary School (Kindergarten–5th grade)
  • Nike Elementary School (Kindergarten–5th grade) – Catawissa
  • Coleman Elementary School (Kindergarten–5th grade) – Villa Ridge
  • Riverbend School (8th grade)
  • Meramec Valley Middle School (6th–7th grade)
  • Pacific High School (9th–12th grade)
• St. Clair R-XIII School District – St. Clair
  • St. Clair Elementary School (Kindergarten–2nd grade)
  • Edgar Murray Elementary School (3rd–5th grade)
  • St. Clair Jr. High School (6th–8th grade)
  • St. Clair High School (9th–12th grade)
• Spring Bluff R-XV – Spring Bluff
  • Spring Bluff R-XV (Kindergarten–8th grade)
• Sullivan School District – Sullivan
  • Sullivan Primary School (Pre-Kindergarten–1st grade)
  • Sullivan Elementary School (2nd–5th grade)
  • Sullivan Middle School (6th–8th grade)
  • Sullivan High School (9th–12th grade)
• Union R-XI School District – Union
  • Beaufort Elementary School (Kindergarten–6th grade) – Beaufort
  • Central Elementary School (Kindergarten–3rd grade)
  • Clark-Vitt Elementary School (4th–6th grade)
  • Union Middle School (7th–8th grade)
  • Union High School (9th–12th grade)
• Washington School District – Washington
  • Family Resource Center (Pre-Kindergarten)
  • Washington West Elementary School (Pre-Kindergarten–6th grade)
  • South Point Elementary School (Kindergarten–6th grade)
  • Marthasville Elementary School (Kindergarten–6th grade) – Marthasville
  • Labadie Elementary School (Kindergarten–6th grade) – Labadie
  • Clearview Elementary School (Pre-Kindergarten–6th grade)
  • Campbellton Elementary School (Kindergarten–6th grade) – New Haven
  • Augusta Elementary School (Pre-Kindergarten–6th grade) – Augusta
  • Washington Middle School (7th–8th grade)
  • Washington High School (9th–12th grade)
• Franklin County R-II School District – New Haven
  • Franklin County Elementary School (Kindergarten–8th grade)
• Lonedell R-XIV School District – Lonedell
  • Lonedell Elementary School (Kindergarten–8th grade)
• Owensville R-II School District – Gerald
  • Gerald Elementary School (Kindergarten–5th grade)
• Strain-Japan R-XVI School District - Sullivan
  • Strain-Japan Elementary School (Kindergarten–8th grade)

Private Schools

• Cornerstone Christian Academy – St. Clair – (1st–12th grade)
• Crosspoint Christian School – Villa Ridge – (Kindergarten–12th grade)
• Immanuel Lutheran School – Washington – (Kindergarten–8th grade) – Lutheran
• St. Francis Borgia Regional High School – Washington – (9th–12th grade) – Catholic
• St. John the Baptist School – Villa Ridge – (Pre-Kindergarten–8th grade) – Catholic
• St. Gertrude School – Kraków – (Kindergarten–8th grade) – Catholic
• St. Francis Borgia Grade School – Washington – (Pre-Kindergarten–8th grade) – Catholic
• Our Lady of Lourdes – Washington – (Pre-Kindergarten–8th grade) – Catholic
• St. Clare Catholic Grade School – St. Clair – (Pre-Kindergarten–8th grade) – Catholic
• St. Bridget of Kildare School – Pacific – (Pre-Kindergarten–8th grade) – Catholic

Special Schools

• Autumn Hill State School (Kindergarten–12th grade) – Union – For students with special needs
• Franklin County Special Education Cooperative (Pre-Kindergarten–12th grade) – St. Clair – For special education
• Four Rivers Career Center (9th–12th grade) – Washington – Offers job training and technical skills

Colleges and Universities

• East Central College – Union

Public Libraries

• Gerald Area Library
• Scenic Regional Library
• Sullivan Public Library
• Washington Public Library

Communities

Cities

Villages

• Charmwood
• Leslie
• Miramiguoa Park
• Oak Grove Village
• Parkway

Census-Designated Places

These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities or villages.

• Gray Summit
• Lake St. Clair
• Stanton
• Villa Ridge

Unincorporated Communities

These are smaller communities that are not part of any city or village.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Franklin (Misuri) para niños