Franklinton, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Franklinton, Louisiana
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Town
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| Town of Franklinton | |
Location of Franklinton in Washington Parish, Louisiana.
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Location of Louisiana in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Washington |
| Founded | 1819 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.42 sq mi (11.43 km2) |
| • Land | 4.37 sq mi (11.32 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2) |
| Elevation | 154 ft (47 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,662 |
| • Density | 837.79/sq mi (323.51/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
70438
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| Area code(s) | 985 |
| FIPS code | 22-27190 |
| Website | http://www.townoffranklinton.com |
Franklinton is a town in, and the parish seat of Washington Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 3,857 at the 2010 census. The elevation is an average of 155 feet (47 m) above sea level. Franklinton is located 61 miles (98 km) north of New Orleans.
A Franklinton physician, Jerry Thomas, represented Washington Parish in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1988 to 1999. He was elected to the District 12 seat in the state senate, serving from 1999 to 2004. He had succeeded Phil Short of Covington, who resigned. Prior to his state service, Dr. Thomas was the Washington Parish coroner from 1980 to 1988.
Elected in 2015, Beth Mizell, a businesswoman from Franklinton, is the current District 12 state senator.
Contents
History
Franklinton was founded in 1819, originally under the name of Franklin, but in 1826 the name was changed to Franklinton since there was already another town with the same name in St. Mary Parish. In 1826, representatives and citizens from both communities showed up in then-state-capital New Orleans to state their cases for keeping the name "Franklin." A compromise was reached by the legislature, allowing Franklin in St. Mary Parish to retain its name, while Washington Parish's seat would be known as Franklinton.
Franklinton became the seat of government on February 10, 1821, two years after the parish was carved out from St. Tammany Parish.
Much of Franklinton, as well as most of Washington Parish, sustained damage from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.9 km²), of which, 4.1 square miles (10.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.95%) is water.
The Bogue Chitto River passes through the western edge of the town.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 143 | — | |
| 1870 | 121 | −15.4% | |
| 1890 | 97 | — | |
| 1900 | 236 | 143.3% | |
| 1910 | 814 | 244.9% | |
| 1920 | 964 | 18.4% | |
| 1930 | 963 | −0.1% | |
| 1940 | 1,579 | 64.0% | |
| 1950 | 2,342 | 48.3% | |
| 1960 | 3,141 | 34.1% | |
| 1970 | 3,562 | 13.4% | |
| 1980 | 4,119 | 15.6% | |
| 1990 | 4,007 | −2.7% | |
| 2000 | 3,657 | −8.7% | |
| 2010 | 3,857 | 5.5% | |
| 2020 | 3,662 | −5.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,656 | 45.22% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,769 | 48.31% |
| Native American | 11 | 0.3% |
| Asian | 19 | 0.52% |
| Other/Mixed | 89 | 2.43% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 118 | 3.22% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,662 people, 1,739 households, and 930 families residing in the town.
Economy
The town's economy is based heavily on the parish agriculture, forestry, and some commercial industry. Many residents commute south into St. Tammany Parish for employment.
Arts and culture
The Washington Parish Free Fair, the largest free fair in the US and the second-largest county fair in Louisiana, is held during the third week of October each year at the Washington Parish Fair Grounds in Franklinton.
Media
The Era-Leader, the oldest newspaper in Washington Parish, is based in Franklinton and covers mainly the western half of the parish.
The Daily News is published three times per week. It is based in Bogalusa but it covers all of the parish.
In popular culture
The book, Dead Man Walking (1993) by Sister Helen Prejean, and the 1995 film of the same name adapted from the book, referred to the murder of Faith Hathaway by Robert Lee Willie and Joseph Vaccaro, and their convictions. The murder took place at Fricke's Cave (now part of Bogue Chitto State Park).
Education
- Washington Parish School System
- Mount Hermon PreK-12th
- Franklinton High School
- Franklinton Jr High
- Franklinton Elementary School
- Franklinton Primary School
- Bowling Green School
National Guard
Franklinton is the home of the 843rd Engineer Company which belongs to the 205th Engineer Battalion in Bogalusa which in turn belongs to the 225th Engineer Brigade of the Louisiana National Guard.
Notable people
- Lucius Barker, American political scientist
- Twiley Barker, American political scientist
- John L. Crain, president of Southeastern Louisiana University
- Derrick Dillon, professional football player
- Katherine Haik, Miss Teen USA 2015
- Adrian Magee, professional football player
- Ruchell Magee, convicted in 1970 Marin County Civic Center attacks
- Terrence Magee, professional football player
- Beth Mizell, businesswoman and Louisiana state senator
- Chanda Rigby, head coach of Troy Trojans women basketball team
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Franklinton has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
See also
In Spanish: Franklinton (Luisiana) para niños
