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 | 167 ft (51 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 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2406520 |
| Website | http://www.townoffranklinton.com |
Franklinton is a town in Louisiana, United States. It is the main town, or parish seat, of Washington Parish. In 2010, about 3,857 people lived there. The town is about 155 feet (47 meters) above sea level. Franklinton is located about 61 miles (98 km) north of New Orleans.
Some important people from Franklinton have served in the state government. Jerry Thomas, a doctor, was a representative for Washington Parish from 1988 to 1999. He then became a state senator from 1999 to 2004.
Currently, Beth Mizell, a businesswoman from Franklinton, is the state senator for District 12. She was elected in 2015.
Contents
History of Franklinton
Franklinton was started in 1819. It was first called Franklin. But in 1826, its name was changed to Franklinton. This was because there was already another town named Franklin in St. Mary Parish.
Leaders from both towns went to New Orleans, which was the state capital then. They both wanted to keep the name "Franklin." The state government decided that the town in St. Mary Parish would keep the name Franklin. The town in Washington Parish would be called Franklinton.
Franklinton became the main government center for Washington Parish on February 10, 1821. This was two years after Washington Parish was created from St. Tammany Parish.
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused damage to much of Franklinton. It also affected most of Washington Parish.
Geography and Location
Franklinton covers about 4.2 square miles (10.9 km²). Most of this area is land, about 4.1 square miles (10.7 km²). A small part, about 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²), is water.
The Bogue Chitto River flows along the western edge of the town.
Population and People
| 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 | |||
The word demographics describes the different groups of people living in a place. Here's a look at the people in Franklinton as of 2020:
| Race | Number | Percentage |
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| 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% |
In 2020, there were 3,662 people living in Franklinton. There were 1,739 households and 930 families in the town.
Economy and Jobs
The economy in Franklinton mostly depends on farming and forestry. Some businesses are also located there. Many people who live in Franklinton travel south to St. Tammany Parish for their jobs.
Arts and Culture
Franklinton hosts the Washington Parish Free Fair every year. This fair is the largest free fair in the United States. It is also the second-largest county fair in Louisiana. It takes place during the third week of October at the Washington Parish Fair Grounds.
Local Media
The Era-Leader is the oldest newspaper in Washington Parish. It is based in Franklinton. This newspaper mainly covers the western part of the parish. It is the official newspaper for Washington Parish. You can find their website at era-leader.com.
The Daily News is another newspaper. It is published once a week. It is based in Bogalusa but covers the entire parish.
Education in Franklinton
Children in Franklinton attend schools that are part of the Washington Parish School System. Here are some of the schools:
- 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 Presence
Franklinton is home to the 843rd Engineer Company. This company is part of the 205th Engineer Battalion, which is located in Bogalusa. The 205th Engineer Battalion is part of the 225th Engineer Brigade of the Louisiana National Guard.
Notable People from Franklinton
Many interesting people have come from Franklinton, including:
- Lucius Barker, an American political scientist
- Twiley Barker, an American political scientist
- John L. Crain, who is the president of Southeastern Louisiana University
- Derrick Dillon, a professional football player
- Katherine Haik, who was crowned Miss Teen USA 2015
- Adrian Magee, a professional football player
- Ruchell Magee
- Terrence Magee, a professional football player
- Beth Mizell, a businesswoman and Louisiana state senator
- Chanda Rigby, the head coach for the Troy Trojans women's basketball team
Climate
The weather in Franklinton has hot and humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate. On climate maps, it is often shown as "Cfa."
See also
In Spanish: Franklinton (Luisiana) para niños
