Franklin Township, Portage County, Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Franklin Township
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Franklin Township Hall, built 1837
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 Franklin Township
Location in Ohio
Franklin Township
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| County | Portage |
| Named | 1798 |
| Organized | 1802 |
| First election | 1815 |
| Founded by | Aaron Olmsted |
| Named for | Aaron Franklin Olmsted |
| Government | |
| • Type | Civil township |
| Area | |
| • Total | 14.3 sq mi (37 km2) |
| • Land | 12.5 sq mi (32 km2) |
| • Water | 1.8 sq mi (5 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,102 ft (336 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,283 |
| • Density | 502.6/sq mi (194.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
44240, 44266
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| Area code(s) | 330, 234 |
| FIPS code | 39-28392 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1086827 |
Franklin Township is a small community in Portage County, Ohio, United States. It sits along the Cuyahoga River in Northeast Ohio. In 2020, about 6,283 people lived here. The township is part of the larger Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area.
This area was first surveyed in 1798. It was bought by Aaron Olmsted and named after his son, Aaron Franklin Olmsted. Franklin Township was one of the first townships organized in the Connecticut Western Reserve. The first settlers arrived in 1805. Today, Franklin Township is mostly a rural area. It shares a history, school district, and fire department with the nearby city of Kent.
Contents
Exploring Franklin Township's Past
Long ago, Native American tribes lived in this area. Some were "Mound Builders," who created a burial mound around the 1st century. This mound is now in Towners Woods Park. Around 1780, Captain Samuel Brady explored the area. He famously escaped by leaping across the Cuyahoga River. He then hid in what is now Brady Lake.
In 1796, the Connecticut Land Company surveyed this land. It was called Town 3 Range 9. Aaron Olmsted bought this land in 1798. He named it Franklin Township after his son. It is one of many Franklin Townships in Ohio. In 1802, the township was much larger. It covered all of present-day Portage County. It also included parts of Summit County and Trumbull County.
Early Settlers and Growth
The first settlers, John Haymaker and his family, arrived in 1805. They came from Warren and settled by the Cuyahoga River. John's brother George and their father Jacob joined them in 1806. They built a gristmill in 1807. A gristmill grinds grain into flour.
Two small villages grew because of the river's power. This power could run mills and factories. The first village was Franklin Mills, also called the "Lower Village." It grew around the Haymaker family's land. In 1818, Joshua Woodard built more structures north of the village. This became the "Upper Village," briefly known as Carthage.
Canals and Railroads Shape the Area
In the 1820s, the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal was planned through Franklin Township. When the canal was built in the 1830s, land prices soared. An industrial area grew along the river in what is now downtown Kent. Many factories and mills were planned or built. However, a financial crisis in 1837 caused many businesses to fail.
The canal opened in 1840 but closed by 1870. The Franklin Township Hall was built in 1837. It was meant for the Franklin Silk Company. But the company failed. So, the township took over the building. It has been used for local government since 1840.
In 1851, the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad was built. It had a station at Earlville. This railroad helped the area grow later on. Marvin Kent was unhappy that this railroad bypassed Franklin Mills. So, he helped create the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad. This railroad arrived in 1863. Franklin Mills became the site for the railroad's maintenance shops. This led to a big boom in growth. In 1864, the village was renamed Kent. It officially became a town in 1867.
Understanding Franklin Township's Geography
Franklin Township is in the western part of Portage County. It is about 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Akron. It is also about 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Cleveland. The township borders several other communities. These include Kent, Brimfield Township, Stow, and Streetsboro.
Inside the township, you'll find the community of Twin Lakes. This is a residential area near State Route 43. South of Twin Lakes was the historic town of Earlville. It was a stop on the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad. The census-designated place of Brady Lake is also in the eastern part of the township. It used to be a separate village but rejoined the township in 2017.
Franklin Township was originally about 25 square miles (65 sq km). Most of the city of Kent and a small part of Sugar Bush Knolls were once part of the township.
Lakes and Rivers
Franklin Township is on the western edge of the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau. This means it has rolling hills and varied land. Lake Rockwell is in the northeastern part of the township. It is the main source of drinking water for Akron. This lake was created in 1913 by damming the Cuyahoga River.
The township also has seven natural "kettle lakes." These lakes were formed by melting glaciers. The largest is Lake Pippen. Brady Lake, East Twin Lake, and West Twin Lake are used for fun activities. The township's elevation is about 1,106 feet (337 meters) above sea level. The total area of the township is about 14.3 square miles (37 sq km). About 12.5 square miles (32.4 sq km) is land, and 1.8 square miles (4.7 sq km) is water.
Local Weather
Franklin Township has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm, humid summers. Winters are cold and snowy. Spring and autumn have moderate and changing weather. Thunderstorms are common in spring and summer. The area can also experience tornadoes. Sometimes, effects from tropical storms can be felt. This usually brings more humidity, rain, and wind.
Snowfall is common in winter. Franklin Township is not in the main Lake Erie snowbelt. However, it does get "lake-effect snow" sometimes. This happens when cold air picks up moisture from Lake Erie. The township is in the "secondary snowbelt." This means it gets heavier snow when winds blow from certain directions. But it usually gets less snow than areas closer to Lake Erie. Even in winter, temperatures can sometimes rise above freezing.
Community Life in Franklin Township
The township's location near the Cuyahoga River helped it grow. Early settlers were often from the northeastern United States. Many were of German descent.
Population and People
In 2020, Franklin Township had 6,283 people. There were 2,399 households. The population density was about 436 people per square mile. Most residents (93.7%) were White. About 2.0% were African American, and 2.2% were Asian.
About 21.6% of the population was under 18. The median age was 37.4 years. This is a bit older than the average for Ohio and the U.S. The median household income was $47,750. This is higher than the average for Ohio and the United States. About 10.0% of the population lived below the poverty line.
Education Opportunities
Most students in Franklin Township attend schools in the Kent City School District. A small part of the township is served by the Stow-Munroe Falls City School District. Franklin Township used to have its own school district. But it merged with Kent City School District in 1959.
The Kent City School District has elementary schools for grades K-5. It has Stanton Middle School for grades 6-8. And it has Theodore Roosevelt High School for grades 9-12. The district also has a preschool program. It works with other districts for vocational education. This helps students learn job skills.
Theodore Roosevelt High School has won awards for excellence. It has been rated "Excellent" by the Ohio Department of Education. Longcoy Elementary also won the prestigious Blue Ribbon School award.
Local Economy and Jobs
Franklin Township's location helped it become a place for businesses. The Cuyahoga River, canals, and railroads made it easy to transport goods. In the past, large factories were the biggest employers. These included the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad and companies like Seneca Chain.
Later, Kent State University grew a lot. It became the largest employer in Portage County. The university also influenced other businesses. Kent State University has a research park. It helps new technology companies, especially in the liquid crystal industry.
In 2000, the biggest job sectors were education, health, and social services. These fields employed about 29% of the workers. Manufacturing jobs made up 17.8% of the workforce. Most people (86.1%) drove alone to work. The average commute time was about 20 minutes.
Media and Communication
Franklin Township is part of the Cleveland-Akron Television Market Area. This is a large area for TV broadcasting. It is the 18th-largest media market in the U.S. Local TV stations WAOH and W35AX have their studios here.
For radio, Franklin Township is in the Akron Radio Market. You can also hear stations from Cleveland and Youngstown. Two radio stations licensed to Kent are in Franklin Township. WNIR (100.1 FM) plays talk radio and news. It is the main station for Kent State football and basketball games. WJMP (1520 AM) is a news/talk station that broadcasts during the day.
The Record-Courier is the main local newspaper. It covers news for Portage County. Kent State University's Daily Kent Stater is also available. Larger newspapers like the Akron Beacon Journal and The Plain Dealer also serve the township.
How Franklin Township Works
The township provides some services to its residents. These include recycling pickup and seasonal leaf collection. They also maintain the roads. Residents handle their own trash collection. They also have their own wells and septic systems for water and waste.
In some areas, the city of Kent provides water and sewer service. Phone services are provided by AT&T Ohio. Electricity comes from FirstEnergy. Natural gas is supplied by Dominion Resources. The township is part of NOPEC. This is a large group that helps residents get better energy prices.
Getting Around Franklin Township
Main roads in the township include State Route 59, Summit Road, and Brady Lake Road. These roads connect to Kent and Ravenna. State Route 43 is the main north-south road. It connects to Interstate 76 to the south. It also connects to the Ohio Turnpike/Interstate 80 to the north.
Public transportation is provided by the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority (PARTA). PARTA has a "dial-a-ride" service. It also has a bus route along SR 59 during Kent State University semesters.
Healthcare Services
Hospital care is mainly provided by Robinson Memorial Hospital. This hospital is in Ravenna. It has 150 beds. The hospital system also has other facilities in Portage County. Franklin Township has one free clinic. It is called Portage Community Health Center. It is located on State Route 59.
Famous People from Franklin Township
Many notable people have lived in Franklin Township. Some are more connected to Kent or Brady Lake. John Davey, a pioneer in tree care, moved here in the 1880s. His son, Martin L. Davey, later became Governor of Ohio.
Other political figures include Wisconsin governor Lucius Fairchild. Also, former U.S. Representative Robert E. Cook. The famous abolitionist John Brown lived in the township from 1835 to 1839.
Many athletes have come from this area. These include former National Football League players Mike Adamle, Tom DeLeone, and Stan White. Also, former Major League Baseball player Gene Michael. Professional golfer Ben Curtis has lived here since 2011.
Two members of the band Devo are from Kent/Franklin Township. They are Peter Gregg and Rod Reisman. Other artists include singer Julianne Baird and actor Joshua Seth. Lucien Price, an author, grew up here. Inventor Lucien B. Smith, who invented barbed wire, also lived here.
Many famous people lived in Franklin Township while attending Kent State University. These include comedians Drew Carey and Arsenio Hall. Also, actor Michael Keaton and musician Joe Walsh. Famous athletes include football player Jack Lambert. Also, Major League Baseball players Thurman Munson and Rich Rollins. And college football coaches Nick Saban and Lou Holtz.
