Franklin County, Alabama

Not to be confused with Franklin, Alabama.

Franklin County
County
Franklin County Courthouse in Russellville
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°26′00″N87°51′00″W / 34.4333°N 87.85°W / 34.4333; -87.85
Country	United States
State	Alabama
Founded	February 6, 1818
Named for	Benjamin Franklin
Seat	Russellville
Largest city	Russellville
Area
• Total	647 sq mi (1,680 km2)
• Land	634 sq mi (1,640 km2)
• Water	13 sq mi (30 km2)  2.0%
Population  (2020)
• Total	32,113
• Estimate  (2023)	31,802
• Density	50/sq mi (19/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	www.franklincountyal.org
County Number 33 on Alabama Licence Plates

Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,113. ^[1] Its county seat is Russellville. ^[2] Its name is in honor of Benjamin Franklin, famous statesman, scientist, and printer. ^[3] It is a dry county, although the city of Russellville is wet.

History

Franklin County was established on February 6, 1818.

Colbert County

Once part of Franklin County, Colbert County was originally established on February 6, 1867, after it split from Franklin County over political issues after the American Civil War. It was abolished eight months later by an Alabama constitutional convention and then reestablished on February 24, 1870. ^[4]

Musical history

Many musicians and songwriters are from Franklin County including Billy Sherrill, Ricky Pierce, Kerry Gilbert, Eddie Martin and many others.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 647 square miles (1,680 km²), of which 634 square miles (1,640 km²) is land and 13 square miles (34 km²) (2.0%) is water. ^[5]

Adjacent Counties

• Colbert County (north)
• Lawrence County (east)
• Winston County (southeast)
• Marion County (south)
• Itawamba County, Mississippi (southwest)
• Tishomingo County, Mississippi (northwest)

National protected area

• William B. Bankhead National Forest (part)

Transportation

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 43
• State Route 13
• State Route 17
• State Route 19
• State Route 24
• State Route 172
• State Route 187
• State Route 237
• State Route 241
• State Route 243
• State Route 247

Rail

• Norfolk Southern Railway
• Redmont Railway

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1820	4,988		—
1830	11,078		122.1%
1840	14,270		28.8%
1850	19,610		37.4%
1860	18,627		−5.0%
1870	8,006		−57.0%
1880	9,155		14.4%
1890	10,681		16.7%
1900	16,511		54.6%
1910	19,369		17.3%
1920	22,011		13.6%
1930	25,372		15.3%
1940	27,552		8.6%
1950	25,705		−6.7%
1960	21,988		−14.5%
1970	23,933		8.8%
1980	28,350		18.5%
1990	27,814		−1.9%
2000	31,223		12.3%
2010	31,704		1.5%
2020	32,113		1.3%
2023 (est.)	31,802	[6]	−1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790–1960 [8] 1900–1990 [9] 1990–2000 [10] 2010–2020 [1]

2020 census

Franklin County, Alabama – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000 [11]	Pop 2010 [12]	Pop 2020 [13]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	27,268	25,249	23,581	87.33%	79.64%	73.43%
Black or African American alone (NH)	1,307	1,211	1,139	4.19%	3.82%	3.55%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	87	121	128	0.28%	0.38%	0.40%
Asian alone (NH)	32	51	67	0.10%	0.16%	0.21%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	3	2	2	0.01%	0.01%	0.01%
Other race alone (NH)	5	32	77	0.02%	0.10%	0.24%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	205	328	860	0.66%	1.03%	2.68%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2,316	4,710	6,259	7.42%	14.86%	19.49%
Total	31,223	31,704	32,113	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census of 2020, there were 32,113 people, 11,048 households, and 7,669 families residing in the county.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 31,704 people, 12,286 households, and 8,741 families living in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile (22 people/km²). There were 14,022 housing units at an average density of 21.7 units per square mile (8.4 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 83.0% White (non-Hispanic), 3.9% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 10.5% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. 14.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. ^[14] Of the 12,286 households 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 26.1% of households were one person and 12.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.05

The age distribution was 24.8% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% 65 or older. The median age was 37.8 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.3 males.

The median household income was $33,942 and the median family income was $44,352. Males had a median income of $31,997 versus $22,747 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,094. About 14.9% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.2% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 31,223 people, 12,259 households, and 8,949 families living in the county. The population density was 49 people per square mile (19 people/km²). There were 13,749 housing units at an average density of 22 units per square mile (8.5 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.68% White (non-Hispanic), 4.21% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 4.62% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. 5.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. ^[15] Of the 12,259 households 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 24.50% of households were one person and 12.10% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 24.50% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

The median household income was $27,177 and the median family income was $34,274. Males had a median income of $27,497 versus $18,631 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,814. About 15.20% of families and 18.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.60% of those under age 18 and 24.10% of those age 65 or over.

Education

There are two school systems and one community college in Franklin County; Russellville City Schools and Franklin County Schools. Northwest Shoals Community College has a campus in Phil Campbell.

Russellville City Schools ^[16] include:

• Russellville High School
• Russellville Middle School
• Russellville Elementary School (grades 3 - 5)
• West Elementary School (grades Kindergarten - 2)

Franklin County Schools ^[17] include:

• Belgreen High School (grades K - 12)
• East Franklin Junior High School (grades K - 9)
• Phil Campbell High School (two separate buildings serving grades K - 12)
• Red Bay High School (grades K - 12)
• Tharptown High School (grades K-12)
• Vina High School (grades K - 12)

There is also the Franklin County Career-Technical Center, located next to Belgreen High School.

Government

Like most rural counties in Alabama, Franklin County has gone solidly Republican in the 21st century, but it has flirted with the party at a federal level since the 1950s. In a pattern typical of most rural Alabama counties, Franklin County supported the Dixiecrats in 1948 and George Wallace in 1968, but unlike other counties, had been won by Republicans in 1956 and 1960, cracking the wall of the Solid South before full-fledged turnover in 1964 and beyond.

As is the case with most rural counties nationwide that supported Bill Clinton in the 1996 election, the county has since turned sharply against the Democratic Party. In 2020, Donald Trump won it over Joe Biden by 83–17 percent, continuing a backsliding trend for Democrats in the rural South.

United States presidential election results for Franklin County, Alabama ^[18]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	10,417	86.11%	1,568	12.96%	112	0.93%
2020	10,376	82.49%	2,086	16.58%	116	0.92%
2016	9,466	78.62%	2,197	18.25%	377	3.13%
2012	7,567	69.54%	3,171	29.14%	143	1.31%
2008	8,048	68.83%	3,469	29.67%	176	1.51%
2004	7,690	62.68%	4,514	36.79%	65	0.53%
2000	6,119	55.11%	4,793	43.17%	191	1.72%
1996	4,449	42.44%	5,028	47.97%	1,005	9.59%
1992	4,794	40.43%	5,953	50.20%	1,111	9.37%
1988	5,146	50.25%	4,961	48.44%	134	1.31%
1984	5,304	52.90%	4,601	45.89%	122	1.22%
1980	4,448	41.33%	6,136	57.01%	179	1.66%
1976	3,345	34.41%	6,279	64.59%	97	1.00%
1972	5,877	75.23%	1,840	23.55%	95	1.22%
1968	2,524	27.75%	588	6.46%	5,984	65.79%
1964	4,025	56.41%	0	0.00%	3,110	43.59%
1960	4,069	54.20%	3,422	45.58%	16	0.21%
1956	3,399	50.21%	3,354	49.55%	16	0.24%
1952	2,424	41.13%	3,461	58.73%	8	0.14%
1948	2,555	44.10%	0	0.00%	3,239	55.90%
1944	1,853	40.56%	2,709	59.30%	6	0.13%
1940	1,989	35.95%	3,523	63.67%	21	0.38%
1936	1,875	37.77%	3,059	61.62%	30	0.60%
1932	1,547	34.71%	2,876	64.53%	34	0.76%
1928	2,937	56.24%	2,279	43.64%	6	0.11%
1924	22	1.06%	1,985	95.66%	68	3.28%
1920	2,930	57.58%	2,094	41.15%	65	1.28%
1916	984	47.44%	1,044	50.34%	46	2.22%
1912	309	17.14%	849	47.09%	645	35.77%
1908	652	47.84%	650	47.69%	61	4.48%
1904	668	44.33%	767	50.90%	72	4.78%

Communities

Cities

• Red Bay
• Russellville (county seat)

Towns

• Hodges
• Phil Campbell
• Vina

Census-designated places

• Belgreen
• Spruce Pine

Unincorporated communities

• Atwood
• Burntout
• Frankfort
• Halltown
• Liberty Hill
• Nix
• Old Burleson
• Pleasant Site
• Pogo

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Franklin County, Alabama
• Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Franklin County, Alabama

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  131.
4. "Colbert County Website" . Retrieved May 16, 2007.
5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
6. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
9. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
11. "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Franklin County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
12. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Franklin County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
13. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Franklin County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau .
14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 24, 2015.
15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
16. "Russellville City Schools Website". Archived from the original on April 3, 2007.
17. "Franklin County Schools Website".
18. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections" . Retrieved November 16, 2016.

External links

• Franklin County, Alabama
• Franklin County Chamber of Commerce
• Bay Tree Council for the Performing Arts

34°26′N87°51′W / 34.433°N 87.850°W / 34.433; -87.850