Franklin County, Iowa

Last updated

Franklin County, Iowa
Franklin County Courthouse, Hampton.jpg
Map of Iowa highlighting Franklin County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Coordinates: 42°43′51″N93°16′03″W / 42.730833333333°N 93.2675°W / 42.730833333333; -93.2675
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Iowa.svg Iowa
FoundedJanuary 15, 1851 (created)
March 3, 1856(organized)
Named after Benjamin Franklin
Seat Hampton
Largest cityHampton
Area
  Total
583 sq mi (1,510 km2)
  Land582 sq mi (1,510 km2)
  Water0.6 sq mi (1.6 km2)  0.09%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
10,019
  Estimate 
(2024)
10,024 Increase2.svg
  Density17.2/sq mi (6.65/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 4th
Website www.franklincountyia.gov
  • Iowa county number 35 [1]

Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,019. [2] The county seat is Hampton. [3] The county was formed on January 15, 1851 [4] and named after Benjamin Franklin. [5]

Contents

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 583 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 582 square miles (1,510 km2) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) (0.09%) is water. [6]

Major highways

Transit

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1860 1,309
1870 4,738262.0%
1880 10,249116.3%
1890 12,87125.6%
1900 14,99616.5%
1910 14,780−1.4%
1920 15,8076.9%
1930 16,3823.6%
1940 16,3790.0%
1950 16,268−0.7%
1960 15,472−4.9%
1970 13,255−14.3%
1980 13,036−1.7%
1990 11,364−12.8%
2000 10,704−5.8%
2010 10,680−0.2%
2020 10,019−6.2%
2024 (est.)10,024 [7] 0.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [8]
1790–1960 [9] 1900–1990 [10]
1990–2000 [11] 2010–2020 [12]
Population of Franklin County from US census data FranklinCountyIowaPop2020.png
Population of Franklin County from US census data

2020 census

2022 US Census population pyramid for Franklin County from ACS 5-year estimates FranklinCountyIA2022PopPyr.png
2022 US Census population pyramid for Franklin County from ACS 5-year estimates

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 10,019, a population density of

The median age was 42.5 years, 23.5% of residents were under the age of 18, and 22.1% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.1 males. [13]

The racial makeup of the county was 83.5% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 7.6% from some other race, and 7.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 16.3% of the population. [14]

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas. [15]

There were 4,141 households in the county, of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.4% were married-couple households, 18.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. [13]

There were 4,656 housing units, of which 11.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.6% were owner-occupied and 25.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.4%. [13]

Franklin County Racial Composition [16]
RaceNumberPercent
White (NH)8,03480.2%
Black or African American (NH)320.32%
Native American (NH)180.2%
Asian (NH)490.5%
Pacific Islander (NH)00%
Other/Mixed (NH)2522.5%
Hispanic or Latino 1,63416.31%

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,680 in the county, with a population density of

2000 census

As of the census [18] of 2000, there were 10,704 people, 4,356 households, and 2,983 families residing in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile (6.9 people/km2). There were 4,763 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.92% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 4.05% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. 6.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,356 households, out of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were married couples living together, 6.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.20% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 24.00% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 20.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,042, and the median income for a family was $45,184. Males had a median income of $29,694 versus $21,115 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,767. About 5.70% of families and 8.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.70% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.

Franklin County Fair

Outside wall display honoring Civil War veterans on I-35 rest stop in the county Wall display honoring local civil war veterans, Mile 161 rest stop northbound on I-35 in Iowa.jpg
Outside wall display honoring Civil War veterans on I-35 rest stop in the county

Franklin County is home to the Franklin County Fair. Held annually for five days in mid-July, the Franklin County Fair is held on the fairgrounds located on the west side of Hampton. Traditionally, grandstand entertainment begins on Wednesday with the Barnes PRCA Rodeo. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are usually concerts featuring nationally known entertainment. In 2007 such names as Terri Clark, Marshall Tucker Band, and Trent Tomlinson & Danielle Peck brought fans to the grandstand. On Sunday the Figure 8 Races generally fill the grandstand. The fair also includes free entertainment and a carnival midway. The fairgrounds features the Franklin County Historical Museum, Pleasant Hill (turn of the century village with stores, crafters, old west shows, music and entertainment), and Grandpa's Farm (all phases of farming demonstrated with vintage implements powered by draft horses, steam engines and antique tractors).

Outside landscape display honoring Civil War veterans on I-35 rest stop in the county Landscape display honoring local civil war veterans, Mile 161 rest stop northbound on I-35 in Iowa.jpg
Outside landscape display honoring Civil War veterans on I-35 rest stop in the county

Education

There are four high schools in Franklin County. The Hampton-Dumont Community School District is a P/K-12 school system located in Hampton and serving the communities of Hampton, Dumont, Aredale, and Hansell. Hampton-Dumont has a K-12 enrollment of 1,194. The West Fork Community Schools are made up of a whole grade sharing agreement between SCMT and Rockwell-Swaledale. West Fork serves the communities of Sheffield, Chapin, Meservey, Thornton, Rockwell, and Swaledale and has a combined enrollment of 764 between the two districts. The AGWSR Community School District serves the communities of Ackley, Geneva, Wellsburg, and Steamboat Rock and has a K-12 enrollment of 654 students. The CAL Community School District, located just south of Latimer, serves the communities of Coulter, Alexander, and Latimer and has a K-12 enrollment of 274 students.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Townships

Franklin County is divided into sixteen townships:

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Franklin County. [2]

county seat

RankCity/Town/etc.Municipal typePopulation (2020 Census)
1 Hampton City4,337
2 Ackley (partially in Hardin County )City1,599
3 Sheffield City1,130
4 Dows (partially in Wright County )City521
5 Latimer City477
6 Coulter City219
7 Alexander City163
8 Geneva City136
9 Bradford CDP84
10 Hansell City82
11 Popejoy City77
12 Chapin CDP71

Politics

United States presidential election results for Franklin County, Iowa [19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
%%%
1896 2,43972.57%89426.60%280.83%
1900 2,53776.37%74822.52%371.11%
1904 2,34679.63%53118.02%692.34%
1908 2,15473.02%73724.98%592.00%
1912 77325.21%69422.64%1,59952.15%
1916 2,46477.24%69121.66%351.10%
1920 4,39786.06%60111.76%1112.17%
1924 3,06458.74%3606.90%1,79234.36%
1928 3,42465.54%1,68832.31%1122.14%
1932 2,01332.95%3,78261.90%3155.16%
1936 2,53037.73%3,99359.55%1822.71%
1940 3,62349.56%3,54048.43%1472.01%
1944 3,15051.96%2,85147.03%611.01%
1948 2,71645.11%2,87147.68%4347.21%
1952 5,43272.72%1,94125.98%971.30%
1956 4,56364.41%2,51335.47%80.11%
1960 4,51464.52%2,47635.39%60.09%
1964 2,45240.46%3,58259.10%270.45%
1968 3,60463.48%1,77731.30%2965.21%
1972 3,64362.96%1,98634.32%1572.71%
1976 3,05652.30%2,68245.90%1051.80%
1980 3,29057.90%1,92033.79%4728.31%
1984 3,12956.43%2,34942.36%671.21%
1988 2,32046.86%2,59452.39%370.75%
1992 2,13740.58%2,04938.91%1,08020.51%
1996 2,05443.40%2,23247.16%4479.44%
2000 2,65753.81%2,12242.97%1593.22%
2004 3,12856.66%2,34042.38%530.96%
2008 2,50148.57%2,57550.01%731.42%
2012 2,82354.44%2,26643.69%971.87%
2016 3,16363.67%1,49330.05%3126.28%
2020 3,42266.71%1,62631.70%821.60%
2024 3,43170.02%1,39328.43%761.55%

See also

Notes

  1. "Iowa County Names and Numbers". Iowa Department of Administrative Services. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  2. 1 2 "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties . Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  4. Stuart, I. L. (1914). History of Franklin County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Volume 1. S. J. Clarke Publishing Company. p. 117.
  5. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  131.
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024" . Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  10. Forstall, Richard L. (April 20, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 19, 1999. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  12. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Franklin County, Iowa". www.census.gov. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  14. "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  15. "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  16. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Franklin County, Iowa".
  17. "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010" (PDF). United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 16, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  18. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  19. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 26, 2018.

42°43′51″N93°16′03″W / 42.73083°N 93.26750°W / 42.73083; -93.26750