Franklin County, Texas

Not to be confused with Franklin, Texas.

Franklin County
County
The Franklin County Courthouse in Mount Vernon in 2018
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°11′N95°13′W / 33.18°N 95.22°W / 33.18; -95.22
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	March, 1875
Seat	Mount Vernon
Largest town	Mount Vernon
Area
• Total	295 sq mi (760 km2)
• Land	284 sq mi (740 km2)
• Water	10 sq mi (30 km2)  3.5%
Population  (2020)
• Total	10,359
• Density	35/sq mi (14/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.co.franklin.tx.us

Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 10,359. ^[1] The county seat is Mount Vernon. ^[2]

History

Franklin County was erected and established in 1875, four decades after the independence of Texas, from land ceded by neighboring Titus County. ^[3] Although the origin of the county's name is not recorded, it is generally believed to have been named after Judge Benjamin C. Franklin, the first appointed justice in the Republic of Texas. ^{[4] [5]}

There are two historic properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Franklin County.

Franklin County was one of the last 30 prohibition, ^[6] or entirely dry, counties in the state of Texas. ^[7] Citizens of its county seat, Mount Vernon, voted to allow beer and wine sales, both on and off premises in May 2013. ^[2]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 295 square miles (760 km²), of which 284 square miles (740 km²) is land and 10 square miles (26 km²) (3.5%) is water. ^[8]

Major highways

• Interstate 30
• U.S. Highway 67
• U.S. Highway 271
• State Highway 11
• State Highway 37

Adjacent counties

• Red River County (north)
• Titus County (east)
• Camp County (southeast)
• Wood County (south)
• Hopkins County (west)
• Delta County (northwest)

Communities

City

• Winnsboro (mostly in Wood County)

Town

• Mount Vernon (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Clearwater
• Cypress
• Daphne
• Eureka
• Hagansport
• Hopewell
• Lakeview
• Macon
• Majors
• New Hope
• Purley
• Scroggins

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	5,280		—
1890	6,481		22.7%
1900	8,674		33.8%
1910	9,331		7.6%
1920	9,304		−0.3%
1930	8,494		−8.7%
1940	8,378		−1.4%
1950	6,257		−25.3%
1960	5,101		−18.5%
1970	5,291		3.7%
1980	6,893		30.3%
1990	7,802		13.2%
2000	9,458		21.2%
2010	10,605		12.1%
2020	10,359		−2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [9] 1850–2010 [10] 2010–2020 [11]

Franklin County, Texas– 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 [12]	Pop 2010 [13]	Pop 2020 [11]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	8,129	8,601	7,786	85.95%	81.10%	76.03%
Black or African American alone (NH)	364	411	394	3.85%	3.88%	3.80%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	46	65	39	0.49%	0.61%	0.38%
Asian alone (NH)	18	49	68	0.19%	0.46%	0.66%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	0	6	0.00%	0.00%	0.06%
Other race alone (NH)	2	9	61	0.02%	0.08%	0.59%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	57	137	460	0.60%	1.29%	4.44%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	842	1,333	1,455	8.90%	12.57%	14.05%
Total	9,458	10,605	10,359	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

At the 2000 U.S. census, there were 9,458 people, 3,754 households, and 2,732 families residing in the county. ^[14] The population density was 33 people per square mile (13 people/km²). There were 5,132 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.19% White, 3.94% Black or African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 5.14% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. 8.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In 2020, the population was 10,359 and its racial and ethnic makeup was 76.03% non-Hispanic white, 3.80% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.59% some other race, 4.44% multiracial, and 14.05% Hispanic or Latino of any race. ^[11]

In 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $31,955, and the median income for a family was $37,064. Males had a median income of $28,806 versus $19,361 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,563. About 12.50% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.20% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over. The median household income at the 2020 census increased to $59,632; the mean income was $82,203. ^[15]

Economy

According to a study ^[16] ordered by the Mount Vernon Economic Development Corporation in 2013, the local retail trade area population is 12,771 people. The county has 720 homes valued at $200,000 or more, 70 homes of $500,000 or more, and 72 homes valued at more than $1,000,000. Most of these homes are centered on Lake Cypress Springs, which was twice voted the Most Beautiful Lake in Texas by the readers of Dallas' "D" magazine (2005, 2010). The lake is located about 10 miles south of Mount Vernon. The EDC study determined the average sale price of lakefront property on Lake Cypress Springs (2012) was $484,000, with 91 percent of the 1,400 water-front homes being second residences. This concentration of second residences causes the population of the county to increase between 3,000 and 8,000 people on weekends and during holidays, according to estimates by the Franklin County Water District, ^[17] which oversees the lake and its visitors.

Education

The following school districts serve Franklin County:

• Mount Vernon ISD
• Rivercrest ISD (partly in Red River, Titus counties)
• Saltillo ISD (mostly in Hopkins County)
• Sulphur Bluff ISD (mostly in Hopkins County)
• Winnsboro ISD (mostly in Wood County, small portion in Hopkins County)

Politics

Franklin County is represented in the Texas House of Representatives by the Republican Gary VanDeaver of New Boston, Texas (Tx.HR Dist. 1). It is represented in the Texas Senate by Republican Bryan Hughes of Mineola, Texas (Tx. Sen. Dist. 1). ^[18] Franklin County is part of the First Congressional District of Texas which has been represented by Republican U.S. Congressman Nathaniel Moran since January 2023. ^{[19] [20]}

United States presidential election results for Franklin County, Texas ^[21]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	4,161	83.07%	804	16.05%	44	0.88%
2016	3,585	81.85%	665	15.18%	130	2.97%
2012	3,446	80.95%	751	17.64%	60	1.41%
2008	3,392	75.53%	1,036	23.07%	63	1.40%
2004	3,185	75.53%	1,011	23.97%	21	0.50%
2000	2,420	69.70%	1,018	29.32%	34	0.98%
1996	1,575	45.63%	1,484	42.99%	393	11.38%
1992	1,058	31.66%	1,338	40.04%	946	28.31%
1988	1,439	49.69%	1,453	50.17%	4	0.14%
1984	1,836	62.28%	1,104	37.45%	8	0.27%
1980	1,105	41.97%	1,487	56.48%	41	1.56%
1976	758	31.53%	1,636	68.05%	10	0.42%
1972	1,059	65.90%	546	33.98%	2	0.12%
1968	481	24.18%	1,001	50.33%	507	25.49%
1964	424	21.81%	1,520	78.19%	0	0.00%
1960	620	34.95%	1,148	64.71%	6	0.34%
1956	556	33.88%	1,082	65.94%	3	0.18%
1952	564	29.33%	1,358	70.62%	1	0.05%
1948	146	9.56%	1,236	80.94%	145	9.50%
1944	147	9.18%	1,336	83.45%	118	7.37%
1940	183	10.13%	1,621	89.76%	2	0.11%
1936	90	8.85%	925	90.95%	2	0.20%
1932	56	4.11%	1,305	95.81%	1	0.07%
1928	386	35.12%	713	64.88%	0	0.00%
1924	118	8.83%	1,157	86.60%	61	4.57%
1916	62	7.87%	684	86.80%	42	5.33%
1912	19	3.15%	573	94.87%	12	1.99%

See also

• Texas portal

• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Franklin County

References

1. "Franklin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 30, 2022.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Alvarez, Elizabeth Cruce (November 8, 2011). Texas Almanac 2012–2013. Texas A&M University Press. pp. Contents. ISBN   9780876112571 . Retrieved November 17, 2013.
4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  131.
5. W., KEMP, L. (June 12, 2010). "FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN CROMWELL". Tshaonline.org. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
6. "TABC Local Option Elections General Information". Archived from the original on May 16, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
7. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 10, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
9. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
10. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
11. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Franklin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
12. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Franklin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
13. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Franklin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
15. "2020 Annual Income Estimates". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
16. "Economic Development". Comvtx.com. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
17. Archived January 10, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
18. "Who Represents Me—Districts By County". Fyi.legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
19. "District Population Analysis with County Subtotals | CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS - PLANC2100" (PDF). Texas Legislative Counsel. October 17, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
20. "Texas First Congressional District Election Results". The New York Times. November 8, 2022. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved July 3, 2023.
21. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 11, 2017.

External links

• Franklin County government's website
• Franklin County Genealogical Society
• Franklin County from the Handbook of Texas Online

33°11′N95°13′W / 33.18°N 95.22°W / 33.18; -95.22