Franklin County, Vermont

Franklin County
County
St. Albans Town Hall
Location within the U.S. state of Vermont
Vermont's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°51′27″N72°54′43″W / 44.85748°N 72.912°W / 44.85748; -72.912
Country	United States
State	Vermont
Founded	December 1, 1796
Named for	Benjamin Franklin
Shire Town	St. Albans
Largest city	St. Albans
Area
• Total	692 sq mi (1,790 km2)
• Land	634 sq mi (1,640 km2)
• Water	58 sq mi (150 km2)  8.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	49,946
• Density	72/sq mi (28/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	At-large

Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of the 2020 census, the population was 49,946. ^[1] Its county seat is the city of St. Albans. ^[2] It borders the Canadian province of Quebec. The county was created in 1792 and organized in 1796. ^{[3] [4]} Franklin County is part of the Burlington metropolitan area.

History

Franklin County is one of several Vermont counties created from land claimed by Vermont on January 15, 1777, when Vermont declared itself to be a state distinct from New York. ^{[5] [6] [7]} The land originally was contested by Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York, but it remained undelineated until July 20, 1764, when King George III established the boundary between New Hampshire and New York along the west bank of the Connecticut River, north of Massachusetts and south of the parallel of 45 degrees north latitude. New York assigned the land gained to Albany County. ^{[8] [9]} On March 12, 1772, Albany County was partitioned to create Charlotte County, ^[10] and this situation remained until Vermont's independence from New York and Britain. However, this did not end the contest. In 1772, land surveyors John Collins of Quebec and Thomas Valentine of New York erected survey monuments along what they took to be the 45th parallel of north latitude, intended to be the boundary between New York and Quebec. The Webster–Ashburton Treaty of 1842 said that their measurement errors stand, so the boundary between Vermont and Quebec, and between New York and Quebec, is where Collins and Valentine put the survey monuments, some of which still stand today (see Collins–Valentine line).

On September 3, 1783, as a result of the signing of the Treaty of Paris the Revolutionary War ended with Great Britain recognizing the independence of the United States. Article II of the treaty agreed on boundaries between the United States and British possessions to the north, and included Vermont within the U.S. Vermont's border with Quebec was established at 45 degrees north latitude. ^{[11] [12]} In 1792, Franklin County was formed from part of Chittenden County. ^[4] However, Vermont's government continued to take the position that it was independent of both the United States and Britain, and so it remained until 1791.

The county's namesake is Benjamin Franklin. ^[13]

In 2008, the federal government declared the county a disaster area after severe storms and flooding on June 14–17. ^[14]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 692 square miles (1,790 km²), of which 634 square miles (1,640 km²) is land and 58 square miles (150 km²) (8.4%) is water. ^[15]

Adjacent counties and municipalities

• Orleans County – east
• Lamoille County – southeast
• Chittenden County – southwest
• Grand Isle County – west
• Le Haut-Richelieu Regional County Municipality, Quebec – northwest
• Brome-Missisquoi Regional County Municipality, Quebec – north

National protected area

• Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1800	8,282		—
1810	16,615		100.6%
1820	17,192		3.5%
1830	24,525		42.7%
1840	24,531		0.0%
1850	28,586		16.5%
1860	27,231		−4.7%
1870	30,291		11.2%
1880	30,225		−0.2%
1890	29,755		−1.6%
1900	30,198		1.5%
1910	29,866		−1.1%
1920	30,026		0.5%
1930	29,975		−0.2%
1940	29,601		−1.2%
1950	29,894		1.0%
1960	29,474		−1.4%
1970	31,282		6.1%
1980	34,788		11.2%
1990	39,980		14.9%
2000	45,417		13.6%
2010	47,746		5.1%
2020	49,946		4.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [16] 1790–1960 [17] 1900–1990 [18] 1990–2000 [19] 2010–2018 [20]

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 47,746 people, 18,513 households, and 12,939 families residing in the county. ^[21] The population density was 75.3 inhabitants per square mile (29.1/km²). There were 21,588 housing units at an average density of 34.1 per square mile (13.2/km²). ^[22] Of the 18,513 households, 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.1% were non-families, and 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.97. The median age was 39.6 years. ^[21]

The median income for a household in the county was $53,623 and the median income for a family was $63,009. Males had a median income of $43,155 versus $36,940 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,767. About 7.2% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over. ^[23]

Politics

In 1828, Franklin County was won by National Republican Party candidate John Quincy Adams

In 1832, the county was won by Anti-Masonic Party candidate William Wirt.

In 1836, the county was won by Democratic Party candidate Martin Van Buren

From William Henry Harrison in 1840 to Winfield Scott in 1852, the county would vote the Whig Party candidates.

From John C. Frémont in 1856 to Herbert Hoover in 1928 (barring 1912, where the county was won by Progressive Party candidate and former president Theodore Roosevelt), the Republican Party would have a 72-year winning streak in the county.

In 1932, the county was won by Democratic candidate Franklin D. Roosevelt and would be won by him in all four of his presidential runs from 1932 to 1944. During that time, Franklin County, along with Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties would become Democratic enclaves in an otherwise Republican-voting Vermont. The county would also be won by Harry S. Truman in 1948.

Dwight D. Eisenhower was able to win back Franklin County for the Republicans during the 1952 and 1956 elections.

The county would go to Democratic candidates John F. Kennedy in 1960, Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, and Hubert H. Humphrey in 1968.

Incumbent President Richard Nixon would carry the county in 1972 as would Gerald Ford in 1976.

In 1980 and 1984, the county was won by Republican Ronald Reagan, who would become the last Republican presidential candidate to win Franklin County.

Since Michael Dukakis won the county in 1988, it has been won by Democratic candidates ever since.

United States presidential election results for Franklin County, Vermont ^[24]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	11,274	43.65%	13,611	52.69%	945	3.66%
2016	8,752	40.88%	9,351	43.67%	3,308	15.45%
2012	7,405	37.23%	12,057	60.62%	426	2.14%
2008	7,853	36.59%	13,179	61.41%	428	1.99%
2004	8,936	44.86%	10,598	53.20%	386	1.94%
2000	8,395	43.74%	9,514	49.57%	1,285	6.69%
1996	4,617	28.49%	8,790	54.24%	2,799	17.27%
1992	5,484	29.25%	8,004	42.69%	5,263	28.07%
1988	7,293	49.16%	7,372	49.70%	169	1.14%
1984	8,683	59.63%	5,755	39.52%	124	0.85%
1980	5,998	44.61%	5,914	43.99%	1,533	11.40%
1976	6,190	51.64%	5,610	46.80%	186	1.55%
1972	8,109	67.21%	3,898	32.31%	58	0.48%
1968	5,218	44.67%	6,027	51.60%	436	3.73%
1964	3,261	26.98%	8,823	73.00%	2	0.02%
1960	5,444	43.65%	7,028	56.35%	0	0.00%
1956	7,125	59.55%	4,840	40.45%	0	0.00%
1952	6,949	57.82%	5,018	41.75%	51	0.42%
1948	4,897	46.89%	5,455	52.23%	92	0.88%
1944	4,374	42.01%	6,036	57.98%	1	0.01%
1940	5,258	41.21%	7,439	58.30%	63	0.49%
1936	5,507	44.56%	6,817	55.15%	36	0.29%
1932	4,999	44.29%	6,179	54.75%	108	0.96%
1928	6,031	52.23%	5,477	47.43%	40	0.35%
1924	4,594	67.10%	1,649	24.08%	604	8.82%
1920	4,869	66.72%	2,342	32.09%	87	1.19%
1916	2,796	56.41%	2,107	42.51%	54	1.09%
1912	1,433	33.16%	1,317	30.48%	1,571	36.36%
1908	2,360	66.84%	1,048	29.68%	123	3.48%
1904	2,522	72.22%	881	25.23%	89	2.55%
1900	2,738	66.38%	1,316	31.90%	71	1.72%
1896	3,444	72.16%	1,150	24.09%	179	3.75%
1892	2,540	63.22%	1,353	33.67%	125	3.11%
1888	3,121	67.34%	1,343	28.98%	171	3.69%
1884	2,619	59.73%	1,396	31.84%	370	8.44%
1880	3,018	60.07%	1,652	32.88%	354	7.05%

Economy

Personal income

The median income for a household in the county was $41,659, and the median income for a family was $46,733. Males had a median income of $32,009 versus $24,078 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,816. About 7.00% of families and 9.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.40% of those under age 18 and 10.30% of those age 65 or over.

Industry

In 2009, the county had the most dairy farms in the state, 239 out of 1,078. ^[25]

Communities

City

• St. Albans (city)

Towns

• Bakersfield
• Berkshire
• Enosburgh
• Fairfax
• Fairfield
• Fletcher
• Franklin
• Georgia
• Highgate
• Montgomery
• Richford
• Sheldon
• St. Albans (town)
• Swanton

Villages

Villages are census divisions, but have no separate corporate existence from the towns they are in.

• Enosburg Falls – village of Enosburgh
• Swanton Village – village of Swanton

Census-designated places

• Bakersfield
• Fairfax
• Highgate Center
• Highgate Springs
• Richford

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Franklin County, Vermont
• Chester Alan Arthur State Historic Site birthplace of President Chester Arthur.

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "Vermont: Individual County Chronologies". Vermont Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
4. Aldrich, Lewis Cass (1891). History of Franklin and Grand Isle counties, Vermont. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason & Co. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
5. Slade, William, Jr., comp. Vermont State Papers: Being a collection of Records and Documents Connected with the Assumption and Establishment of Government by the People of Vermont, Together with the Journal of the Council of Safety, the First Constitution, the Early Journals of the General Assembly, and the Laws from the Year 1779 to 1786, Inclusive. Middlebury, 1823. pp. 70–73.
6. Van Zandt, Franklin K. Boundaries of the United States and the Several States. Geological Survey Professional Paper 909. Washington, DC; Government Printing Office, 1976. The Standard Compilation for its subject. P. 64.
7. Williamson, Chilton. Vermont in Quandary: 1763–1825. Growth of Vermont series, Number 4. Montpelier: Vermont Historical Series, 1949. PP. 82–84; map facing 95, 100–102, 112–113.
8. Slade, William, Jr., comp. Vermont State Papers: Being a collection of Records and Documents Connected with the Assumption and Establishment of Government by the People of Vermont, Together with the Journal of the Council of Safety, the First Constitution, the Early Journals of the General Assembly, and the Laws from the Year 1779 to 1786, Inclusive. Middlebury, 1823. pp. 13–19.
9. Van Zandt, Franklin K. Boundaries of the United States and the Several States. Geological Survey Professional Paper 909. Washington, DC; Government Printing Office, 1976. The Standard Compilation for its subject. P. 63.
10. New York Colonial Laws, Chapter 1534; Section 5; Paragraph 321)
11. Van Zandt, Franklin K. Boundaries of the United States and the Several States. Geological Survey Professional Paper 909. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1976. The Standard Compilation for its subject. p. 12.
12. Parry, Clive, ed. Consolidated Treaty Series . 231 volumes. Dobbs Ferry, New York; Oceana Publications, 1969–1981. Volume 48; pp. 481, 487, 491–492.
13. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  131.
14. Sutkoski, Matt (August 1, 2008). Summer has been wet one for the ages. Burlington Free Press.
15. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
16. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
17. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
18. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
19. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
20. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
21. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
22. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
23. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
24. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
25. Lefebvre, Paul (February 11, 2009). Average Vermont farmer expected to lose $92,000. the Chronicle.

External links

• Franklin County Regional Chamber of Commerce
• The Franklin County Sheriff's Office
• Vermont Judiciary: Franklin Civil Division
• National Register of Historic Places listing for Franklin Co., Vermont