Franklin County, Illinois

County in Illinois, United States

U.S. county in Illinois

Franklin County

U.S. county

Franklin County Courthouse in Benton

Location within the U.S. state of Illinois

Illinois's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Illinois
Founded| January 2, 1818
Named for| Benjamin Franklin
Seat| Benton
Largest city| West Frankfort
Area

• Total| 431 sq mi (1,120 km2)
• Land| 409 sq mi (1,060 km2)
• Water| 23 sq mi (60 km2)  5.2%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 37,804
• Density| 88/sq mi (34/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 12th
Website| www.franklincountyil.gov

Franklin County is a county in Southern Illinois. At the 2020 census, it had a population of 37,804.[1] The largest city is West Frankfort and the county seat is Benton.[2] This area of Southern Illinois is known locally as "Little Egypt".

## Contents

* 1 History
* 1.1 Coal mining
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Climate and weather
* 2.2 Adjacent counties
* 2.3 Major highways
* 3 Demographics
* 4 Communities
* 4.1 Cities
* 4.2 Villages
* 4.3 Census-designated place
* 4.4 Townships
* 4.5 Unincorporated communities
* 5 Education
* 5.1 Regional
* 5.2 Primary and secondary
* 5.3 Higher education
* 5.4 Specialized
* 6 Politics
* 7 See also
* 8 References

## History

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Franklin County was established on January 2, 1818 and formed from parts of Gallatin and White counties. It was named for Benjamin Franklin.[3]

* Franklin County at the time of its formation in 1818

* The creation of Williamson County in 1839 reduced Franklin to its current borders.

### Coal mining

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Coal was mined in Franklin County as early as 1889, at the King Coal Mine, located at Township 5 South, Range 3 East.[4]

The high levels of gas found in Franklin County's coal deposits have resulted in mining disasters and explosions over the years.[5] Between 1905 and 1968, there were eleven mine disasters.[6] In 1905, the Zeigler No. 1 mine, located in Zeigler, had an explosion that killed about fifty people.[7] In 1917, an explosion in Old Ben Mine No. 11, located in Christopher, killed 17.[8] The worst explosion occurred in 1951, in the Orient No. 2 Mine in West Frankfort, in which 119 people died.[9]

The West Frankfort quadrangle of Franklin County is home to 17 coal mines, according to a 2004 report.[5]

## Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 431 square miles (1,120 km2), of which 409 square miles (1,060 km2) is land and 23 square miles (60 km2) (5.2%) is water.[10] Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area is located in this county.

### Climate and weather

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Benton, Illinois

Climate chart (explanation)

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2.9

2.9

4.2

4.5

4.6

4.1

3.2

2.9

2.9

4.5

3.6

Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[11]
| Metric conversion

106

114

117

103

114

Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Benton have ranged from a low of 21 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 90 °F (32 °C) in July, although a record low of −22 °F (−30 °C) was recorded in January 1977 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in August 2007. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.87 inches (73 mm) in February to 4.59 inches (117 mm) in May.[11]

In 1912, a tornado destroyed facilities at the Possum Ridge Mine.[5][12]

On March 18, 1925, Franklin County was among five southern Illinois counties effected by the infamous Tri State Tornado. The storm cut across the southern edge of the county, hitting West Frankfort and destroying most of the northern side of town, causing significant damage to the town's mining facilities. Farther to the east, the village of Parrish was also struck, and was never rebuilt. The storm killed 192 people in Franklin County, injuring hundreds more and leaving scores of people homeless.

### Adjacent counties

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* Jefferson County (north)
* Hamilton County (east)
* Saline County (southeast)
* Williamson County (south)
* Jackson County (southwest)
* Perry County (west)

### Major highways

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* Interstate 57
* Illinois Route 14
* Illinois Route 34
* Illinois Route 37
* Illinois Route 148
* Illinois Route 149
* Illinois Route 154
* Illinois Route 184

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1820| 1,763| | —
1830| 4,083| | 131.6%
1840| 3,682| | −9.8%
1850| 5,681| | 54.3%
1860| 9,393| | 65.3%
1870| 12,652| | 34.7%
1880| 16,129| | 27.5%
1890| 17,138| | 6.3%
1900| 19,675| | 14.8%
1910| 25,943| | 31.9%
1920| 57,293| | 120.8%
1930| 59,442| | 3.8%
1940| 53,137| | −10.6%
1950| 48,685| | −8.4%
1960| 39,281| | −19.3%
1970| 38,329| | −2.4%
1980| 43,201| | 12.7%
1990| 40,319| | −6.7%
2000| 39,018| | −3.2%
2010| 39,561| | 1.4%
2020| 37,804| | −4.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
1790-1960[14] 1900-1990[15]
1990-2000[16] 2010-2013[1]

2000 census age pyramid for Franklin County

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 39,561 people, 16,617 households, and 10,912 families residing in the county.[17] The population density was 96.8 inhabitants per square mile (37.4/km2). There were 18,525 housing units at an average density of 45.3 per square mile (17.5/km2).[10] The racial makeup of the county was 97.7% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.3% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population.[17] In terms of ancestry, 21.8% were German, 18.7% were Irish, 15.9% were English, 9.4% were American, and 5.7% were Italian.[18]

Of the 16,617 households, 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.3% were non-families, and 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 41.8 years.[17]

The median income for a household in the county was $34,381 and the median income for a family was $43,170. Males had a median income of $39,122 versus $28,950 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,504. About 14.5% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.5% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.[19]

## Communities

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### Cities

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* Benton (seat)
* Christopher
* Orient
* Sesser
* West Frankfort
* Zeigler

### Villages

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* Buckner
* Ewing
* Freeman Spur (mostly in Williamson County)
* Hanaford
* Macedonia (partly in Hamilton County)
* North City
* Royalton
* Thompsonville
* Valier
* West City

Map of Franklin County, Illinois

### Census-designated place

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* Mulkeytown

### Townships

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Franklin County is divided into twelve townships:

* Barren
* Benton
* Browning
* Cave
* Denning
* Eastern
* Ewing
* Frankfort
* Goode
* Northern
* Six Mile
* Tyrone

### Unincorporated communities

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* Akin
* Akin Junction
* Cleburne
* Deering City
* Frisco
* Kegley
* Meyer
* Parrish
* Pershing
* Plumfield
* Rend City
* Steel City
* Valier Patch
* West End
* Whittington

## Education

[edit | edit source]

### Regional

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* Franklin, Johnson, Massac, and Williamson County Regional Office of Education #21 [20]

### Primary and secondary

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* Christopher Unit School District #99 [21]
* Sesser Unit School District [22]
* Benton School District #47 [23]
* Frankfort Community Unit School District #168 [24]
* Zeigler-Royalton Community Unit School District #188 [25]
* Thompsonville Community Unit School District #174 [26]
* Ewing-Northern Community Unit School District #115 [27]

### Higher education

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* John A. Logan College Extension Center - West Frankfort

### Specialized

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* Franklin & Jefferson County Special Education Cooperative [28]

## Politics

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Franklin County voted mostly for Democratic US presidential candidates until 2000. Since then it has voted for Republican presidential nominees.

United States presidential election results for Franklin County, Illinois[29] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

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No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 13,622  | 72.97% | 4,760  | 25.50%  | 287  | 1.54%
2016 | 13,116  | 70.10% | 4,727  | 25.26%  | 868  | 4.64%
2012 | 10,267  | 57.31% | 7,254  | 40.49%  | 393  | 2.19%
2008 | 9,404  | 50.25% | 8,880  | 47.45%  | 430  | 2.30%
2004 | 10,388  | 53.68% | 8,816  | 45.56%  | 148  | 0.76%
2000 | 8,490  | 44.19%  | 10,201  | 53.10% | 521  | 2.71%
1996 | 5,354  | 30.84%  | 9,814  | 56.54% | 2,190  | 12.62%
1992 | 5,504  | 25.62%  | 12,744  | 59.33% | 3,233  | 15.05%
1988 | 7,677  | 40.87%  | 11,023  | 58.69% | 83  | 0.44%
1984 | 9,656  | 47.39%  | 10,667  | 52.35% | 54  | 0.27%
1980 | 9,731  | 49.01% | 9,425  | 47.47%  | 700  | 3.53%
1976 | 7,420  | 36.51%  | 12,818  | 63.07% | 86  | 0.42%
1972 | 10,121  | 54.04% | 8,545  | 45.62%  | 63  | 0.34%
1968 | 9,036  | 42.88%  | 10,095  | 47.90% | 1,943  | 9.22%
1964 | 7,620  | 35.94%  | 13,581  | 64.06% | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 11,861  | 50.98% | 11,368  | 48.86%  | 37  | 0.16%
1956 | 11,761  | 50.98% | 11,308  | 49.02%  | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 11,723  | 49.33%  | 11,981  | 50.41% | 62  | 0.26%
1948 | 9,407  | 43.87%  | 11,750  | 54.79% | 287  | 1.34%
1944 | 11,377  | 49.01%  | 11,663  | 50.24% | 173  | 0.75%
1940 | 12,936  | 45.14%  | 15,523  | 54.16% | 201  | 0.70%
1936 | 10,708  | 40.22%  | 15,254  | 57.29% | 663  | 2.49%
1932 | 7,560  | 32.46%  | 14,754  | 63.35% | 976  | 4.19%
1928 | 9,900  | 45.79%  | 11,369  | 52.58% | 353  | 1.63%
1924 | 6,779  | 39.59% | 5,791  | 33.82%  | 4,551  | 26.58%
1920 | 7,608  | 51.11% | 4,894  | 32.88%  | 2,384  | 16.02%
1916 | 6,371  | 46.42%  | 6,419  | 46.77% | 934  | 6.81%
1912 | 2,098  | 36.12%  | 2,435  | 41.92% | 1,276  | 21.97%
1908 | 2,539  | 48.52% | 2,401  | 45.88%  | 293  | 5.60%
1904 | 2,077  | 50.04% | 1,801  | 43.39%  | 273  | 6.58%
1900 | 2,117  | 47.99%  | 2,226  | 50.46% | 68  | 1.54%
1896 | 2,038  | 47.43%  | 2,233  | 51.97% | 26  | 0.61%
1892 | 1,631  | 44.25%  | 1,782  | 48.35% | 273  | 7.41%

## See also

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* National Register of Historic Places listings in Franklin County, Illinois
* Ku Klux Klan in Southern Illinois
* Fourth Franklin County Courthouse

## References

[edit | edit source]

1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
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. ^ Hinton, Wayne. "Illinois Coal & Coal Mining, History & Genealogy - Coal Mines of Franklin County, Illinois". Wayne's World of History & Genealogy. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
5. ^ a b c Chenowith, Cheri; Myers, Alan R (2014). "Directory of Coal Mines in Illinois, 7.5 Minute Quadrangle Series, West Frankfort Quadrangle, Franklin County" (PDF). Illinois State Geological Survey.
6. ^ United States Mine Rescue Association. "Mine Disasters in the United States - By County - Franklin County, IL". Mine Disasters in the United States. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
7. ^ United States Mine Rescue Association. "Ziegler Mine Explosion". Mine Disasters in the United States. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
8. ^ United States Mine Rescue Association. "Old Ben No. 11 Mine Explosion". Mine Disasters in the United States. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
9. ^ United States Mine Rescue Association. "Orient No. 2 Mine Explosion - West Frankfort, Illinois". Mine Disasters in the United States. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
10. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
11. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Benton, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
12. ^ Hubbs, Barbara Barr. "Possum Ridge Mine History". Williamson County Illinois Historical Society. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
13. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
14. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
15. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
16. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
17. ^ a b c "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 July 11, 2015.
18. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
19. ^ "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 July 11, 2015.
20. ^ Franklin, Johnson, Massac, and Williamson County Regional Office of Education #21
21. ^ Christopher Unit School District #99
22. ^ Sesser Unit School District #196
23. ^ Benton School District #47
24. ^ Frankfort Community Unit School District #168
25. ^ Zeigler-Royalton Community Unit School District #188
26. ^ Thompsonville Community Unit School District #174
27. ^ Ewing-Northern Community Unit School District #115
28. ^ Franklin & Jefferson County Special Education Cooperative
29. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 2, 2018.

* United States Census Bureau 2007 TIGER/Line Shapefiles
* United States Board on Geographic Names (GNIS)
* United States National Atlas

Places adjacent to Franklin County, Illinois

|  | Jefferson County |

|
|

|  |
Perry County |

Franklin County, Illinois

| Hamilton County
|  |
Jackson County | Williamson County | Saline County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Franklin County, Illinois, United States

County seat: Benton

Cities|

* Benton
* Christopher
* Orient
* Sesser
* West Frankfort
* Zeigler

Map of Illinois highlighting Franklin County

Villages|

* Buckner
* Ewing
* Freeman Spur‡
* Hanaford
* Macedonia‡
* North City
* Royalton
* Thompsonville
* Valier
* West City

Townships|

* Barren
* Benton
* Browning
* Cave
* Denning
* Eastern
* Ewing
* Frankfort
* Goode
* Northern
* Six Mile
* Tyrone

CDP|

* Mulkeytown

Other
unincorporated
communities|

* Akin
* Akin Junction
* Cleburne
* Deering City
* Frisco
* Kegley
* Meyer
* Parrish
* Pershing
* Plumfield
* Rend City
* Steel City
* Valier Patch
* West End‡
* Whittington

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* United States portal

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* v
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* e

Southern Illinois

Counties|

* Alexander
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Mid-sized cities (25,000+)|

* Alton
* Belleville
* Carbondale
* Collinsville
* Edwardsville
* Granite City
* O'Fallon

Small Cities (10,000-25,000)|

* Cahokia Heights
* Centralia
* East St. Louis
* Fairview Heights
* Glen Carbon
* Godfrey
* Herrin
* Marion
* Mt. Vernon
* Swansea
* Wood River

Small Cities (5,000-10,000)|

* Anna
* Benton
* Bethalto
* Carmi
* Carterville
* Chester
* Columbia
* Du Quoin
* East Alton
* Fairfield
* Flora
* Harrisburg
* Highland
* Jerseyville
* Maryville
* Mascoutah
* Metropolis
* Mount Carmel
* Murphysboro
* Olney
* Pinckneyville
* Pontoon Beach
* Salem
* Shiloh
* Staunton
* Troy
* Washington Park
* Waterloo
* West Frankfort

Interstates|

* I-55
* I-64
* I-70
* I-255
* I-270
* I-57
* I-24

Airports/Military bases|

* Scott Air Force Base
* MidAmerica St. Louis Airport
* St. Louis Regional Airport
* St. Louis Downtown Airport
* St. Louis Metro-East Airport
* Williamson County Regional Airport
* Kellums
* Cache River Airstrip
* Pinckneyville Duquoin Airport
* Harrisburg-Raleigh Regional Airport
* Mt. Vernon Outland Airport
* Southern Illinois Airport

Universities|

* Southern Illinois University (Carbondale)
* Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Colleges|

* Southeastern Illinois College
* Rend Lake College
* John A. Logan College
* Shawnee Community College
* Southwestern Illinois College
* Kaskaskia College
* Wabash Valley College
* East St. Louis Community College Center
* McKendree University
* Morthland College
* Olney Central College

Sports teams based in
the Southern Illinois|

* Gateway Grizzlies (baseball, Frontier League)
* Southern Illinois Miners
* Southern Illinois Salukis
* SIU Edwardsville Cougars

Coordinates: 37°59′N 88°55′W﻿ / ﻿37.99°N 88.92°W﻿ / 37.99; -88.92
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