Franklin, Kentucky

Not to be confused with Franklin County, Kentucky.

City in Kentucky, United States

Franklin, Kentucky

City

Simpson County Courthouse in Franklin

Location of Franklin in Simpson County, Kentucky.

Coordinates: 36°43′21″N 86°34′39″W﻿ / ﻿36.72250°N 86.57750°W﻿ / 36.72250; -86.57750
Country| United States
State| Kentucky
County| Simpson
Established| November 2, 1820
Government

• Type| City Commission
• Mayor City Commission| Larry Dixon

Dale McCreary

Jamie Powell

Wendell Stewart

Herbert Williams
Area

[1]

• Total| 14.86 sq mi (38.48 km2)
• Land| 14.75 sq mi (38.19 km2)
• Water| 0.11 sq mi (0.29 km2)
Elevation

| 709 ft (216 m)
Population

(2020)

• Total| 10,176
• Estimate

(2022)[2]

| 10,344
• Density| 690.04/sq mi (266.43/km2)
Time zone| UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)| UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes|

42134-42135

Area code(s)| 270 & 364
FIPS code| 21-28918
GNIS feature ID| 0492443
Website| www.franklinky.org

Franklin is a home rule-class city[3] in and the county seat of Simpson County, Kentucky, United States.[4] The county is located on the south central border of the state, and its population was 10,176 at the 2020 census.

Kentucky Downs, formerly known as Dueling Grounds Racetrack (owned by Corey Johnsen & Ray Reid), is located in Franklin on the Kentucky–Tennessee border. Kentucky Downs hosts the Kentucky Cup Turf Festival, a full card of world-class horse racing featuring four major turf stakes. Kentucky Downs also hosts year-round simulcasts for the Kentucky-Tennessee market.

## History[edit]

Franklin was formally incorporated by the state assembly on November 2, 1820,[5] on a 62-acre (250,000 m2) tract of land. This tract was purchased from William Hudspeth and was named for Founding Father Benjamin Franklin.[6] The post office was established on September 29, 1822, with Robert W. Simpson as postmaster.[7]

On March 1, 1968, Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash were married at the Franklin First United Methodist church by Reverend Leslie Chapman.

## Climate[edit]

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Franklin has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[8]

## Geography[edit]

Franklin is located at 36°43′21″N 86°34′39″W﻿ / ﻿36.72250°N 86.57750°W﻿ / 36.72250; -86.57750 (36.722487, -86.577566).[9]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19 km2), all land.

## Demographics[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1830| 280| | —
1860| 828| | —
1870| 1,808| | 118.4%
1880| 1,686| | −6.7%
1890| 2,324| | 37.8%
1900| 2,166| | −6.8%
1910| 3,063| | 41.4%
1920| 3,154| | 3.0%
1930| 3,056| | −3.1%
1940| 3,940| | 28.9%
1950| 4,343| | 10.2%
1960| 5,329| | 22.7%
1970| 6,553| | 23.0%
1980| 7,738| | 18.1%
1990| 7,607| | −1.7%
2000| 7,996| | 5.1%
2010| 8,408| | 5.2%
2020| 10,176| | 21.0%
2022 (est.)| 10,344| [10]| 1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

As of the census[12] of 2020, there were 10,176 people residing in the city. The population density was 690 inhabitants per square mile (270/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 80.20% White, 13.00% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, and 6.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.00% of the population.

The median income for a household in the city was $54,784. The per capita income for the city was $23,835. About 16.8% of the population is below the poverty line.

## Education[edit]

Public education in Franklin is administered by Simpson County School District, which operates Franklin Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary School and Simpson Elementary School, Franklin-Simpson Middle School and Franklin-Simpson High School as well as an alternative school called Franklin-Simpson High School West Campus.[13]

Franklin Mennonite Elementary School and Faith Baptist Academy are private institutions.

Franklin has a public library, the Goodnight Memorial Library.[14]

## Notable people[edit]

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|

* Joe Blanton (1980–), Major League Baseball pitcher, was raised in Franklin
* Marty Brown (1965–), country singer-songwriter born in Maceo and moved to Franklin in 2004
* Thomas Chisholm (1866–1960), Christian songwriter who wrote "Great is Thy Faithfulness", was born in Franklin
* Carolyn Denning (1927–2016), pediatrician and pioneer in cystic fibrosis treatment, grew up in Franklin
* Blanche Taylor Dickinson (1896–1972), poet
* James Earnest (1818–1900), member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and Wisconsin State Senate, was born in Franklin
* Brad M. Kelley (1956–), billionaire businessman, came from Franklin
* Carolyn Conn Moore (1904–1986) of Franklin was elected as the first woman to serve in the Kentucky Senate in November 1949, after a special election to replace her husband, the late J. Lee Moore, after his death.[15]
* Kenny Perry (1960–), a retired PGA golfer with 14 wins on the PGA Tour, 10 wins on the Senior PGA Tour, including 4 senior majors, and was a member of the U.S. teams in 5 Ryder & President's Cups, spent most of his childhood in Franklin and continues to live there. Today he operates a golf course there, Kenny Perry's Country Creek course.
* Joker Phillips (1963–), pro football player, was born and raised in Franklin; he attended, played football, and is a former head coach at the University of Kentucky. Current NFL coach
* Annie Potts (1952–), actress (Ghostbusters, Pretty in Pink, Designing Women, and Young Sheldon), was raised in Franklin and graduated from Franklin-Simpson High School in 1971.
* Tony Randolph, member of the South Dakota House of Representatives

## See also[edit]

* List of cities in Kentucky
* Mantell UFO Incident\- Franklin has a roadside historical marker for this incident.

## References[edit]

1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
2. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Kentucky: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
3. ^ "Summary and Reference Guide to House Bill 331 City Classification Reform" (PDF). Kentucky League of Cities. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
5. ^ Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State. Land Office. "Franklin, Kentucky". Accessed 26 July 2013.
6. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 131.
7. ^ Rennick, Robert M. (1988). "Place Names". Kentucky Place Names. Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-0179-4. Accessed 5 May 2010.
8. ^ Climate Summary for Franklin, Kentucky
9. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
10. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Kentucky: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
11. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
13. ^ "Homepage". Simpson County Schools. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
14. ^ "Kentucky Public Library Directory". Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Archived from the original on January 11, 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
15. ^ Oswald, Sharon (January 5, 1977). "From senate to housemother, Mrs. Moore is mother of 110". The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa: The Tuscaloosa News. p. 8. Retrieved March 15, 2010.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Franklin, Kentucky.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Franklin, Kentucky.

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