Fort Towson

Not to be confused with Franklin, Alabama.

Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,113.[1] Its county seat is Russellville.[2] Its name is in honor of Benjamin Franklin, famous statesman, scientist, and printer.[3] It is a dry county, although the city of Russellville is wet.

History

Franklin County was established on February 6, 1818.

Colbert County

Once part of Franklin County, Colbert County was originally established on February 6, 1867, after it split from Franklin County over political issues after the American Civil War. It was abolished eight months later by an Alabama constitutional convention and then reestablished on February 24, 1870.[4]

Musical history

Many musicians and songwriters are from Franklin County including Billy Sherrill, Ricky Pierce, Eddie Martin and many others.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 647 square miles (1,680 km2), of which 634 square miles (1,640 km2) is land and 13 square miles (34 km2) (2.0%) is water.[5]

Adjacent Counties

National protected area

Transportation

Major highways

Rail

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18204,988—
183011,078122.1%
184014,27028.8%
185019,61037.4%
186018,627−5.0%
18708,006−57.0%
18809,15514.4%
189010,68116.7%
190016,51154.6%
191019,36917.3%
192022,01113.6%
193025,37215.3%
194027,5528.6%
195025,705−6.7%
196021,988−14.5%
197023,9338.8%
198028,35018.5%
199027,814−1.9%
200031,22312.3%
201031,7041.5%
202032,1131.3%
2023 (est.)31,802[6]−1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[1]

2020 census

Franklin County, Alabama – Racial and Ethnic Composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
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 Pop 2000[11] Pop 2010[12] Pop 2020[13] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 27,268 25,249 23,581 87.33% 79.64% 73.43%
Black or African American alone (NH) 1,307 1,211 1,139 4.19% 3.82% 3.55%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 87 121 128 0.28% 0.38% 0.40%
Asian alone (NH) 32 51 67 0.10% 0.16% 0.21%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 3 2 2 0.01% 0.01% 0.01%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 5 32 77 0.02% 0.10% 0.24%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 205 328 860 0.66% 1.03% 2.68%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2,316 4,710 6,259 7.42% 14.86% 19.49%
Total 31,223 31,704 32,113 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census of 2020, there were 32,113 people, 11,048 households, and 7,669 families residing in the county.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 31,704 people, 12,286 households, and 8,741 families living in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile (22 people/km2). There were 14,022 housing units at an average density of 21.7 units per square mile (8.4 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 83.0% White (non-Hispanic), 3.9% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 10.5% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. 14.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[14] Of the 12,286 households 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 26.1% of households were one person and 12.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.05

The age distribution was 24.8% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% 65 or older. The median age was 37.8 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.3 males.

The median household income was $33,942 and the median family income was $44,352. Males had a median income of $31,997 versus $22,747 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,094. About 14.9% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.2% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 31,223 people, 12,259 households, and 8,949 families living in the county. The population density was 49 people per square mile (19 people/km2). There were 13,749 housing units at an average density of 22 units per square mile (8.5 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.68% White (non-Hispanic), 4.21% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 4.62% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. 5.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[15] Of the 12,259 households 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 24.50% of households were one person and 12.10% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 24.50% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

The median household income was $27,177 and the median family income was $34,274. Males had a median income of $27,497 versus $18,631 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,814. About 15.20% of families and 18.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.60% of those under age 18 and 24.10% of those age 65 or over.

Education

There are two school systems and one community college in Franklin County; Russellville City Schools and Franklin County Schools. Northwest Shoals Community College has a campus in Phil Campbell.

Russellville City Schools[16] include:

  • Russellville High School
  • Russellville Middle School
  • Russellville Elementary School (grades 3 - 5)
  • West Elementary School (grades Kindergarten - 2)

Franklin County Schools[17] include:

  • Belgreen High School (grades K - 12)
  • East Franklin Junior High School (grades K - 9)
  • Phil Campbell High School (two separate buildings serving grades K - 12)
  • Red Bay High School (grades K - 12)
  • Tharptown High School (grades K-12)
  • Vina High School (grades K - 12)

There is also the Franklin County Career-Technical Center, located next to Belgreen High School.

Government

Like most rural counties in Alabama, Franklin County has gone solidly Republican in the 21st century, but it has flirted with the party at a federal level since the 1950s. In a pattern typical of most rural Alabama counties, Franklin County supported the Dixiecrats in 1948 and George Wallace in 1968, but unlike other counties, had been won by Republicans in 1956 and 1960, cracking the wall of the Solid South before full-fledged turnover in 1964 and beyond.

As is the case with most rural counties nationwide that supported Bill Clinton in the 1996 election, the county has turned on the Democratic Party. In the 2020 election, Donald Trump won convincingly over Joe Biden, 83–17, continuing a backsliding trend for Democratic candidates in the rural South.

In 2018, Democrat Johnny Mack Morrow, a longtime state legislator from Red Bay, easily beat Republican Larry Stutts in this otherwise heavily Republican county, defying the county's rightward trend.[18]

United States presidential election results for Franklin County, Alabama[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 10,376 82.49% 2,086 16.58% 116 0.92%
2016 9,466 78.62% 2,197 18.25% 377 3.13%
2012 7,567 69.54% 3,171 29.14% 143 1.31%
2008 8,048 68.83% 3,469 29.67% 176 1.51%
2004 7,690 62.68% 4,514 36.79% 65 0.53%
2000 6,119 55.11% 4,793 43.17% 191 1.72%
1996 4,449 42.44% 5,028 47.97% 1,005 9.59%
1992 4,794 40.43% 5,953 50.20% 1,111 9.37%
1988 5,146 50.25% 4,961 48.44% 134 1.31%
1984 5,304 52.90% 4,601 45.89% 122 1.22%
1980 4,448 41.33% 6,136 57.01% 179 1.66%
1976 3,345 34.41% 6,279 64.59% 97 1.00%
1972 5,877 75.23% 1,840 23.55% 95 1.22%
1968 2,524 27.75% 588 6.46% 5,984 65.79%
1964 4,025 56.41% 0 0.00% 3,110 43.59%
1960 4,069 54.20% 3,422 45.58% 16 0.21%
1956 3,399 50.21% 3,354 49.55% 16 0.24%
1952 2,424 41.13% 3,461 58.73% 8 0.14%
1948 2,555 44.10% 0 0.00% 3,239 55.90%
1944 1,853 40.56% 2,709 59.30% 6 0.13%
1940 1,989 35.95% 3,523 63.67% 21 0.38%
1936 1,875 37.77% 3,059 61.62% 30 0.60%
1932 1,547 34.71% 2,876 64.53% 34 0.76%
1928 2,937 56.24% 2,279 43.64% 6 0.11%
1924 22 1.06% 1,985 95.66% 68 3.28%
1920 2,930 57.58% 2,094 41.15% 65 1.28%
1916 984 47.44% 1,044 50.34% 46 2.22%
1912 309 17.14% 849 47.09% 645 35.77%
1908 652 47.84% 650 47.69% 61 4.48%
1904 668 44.33% 767 50.90% 72 4.78%

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  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. ^ "Colbert County Website". Retrieved May 16, 2007.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  9. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  11. ^ "P004 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Franklin County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Franklin County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Franklin County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. ^ "Russellville City Schools Website". Archived from the original on April 3, 2007.
  17. ^ "Franklin County Schools Website".
  18. ^ "Our Campaigns - AL State Senate 06 Race - November 06, 2018". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  19. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 16, 2016.

External links

34°26′N 87°51′W / 34.433°N 87.850°W / 34.433; -87.850

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_County,_Alabama