Franklin County, North Carolina

Not to be confused with Franklin, North Carolina.
Franklin County, North Carolina

Seal
Motto: LEGES JURAQUE VINDICAMUS
"We Defend Laws and Justice"
Map of North Carolina highlighting Franklin County
Location in the U.S. state of North Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting North Carolina
North Carolina's location in the U.S.
Founded 1779
Named for Benjamin Franklin
Seat Louisburg
Largest town Louisburg
Area
 • Total 494 sq mi (1,279 km2)
 • Land 492 sq mi (1,274 km2)
 • Water 2.8 sq mi (7 km2), 0.6%
Population
 • (2010) 60,619
 • Density 123/sq mi (47/km²)
Congressional districts 1st, 13th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.franklincountync.us

Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 60,619.[1] Its county seat is Louisburg.[2]

Franklin County is included in the Raleigh, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Combined Statistical Area, which had a 2012 estimated population of 1,998,808.[3]

History

The county was formed in 1779 from the southern half of Bute County. It is named for Benjamin Franklin.[4] It is a part of the Research Triangle.

County formation timeline

County song

The "Franklin County Song" was selected in a 1929 contest by the county historical association as the song most suitable for public occasions. The words were written by Fred U. Wolfe, an agriculture teacher at Gold Sand. Sung to the tune "Maryland, My Maryland" ("O Christmas Tree"), the song was incorporated in the Bicentennial programs of 1979. At the evening convocation of January 29, Mrs. Beth Norris announced to the audience that Wolfe (retired and residing in North, South Carolina) was aware his song was part of the program that night. (See Franklin Times, January 30, 1979.)[5]

With loyalty we sing thy praise,
Glory to thy honored name!
Our voices loud in tribute raise,
Making truth thy pow'r proclaim.
Thy past is marked with vict'ry bold;
Thy deeds today can ne'er be told,
And heroes brave shall e'er uphold
Franklin's name forevermore.

We love thy rich and fruitful soil,
Wood, and stream, and thriving town.
We love the gift of daily toil,
Making men of true renown.
Thy church and school shall ever stand
To drive the darkness from our land—
A true and loyal, valiant band,
Sons of Franklin evermore.

A shrine of promise, pow'r and truth,
Lasting righteousness and peace,
A land of hope for toiling youth,
Yielding songs that never cease.
Let ev'ry son and daughter stay
The hand of vice that brings decay.
When duty's voice we shall obey,
Franklin's name shall live for aye.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 494 square miles (1,280 km2), of which 492 square miles (1,270 km2) is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km2) (0.6%) is water.[6]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
17907,502—
18008,52913.7%
181010,16619.2%
18209,741−4.2%
183010,6659.5%
184010,9803.0%
185011,7136.7%
186014,10720.4%
187014,1340.2%
188020,82947.4%
189021,0901.3%
190025,11619.1%
191024,692−1.7%
192026,6678.0%
193029,45610.5%
194030,3823.1%
195031,3413.2%
196028,755−8.3%
197026,820−6.7%
198030,05512.1%
199036,41421.2%
200047,26029.8%
201060,61928.3%
Est. 201563,710[7]5.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[12] of 2010, there were 60,619 people, 23,023 households, and 16,317 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile (47/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 66.0% White, 26.7% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 4.4% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. 7.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 23,023 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 20, 5.5% from 20 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.1 years. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,696, and the median income for a family was $51,353. Males had a median income of $41,025 versus $34,562 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,399. About 12.3% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.6% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over.

Housing

There were 26,577 housing units at an average density of 54 per square mile (21/km²). 13.4% of housing units were vacant.

There were 23,023 occupied housing units in the town. 17,029 were owner-occupied units (74.0%), while 5,994 were renter-occupied (26.0%). The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% of total units. The rental unit vacancy rate was 7.6%.[12]

Law and government

Franklin County is governed by an appointed county manager and a seven-member Board of Commissioners who are elected in staggered four-year terms. Five are chosen by district and the other two at-large.[13] Additional county officials who are elected include Sheriff, Register of Deeds, Board of Education and Clerk of Superior Court.[14]

Franklin County, along with the town of Centerville, is patrolled by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office located in Louisburg. The current sheriff is Kent Winstead, who was elected in 2014.[15] Bunn, Franklinton, Louisburg and Youngsville have their own municipal police departments, regulated by the respective town governments. The community of Lake Royale near Bunn also has its own police department.[16] Franklin County also is covered by Troop C, District IV of the North Carolina Highway Patrol, located in Henderson, North Carolina.[17]

Franklin County is a member of the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments.[18]

Education

Franklin County Schools operates 16 schools throughout the county ranging from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. They include 4 high schools, 4 middle schools and 8 elementary schools.

Franklin County is home to the two-year Methodist-affiliated Louisburg College and to a satellite campus of Vance-Granville Community College.

Youngsville Academy, a college-preparatory, tuition-free Charter School opened in July 2015.

Communities

Map of Franklin County, North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Townships

  • Cedar Rock
  • Cypress Creek
  • Dunn
  • Franklinton
  • Gold Sand
  • Harris
  • Hayesville
  • Louisburg
  • Sandy Creek
  • Youngsville

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "Population Estimates 2012 Combined Statistical Areas: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-03-14.
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 131.
  5. ↑ Willard, George-Anne. Franklin County Sketchbook. Louisburg, NC: Franklin County-Louisburg Bicentenary Committee, 1982.
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  7. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  10. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  12. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-01-17.
  13. ↑ Franklin County, North Carolina (Commissioners), Retrieved Nov. 3, 2015.
  14. ↑ Franklin County, North Carolina (Services), Retrieved Nov. 3, 2015.
  15. ↑ Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Retrieved Nov. 3, 2015.
  16. ↑ Lake Royale Police Department, Retrieved Nov. 3, 2015.
  17. ↑ North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Troop C - Raleigh, Retrieved Nov. 4, 2015.
  18. ↑ Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments, Retrieved Nov. 4, 2015.
 Vance County Warren County Halifax County
Granville County Nash County
   Franklin County, North Carolina  
Wake County Johnston County

Coordinates: 36°05′N 78°17′W / 36.08°N 78.28°W / 36.08; -78.28

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/24/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.