Franklin County, Kansas

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Franklin County, Kansas
The Franklin County Courthouse in Ottawa. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Location in the state of Kansas
Kansas's location in the U.S.
Founded	August 25, 1855
Named for	Benjamin Franklin
Seat	Ottawa
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	576.65 sq mi (1,494 km²) 573.85 sq mi (1,486 km²) 2.80 sq mi (7 km²), 0.49%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	25,992 46.1/sq mi (18/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	www.FranklinCoKS.org

Franklin County (county code FR) is a county located in East-Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 25,992. Its county seat and most populous city is Ottawa. The county is a part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area.

History

Franklin County was one of the 33 original Kansas Territory counties created by the first Territorial Legislature of 1855. The county was named after Benjamin Franklin, and is rich in Native American lore, which dates back centuries before Kansas became a territory. The area was included in a treaty ceding land to the Osage Nation in 1808, and ceded back to the federal government in 1825. After 1825 and prior to 1867, treaties with various Indian nations set off parts of what was later to become Franklin County for their use.

Law and government

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1994, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 576.65 square miles (1,493.5 km²), of which 573.85 square miles (1,486.3 km²) (or 99.51%) is land and 2.80 square miles (7.3 km²) (or 0.49%) is water.

Major highways

• Interstate 35/U.S. Route 50
• U.S. Route 59
• K-33
• K-68

Adjacent counties

• Douglas County (north)
• Johnson County (northeast)
• Miami County (east)
• Linn County (southeast)
• Anderson County (south)
• Coffey County (southwest)
• Osage County (west)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	3,030		—
1870	10,385		242.7%
1880	16,797		61.7%
1890	20,279		20.7%
1900	21,354		5.3%
1910	20,884		−2.2%
1920	21,946		5.1%
1930	22,024		0.4%
1940	20,889		−5.2%
1950	19,928		−4.6%
1960	19,548		−1.9%
1970	20,007		2.3%
1980	22,062		10.3%
1990	21,994		−0.3%
2000	24,784		12.7%
2010	25,992		4.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

Population pyramid

2005 KDOT Map of Franklin County (map legend)

As of the U.S. Census in 2000, there were 24,784 people, 9,452 households, and 6,720 families residing in the county. The population density was 43 people per square mile (17/km²). There were 10,229 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.05% White, 1.21% Black or African American, 0.94% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.78% from other races, and 1.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.62% of the population.

There were 9,452 households out of which 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.30% 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 27.50% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,052, and the median income for a family was $45,197. Males had a median income of $31,223 versus $22,992 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,311. About 5.60% of families and 7.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.40% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2005 estimate):

• Ottawa, 12,597 (county seat)
• Wellsville, 1,631
• Pomona, 942
• Richmond, 514
• Williamsburg, 359
• Princeton, 327
• Lane, 259
• Rantoul, 245

Unincorporated places

• Centropolis
• Homewood
• Imes
• LeLoup
• Norwood
• Peoria
• Ransomville
• Richter

Townships

Franklin County is divided into sixteen townships. The city of Ottawa is considered governmentally independent and is excluded from the census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size.

Township	FIPS	Population center	Population	Population density /km² (/sq mi)	Land area km² (sq mi)	Water area km² (sq mi)	Water %	Geographic coordinates
Appanoose	02075		293	4 (10)	77 (30)	0 (0)	0.10%	38°41′57″N 95°27′17″W
Centropolis	12475		997	9 (25)	105 (41)	0 (0)	0.34%	38°41′7″N 95°21′29″W
Cutler	16900	Rantoul	856	8 (20)	111 (43)	1 (0)	0.68%	38°31′33″N 95°6′56″W
Franklin	24375	Wellsville	2,552	28 (72)	91 (35)	0 (0)	0.52%	38°42′34″N 95°5′38″W
Greenwood	28750		429	5 (14)	79 (30)	0 (0)	0.08%	38°33′39″N 95°26′35″W
Harrison	30300		445	6 (16)	71 (27)	1 (0)	0.84%	38°34′20″N 95°13′2″W
Hayes	30925		397	5 (13)	77 (30)	0 (0)	0.36%	38°42′17″N 95°13′51″W
Homewood	33000		493	6 (16)	78 (30)	0 (0)	0.26%	38°30′53″N 95°23′28″W
Lincoln	40700		797	10 (26)	78 (30)	0 (0)	0.31%	38°34′8″N 95°18′33″W
Ohio	52350	Princeton	783	7 (19)	108 (42)	1 (0)	1.05%	38°29′14″N 95°16′32″W
Ottawa	53575		868	8 (20)	111 (43)	0 (0)	0.33%	38°38′21″N 95°16′5″W
Peoria	55425		626	7 (18)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.20%	38°36′32″N 95°7′45″W
Pomona	57025	Pomona	1,174	22 (56)	54 (21)	0 (0)	0.30%	38°36′40″N 95°27′24″W
Pottawatomie	57225	Lane	669	7 (17)	101 (39)	0 (0)	0.46%	38°26′14″N 95°6′32″W
Richmond	59700	Richmond	812	9 (23)	91 (35)	0 (0)	0.50%	38°24′19″N 95°15′22″W
Williamsburg	79325	Williamsburg	672	5 (12)	145 (56)	1 (1)	0.95%	38°27′33″N 95°27′43″W
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/places2k.html.

Education

Unified school districts

• West Franklin USD 287 (Web site)
• Central Heights USD 288 (Web site)
• Wellsville USD 289 (Web site)
• Ottawa USD 290 (Web site)

Colleges and universities

• Ottawa University, Ottawa
• Neosho County Community College (branch campus), Ottawa

Notable natives

• Steve Grogan, NFL quarterback, who grew up in Ottawa.
• Chely Wright, Singer

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Franklin County, Kansas

Information on this and other counties in Kansas

• List of counties in Kansas
• List of Kansas county name etymologies
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Kansas
• Kansas locations by per capita income

Other information for Kansas

• List of cities in Kansas
• List of unified school districts in Kansas
• List of colleges and universities in Kansas

Further reading

• History of the State of Kansas; William G. Cutler; A.T. Andreas Publisher; 1883. (Online HTML eBook)
• Kansas : A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc; 3 Volumes; Frank W. Blackmar; Standard Publishing Co; 944 / 955 / 824 pages; 1912. (Volume1 - Download 54MB PDF eBook),(Volume2 - Download 53MB PDF eBook), (Volume3 - Download 33MB PDF eBook)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Franklin County, Kansas

Official sites

• Franklin County
• Franklin County District Court
• Franklin County Genealogical Society

Additional information

• Blue Skyways
• Kansas Statistical Abstract

Maps

• Franklin County Map, KDOT
• Kansas Highway Map, KDOT
• Kansas Railroad Map, KDOT
• Kansas School District Boundary Map, KSDE