Franklin County, Indiana#References

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Franklin County

| state = Indiana

| ex image = Franklin County Courthouse in Brookville.jpg

| ex image size = 220px

| ex image cap = Franklin County Courthouse in Brookville Historic District

| seal =FranklinCountyINseal.png

| founded = February 1, 1811 (authorized)

| seat wl = Brookville

| largest city = Brookville (entirely within county)
Batesville (partial)

| city type = town

| area_total_sq_mi = 391.05

| area_land_sq_mi = 384.43

| area_water_sq_mi = 6.62

| area percentage = 1.69%

| census yr = 2020

| pop = 22785

| population_est = 23096 {{increase}}

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| density_sq_mi = 59.1

| web = www.franklincountyin.com

| named for = Benjamin Franklin

| district = 6th

| footnotes = Indiana county number 24

| time zone = Eastern

}}

Franklin County is a county on the eastern border of the U.S. state of Indiana. In the 2020 United States census, the county population was 22,785.{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18047.html|title=Franklin County QuickFacts|access-date=September 17, 2011|publisher=US Census Bureau|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607081703/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18047.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}} The county seat is the town of Brookville.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011}} Franklin County is part of the Cincinnati, OH–KY–IN Metropolitan Statistical Area. The only incorporated city in Franklin County is Batesville, which lies mostly in adjoining Ripley County.

Geography

Franklin County lies on the eastern edge of Indiana; its eastern border abuts the western border of Ohio. Its low rolling hills, once completely wooded, have been partially cleared and leveled for agricultural use. The carved drainages are still largely brush-filled.{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Franklin+County,+IN/@39.4014688,-85.1139651,42951m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x886a9ad573bebd03:0x5c114d0af67b472b!8m2!3d39.4233977!4d-85.0649071|title=Franklin County · Indiana|website=Franklin County · Indiana}}

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of {{convert|391.05|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|384.43|sqmi}} (or 98.31%) is land and {{convert|6.62|sqmi}} (or 1.69%) is water.

File:Brookville-indiana-from-above.jpg

Brookville Lake extends into the county's northern part, formed by a dam of the same name on the East Branch of the Whitewater River, a tributary of the Great Miami River. The West Branch of the Whitewater River enters the county's northwestern part from Fayette County and joins the east branch at Brookville, to form the Whitewater River, flowing southeastward into Dearborn County. The southern and southwestern parts of Franklin County are drained by Salt Creek, Pipe Creek, and Blue Creek, which flow northeastward into Whitewater River. The highest point in the county ({{convert|1,070|ft|m|abbr=off|disp=x|/|sp=us}} ASL) is a small hill {{convert|1.0|mi|km}} north of Andersonville.{{Cite web|url=https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=22965|title=Franklin County High Point - Peakbagger.com|website=www.peakbagger.com}}

=Adjacent counties=

Fayette County - north
Union County - northeast
Butler County, Ohio - east
Hamilton County, Ohio - southeast
Dearborn County - south
Ripley County - southwest
Decatur County - west
Rush County - northwest

=Major highways=

=Protected areas=

Mounds State Recreation Area

=Lakes=

Brookville Lake (part)

Communities

=City=

Batesville (partial)

=Towns=

=Census-designated places=

=Unincorporated communities=

=Townships=

History

The future state of Indiana was first regulated by congressional passage of the Northwest Ordinance in 1787. In 1790 the Territory was divided into two counties, with Knox covering much of present-day Indiana. In 1810, a portion of Knox was partitioned to create Wayne County, and shortly thereafter a portion further south was partitioned to create Franklin; the authorizing act was dated February 1, 1811. It was named for statesman Benjamin Franklin.{{cite book|author=De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle|publisher=R. S. Peale & co.|year=1875|location=Indiana|title=An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana|url=https://archive.org/details/anillustratedhi02tuttgoog|page=[https://archive.org/details/anillustratedhi02tuttgoog/page/n565 558]}}{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|publisher=Govt. Print. Off.|author=Gannett, Henry|year=1905|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n120 131]}}

Some early settlers of Franklin County were Primitive Baptists who came with Elder William Tyner from Virginia in 1797, after the American Revolutionary War. They organized the first church congregation in the Whitewater Valley, the Little Cedar Grove Baptist Church.{{cite web|url=http://www.carthage.lib.il.us/community/churches/primbap/FamHist-FranklinIN.html|title=Archived copy|access-date=May 9, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060515192907/http://www.carthage.lib.il.us/community/churches/primbap/FamHist-FranklinIN.html|archive-date=May 15, 2006}} They raised a log chapel southeast of Brookville in 1805.

Another European-American landmark is the Big Cedar Baptist Church and Burying Ground on Big Cedar Creek Road, between the road to Reily and the Oxford Pike. The original church was established in 1817, as an arm of the Little Cedar Baptist church. The brick building was built in 1838. This church congregation, similar to many pioneer Baptist groups in the country, was originally Primitive Baptist or Hardshell. In the 1830s modernism reached the county, bringing innovations such as Sunday schools, Missionary Societies, and the playing of organs. Organs were particularly anathema to the Primitive Party, who considered it akin to Aaron's golden calf.

The Big Cedar congregation divided into two over these issues, but the two groups arrived at an amicable settlement. Both congregations continued to use the same building: the Primitives, or Hardshells, had worship in the church on the first and third Sabbath of each month, and the Modernists or Missionary Baptists used the church on the second and fourth Sundays. Each congregation had a wood shed. The building is now maintained in connection with the Big Cedar Cemetery Association.{{Cite web|url=http://www.franklinchs.com/PPP/places/Springfield.htm|title=A Paper on the History of Springfield Township|access-date=August 30, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070920001943/http://www.franklinchs.com/PPP/places/Springfield.htm|archive-date=September 20, 2007|url-status=dead}}

Governors James B. Ray, Noah Noble and David Wallace were known as the "Brookville Triumvirate." They had each lived in Brookville and were elected to consecutive terms as Indiana governor. Noble and Ray were political adversaries.{{cite web|url=http://www.franklinchs.com/ppp/people/noah_noble.htm|title=Noah Noble|access-date=July 11, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311081747/http://www.franklinchs.com/ppp/people/noah_noble.htm|archive-date=March 11, 2007}}

James B. Goudie Jr. (1769–1836), Speaker of the Indiana House, was also from Franklin County.

Climate and weather

{{climate chart

|Brookville, Indiana

|17|36|3.01

|20|42|2.69

|29|53|3.80

|38|64|3.99

|48|74|4.90

|58|83|4.08

|62|87|4.27

|60|85|3.89

|52|79|2.68

|40|67|3.03

|32|53|3.66

|23|41|3.30

|float=right

|units=imperial

|clear=both

|source=The Weather Channel{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIN0068|title=Monthly Averages for Brookville IN|access-date=January 27, 2011|publisher=The Weather Channel}}}}

In recent years, average temperatures in Brookville have ranged from a low of {{convert|17|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|87|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-31|°F}} was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of {{convert|104|°F}} was recorded in September 1951. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|2.68|in}} in September to {{convert|4.90|in}} in May.

Government

The county government is a constitutional body, and is granted specific powers by the Constitution of Indiana, and by the Indiana Code.

County Council: The legislative branch of the county government; controls spending and revenue collection in the county. Representatives are elected to four-year terms from county districts. They set salaries, the annual budget, and special spending. The council has limited authority to impose local taxes, in the form of an income and property tax that is subject to state level approval, excise taxes, and service taxes.{{cite web|author=Indiana Code|author-link=Indiana Code|url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title36/ar2/ch3.html|title=Title 36, Article 2, Section 3|access-date=September 16, 2008|publisher=IN.gov}}{{cite web|author=Indiana Code|url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title3/ar10/ch2.pdf|title=Title 2, Article 10, Section 2|access-date=September 16, 2008|publisher=IN.gov}}

Board of Commissioners: The executive body of the county; commissioners are elected county-wide to staggered four-year terms. One commissioner serves as president. The commissioners execute acts legislated by the council, collect revenue, and manage county government.

County Officials: The county has other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor, and circuit court clerk. These officers are elected to four-year terms. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare party affiliations and to be residents of the county.

Franklin County is part of Indiana's 6th congressional district; Indiana Senate districts 42 and 43;{{cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3006.htm|title=Indiana Senate Districts|publisher=State of Indiana|access-date=January 23, 2011}} and Indiana House of Representatives districts 55, 67 and 68.{{cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3005.htm|title=Indiana House Districts|publisher=State of Indiana|access-date=January 23, 2011}}

Politics

Franklin County is a Republican stronghold, and increasingly so in recent presidential elections. The 2012 election and every subsequent one broke the record for the strongest Republican support ever in county history. In 2024, it was the most Republican county in the state of Indiana.https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/

{{PresHead|place=Franklin County, Indiana|source={{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=May 14, 2018}}}}

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1820= 10763

|1830= 10190

|1840= 13349

|1850= 17968

|1860= 19549

|1870= 20223

|1880= 20092

|1890= 18366

|1900= 16388

|1910= 15335

|1920= 14806

|1930= 14498

|1940= 14412

|1950= 16034

|1960= 17015

|1970= 16943

|1980= 19612

|1990= 19580

|2000= 22151

|2010= 23087

|2020= 22785

|estyear=2023

|estimate=23096

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 2, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=US Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=US Decennial Census|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 10, 2014|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/in190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014}} 2010–2013

}}

=2010 Census=

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 23,087 people, 8,579 households, and 6,447 families in the county.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18047|title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data|access-date=July 10, 2015|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213031149/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18047|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}} The population density was {{convert|60.1|PD/sqmi}}. There were 9,538 housing units at an average density of {{convert|24.8|/sqmi}}.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18047|access-date=July 10, 2015|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212200258/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18047|archive-date=February 12, 2020|url-status=dead}} The racial makeup of the county was 98.3% white, 0.2% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 40.3% were German, 14.7% were American, 13.1% were Irish, and 9.5% were English.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7c0500000US18047|title=Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|access-date=July 10, 2015|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214002814/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7C0500000US18047|archive-date=February 14, 2020|url-status=dead}}

Of the 8,579 households, 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.6% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 24.9% were non-families, and 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.07. The median age was 40.0 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $60,300. Males had a median income of $43,443 versus $32,612 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,090. About 8.6% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.8% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7c0500000US18047|title=Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|access-date=July 10, 2015|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214002533/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7C0500000US18047|archive-date=February 14, 2020|url-status=dead}}

=2020 census=

class="wikitable"

|+Franklin County Racial Composition{{Cite web|title =P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Franklin County, Indiana|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Franklin%20County,%20Indiana&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}

!Race

!Num.

!Perc.

White (NH)

|21,790

|95.6%

Black or African American (NH)

|23

|0.1%

Native American (NH)

|25

|0.1%

Asian (NH)

|91

|0.4%

Pacific Islander (NH)

|0.004%

Other/Mixed (NH)

|636

|2.8%

Hispanic or Latino

|219

|1%

Education

School districts include:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st18_in/schooldistrict_maps/c18047_franklin/DC20SD_C18047.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Franklin County, IN|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-05-02}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st18_in/schooldistrict_maps/c18047_franklin/DC20SD_C18047_SD2MS.txt Text list]