Franklin County, Massachusetts#Micropolitan Statistical Area

Franklin County was created on June 24, 1811, from the northern third of Hampshire County. It was named for Benjamin Franklin.{{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 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n130 131]}} Franklin County's government was abolished by the state government in 1997, at the county's request.{{Cite web|url=http://archives.lib.state.ma.us/actsResolves/1996/1996acts0151.pdf|title=Massachusetts Acts of 1996, Ch. 151, §567|website=State Library of Massachusetts|publisher=William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth|access-date=October 24, 2016}}

Like several other Massachusetts counties, Franklin County exists today only as a geographic region and has no county government. The Franklin County Commission voted itself out of existence, and all former state-mandated county functions were assumed by state agencies in 1997. The sheriff and some other regional officials with specific duties are still elected locally to perform duties within the county region. Counties in Massachusetts and New England generally are historically weak governmental structures.{{cite book| title = State and Local Roles in the Federal System: A Commission Report | publisher = US Government Printing Office | author = United States Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations | page = 19 | year = 1981 | quotation = In New England the state and municipalities/townships were most prominent; counties drew almost a complete blank, reflecting their historically weak or non-existent position in that region.| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ROmSYCiD1AkC&q=historical+weakness+counties+new+england&pg=PA19 }}

The primary subdivision of the Commonwealth is the municipal town. Communities are permitted to form regional compacts for sharing services. The municipalities of Franklin County have formed the Franklin Regional Council of Governments.[http://lwvma.org/govcounty.shtml Massachusetts Government: County Government] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040421135513/http://lwvma.org/govcounty.shtml |date=April 21, 2004 }} Massachusetts League of Women Voters. Retrieved October 10, 2007. The regional council provides various services on a regional basis, and a majority of the county's towns are members of the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District, which provides municipal waste disposal and recycling services to its members. Public transportation throughout the county and in the North Quabbin area of northwestern Worcester County is provided by the Franklin Regional Transit Authority.

{{see also|New England town}}

{{PresHead|place=Franklin County, Massachusetts|whig=yes|source={{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=August 27, 2018}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|12,428|28,305|1,515|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|11,201|30,030|1,227|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|10,364|24,478|3,979|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|9,344|27,072|1,342|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|9,545|27,919|1,065|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|11,058|25,550|773|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|10,176|17,945|5,245|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|8,055|19,728|4,959|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|8,691|17,246|9,890|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|13,475|19,310|338|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|15,883|15,502|148|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|12,528|11,830|5,764|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|14,837|14,985|1,359|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|16,088|11,968|202|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|12,345|12,072|969|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|8,344|17,106|174|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1960|Republican|15,682|12,282|47|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|19,779|7,574|83|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|19,489|8,729|50|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1948|Republican|14,919|9,231|223|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1944|Republican|13,252|9,400|51|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1940|Republican|14,137|9,472|119|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1936|Republican|13,756|9,324|641|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1932|Republican|13,040|6,248|460|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|14,333|5,842|149|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1924|Republican|11,350|2,089|1,278|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|9,931|2,542|284|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1916|Republican|4,353|3,054|239|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1912|Republican|2,636|2,046|2,624|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1908|Republican|4,824|1,637|647|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1904|Republican|5,034|1,672|344|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1900|Republican|4,937|1,874|195|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1896|Republican|5,671|1,110|293|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1892|Republican|4,510|2,886|313|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1888|Republican|4,100|2,852|383|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1884|Republican|3,676|2,577|639|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1880|Republican|4,023|2,097|128|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1876|Republican|4,072|2,257|0|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1872|Republican|4,335|1,030|0|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1868|Republican|4,580|916|0|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1864|Republican|4,376|1,289|0|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1860|Republican|3,994|917|466|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1856|Republican|4,445|1,266|260|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1852|Whig|2,552|1,727|1,219|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1848|Whig|2,133|1,542|1,645|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1844|Whig|2,725|2,047|423|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1840|Whig|3,461|2,137|57|Massachusetts}}

{{PresRow|1836|Whig|2,405|1,051|0|Massachusetts}}

|}

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|724.57|sqmi||abbr=}}, of which {{convert|699|sqmi}} is land,

{{convert|25|sqmi}} and (3.5%) is water.{{cite web|url=https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_SF1_GCTPH1.CY07&prodType=table|title=2010 U.S. Census|date=May 16, 2019|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516191429/https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml%3Fpid%3DDEC_10_SF1_GCTPH1.CY07%26prodType%3Dtable|archive-date=May 16, 2019|url-status=dead}} Central and southern Franklin County is dominated by the northern end of the Pioneer Valley, with steep hills rising on either side of the Connecticut River.

The high point of Franklin County is Crum Hill, {{convert|2,841|ft|m}}, located in the town of Monroe.

The climate in Franklin County is typically cool temperate. The area is also somewhat maritime, with relatively high year-round precipitation. Summers are warm and humid with frequent evening storms, and winters are cool to cold with frequent snow and subfreezing (below 31 °F) temperatures.

• Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Paul C. Jones Working Forest (privately owned with conservation easement) around Brushy Mountain, Shutesbury{{cite web|title=Deal keeps parcel of forest protected|website=The Boston Globe|date=December 24, 2011|access-date=January 2, 2012|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2011/12/24/deal-keeps-parcel-forest-protected/81hmIUPPItN1Ib06amqeaJ/story.html}}

Various Department of Conservation & Recreation properties.

{{US Census population

| 1820 = 29268

| 1830 = 29501

| 1840 = 28812

| 1850 = 30870

| 1860 = 31434

| 1870 = 32635

| 1880 = 36001

| 1890 = 38610

| 1900 = 41209

| 1910 = 43600

| 1920 = 49361

| 1930 = 49612

| 1940 = 49453

| 1950 = 52747

| 1960 = 54864

| 1970 = 59210

| 1980 = 64317

| 1990 = 70092

| 2000 = 71535

| 2010 = 71372

| 2020 = 71029

| estyear = 2024

| estimate = 70871

| 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, 2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 13, 2025}}

| align-fn = center

| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 16, 2014}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=September 16, 2014}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ma190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 16, 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=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 16, 2014}} 2010–2018{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/25/25011.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 26, 2013|archive-date=February 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224093924/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/25/25011.html|url-status=dead}}

}}

At the 2000 census there were 71,535 people, 29,466 households, and 18,416 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|102|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 31,939 housing units at an average density of {{convert|46|/mi2|/km2|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 95.40% White, 0.89% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 1.04% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. 1.99%.{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }} were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.2% were of English, 12.2% Irish, 12.0% Polish, 10.2% French, 7.0% French Canadian, 6.7% German, 6.1% Italian and 6.0% American ancestry according to Census 2000. Most of those claiming to be of "American" ancestry are actually of English descent, but have family that has been in the country for so long, in many cases since the early seventeenth century that they choose to identify simply as "American".[https://books.google.com/books?id=SVoAXh-dNuYC&dq=Sharing+the+dream:+white+males+in+multicultural+America++english+ancestry&pg=PA57 Sharing the Dream: White Males in a Multicultural America] By Dominic J. Pulera.Reynolds Farley, 'The New Census Question about Ancestry: What Did It Tell Us?', Demography, Vol. 28, No. 3 (August 1991), pp. 414, 421.Stanley Lieberson and Lawrence Santi, 'The Use of Nativity Data to Estimate Ethnic Characteristics and Patterns', Social Science Research, Vol. 14, No. 1 (1985), pp. 44-6.Stanley Lieberson and Mary C. Waters, 'Ethnic Groups in Flux: The Changing Ethnic Responses of American Whites', Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 487, No. 79 (September 1986), pp. 82-86.Mary C. Waters, Ethnic Options: Choosing Identities in America (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1990), p. 36. 94.5% spoke English and 1.8% Spanish as their first language.

Of the 29,466 households 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 29.0% of households were one person and 10.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.95.

The age distribution was 23.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

The median household income was $40,768 and the median family income was $50,915. Males had a median income of $36,350 versus $27,228 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,672. About 6.5% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

At the 2010 census, there were 71,372 people, 30,462 households, and 18,317 families in the county.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US25011

|title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data

|access-date=January 12, 2016

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213033907/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US25011

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The population density was {{convert|102.1|PD/sqmi}}. There were 33,758 housing units at an average density of {{convert|48.3|/sqmi}}.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US25011

|access-date=January 12, 2016

|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213183144/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US25011

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The racial makeup of the county was 94.2% white, 1.3% Asian, 1.1% black, 0.3% American Indian, 1.0% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.2% of the population. The largest ancestry groups were:{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US25011

|title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

|access-date=January 12, 2016

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213025936/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US25011

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}

• 20.0% English
• 19.8% Irish
• 15.9% French
• 12.6% Polish
• 12.0% German
• 9.1% Italian
• 7.2% French Canadian
• 4.5% Scottish
• 3.9% American
• 2.1% Swedish
• 2.0% Scotch-Irish
• 1.8% Puerto Rican
• 1.5% Russian
• 1.3% Dutch
• 1.3% Portuguese
• 1.3% Lithuanian
• 1.0% Welsh

{{Div col end}}

Of the 30,462 households, 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.9% were non-families, and 30.5% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 44.2 years.

The median household income was $52,002 and the median family income was $65,760. Males had a median income of $45,480 versus $37,309 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,544. About 7.7% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US25011

|title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

|access-date=January 12, 2016

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213025709/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US25011

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

File:Franklin County MA population density.png

{{See also|List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income}}

The ranking of unincorporated communities that are included on the list are reflective if the census designated locations and villages were included as cities or towns. Data is from the 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP03&prodType=table|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212213610/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP03&prodType=table|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 12, 2020|title=SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=January 26, 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP05&prodType=table|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212212105/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP05&prodType=table|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 12, 2020|title=ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=January 26, 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_S1101&prodType=table|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212212620/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_S1101&prodType=table|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 12, 2020|title=HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=January 26, 2013}}

Franklin County is served by buses run by the Franklin Regional Transit Authority. Southeastern Franklin County is also served by the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, with transportation to destinations in neighboring Hampshire County.

• {{Jct|state=MA|I|91}}
• {{Jct|state=MA|US|5}}
• {{Jct|state=MA|US|202}}
• {{Jct|state=MA|MA|2}}
• {{Jct|state=MA|MA|2A}}
• {{Jct|state=MA|MA|8A}}
• {{Jct|state=MA|MA|10}}
• {{Jct|state=MA|MA|47}}
• {{Jct|state=MA|MA|63}}
• {{Jct|state=MA|MA|78}}
• {{Jct|state=MA|MA|112}}
• {{Jct|state=MA|MA|116}}
• {{Jct|state=MA|MA|122}}

• David Dunnels White, Medal of Honor nominee for capturing Major General Custis Lee, son of Robert E. Lee, at the Battle of Sailors Creek, Virginia, April 6, 1865. He was born in Cheshire, Massachusetts, in 1844, and was buried in the Bozrah Cemetery in East Hawley, Massachusetts, in 1924.

• Greenfield (traditional county seat)

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Ashfield
• Bernardston
• Buckland
• Charlemont
• Colrain
• Conway
• Deerfield
• Erving
• Gill
• Hawley
• Heath
• Leverett
• Leyden
• Monroe
• Montague
• New Salem
• Northfield
• Orange
• Rowe
• Shelburne
• Shutesbury
• Sunderland
• Warwick
• Wendell
• Whately

{{div col end}}

{{div col}}

• Deerfield
• Millers Falls
• Northfield
• Orange
• Shelburne Falls
• South Deerfield
• Turners Falls

{{div col end}}

• Lake Pleasant
• Satans Kingdom
• Zoar

• List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income
• Registry of Deeds (Massachusetts)
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Franklin County, Massachusetts

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

{{Wikivoyage|Franklin County (Massachusetts)}}

• [http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/MA/Franklin/districts.html National Register of Historic Places listing for Franklin Co., Massachusetts]
• [http://www.sec.state.ma.us/cis/cispdf/ma_city_town.pdf Map of cities and towns of Massachusetts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927054352/http://www.sec.state.ma.us/cis/cispdf/ma_city_town.pdf |date=September 27, 2011 }}
• [http://www.frcog.org Franklin Regional Council of Governments website]
• [http://www.franklincountywastedistrict.org/index.html Franklin County Solid Waste Management District website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209053534/http://www.franklincountywastedistrict.org/index.html |date=February 9, 2007 }}
• [http://www.frta.org Franklin Regional Transit Authority website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070426132800/http://www.co.franklin.ma.us/ Franklin County Chamber of Commerce website]
• Wall & Gray. 1871. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120208040634/http://www.salemdeeds.com/atlases_pages.asp?ImageName=PAGE_0017.jpg&atlastype=MassWorld&atlastown=&atlas=MASSACHUSETTS+1871&atlas_desc=MASSACHUSETTS+1871&pageprefix= Franklin County map]
• Beers, D.G. 1872. Atlas of Essex County [https://web.archive.org/web/20120208040523/http://www.salemdeeds.com/atlases_pages.asp?ImageName=PLATE_0005.jpg&atlastype=Atlases&atlastown=ESSEX+COUNTY&atlas=ESSEX+COUNTY+1872&atlas_desc=ESSEX+COUNTY+1872&pageprefix= Map of Massachusetts Plate 5]. Click on the map for a very large image.
• [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/general_ref/cousub_outline/cen2k_pgsz/ma_cosub.pdf US Census Bureau map] of cities, towns, Native American reservations, and census-designated places

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Franklin County, Massachusetts

|North = Windham County, Vermont

|Northeast = Cheshire County, New Hampshire

|East = Worcester County

|Southeast =

|South = Hampshire County

|Southwest =

|West = Berkshire County

|Northwest =

}}

{{Franklin County, Massachusetts}}

{{Massachusetts}}

{{Massachusetts Public High Schools}}

{{Authority control}}

{{coord|42.58|-72.59|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MA_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:Massachusetts counties

Category:Springfield metropolitan area, Massachusetts

Category:1811 establishments in Massachusetts

Category:Populated places established in 1811

Category:1997 disestablishments in Massachusetts

Category:Populated places disestablished in 1997