Franklin County, Tennessee

Franklin County is a located in the  of. As of 2000, the population was 39,270. The 2005 Census Estimate placed the population at 41,003. Its is.

History
European settlement began around 1800, and the county was formally organized in 1807 and named for. During the next several decades, the size of the county was reduced several times by reorganizations which created the neighboring counties of, , and. One of the most notable early settlers was frontiersman, who came about 1812 but is not thought to have remained long.

The was organized just before the, and began to function after hostilities ceased. It remains the only institution of higher learning in the county today.

The area became strongly secessionist, and Franklin County formally threatened to from Tennessee and join  if Tennessee did not leave the union, which it shortly did. This contrasted sharply with the situation in nearby, which was pro-Union and discussed seceding from Alabama. The two illustrate the often divided and confused state of loyalties in the central South during this period.

During 1863, the retreated through the county, leaving it to Union control thereafter. , Confederate governor of Tennessee, was from Franklin County. He was restored to political rights after the war, and represented the state in the.

During the (anti-liquor) agitations of the late 19th century, it was discovered that by a quirk of state law, liquor could only be sold in an incorporated town. All of the county's towns abolished their charters in order to prohibit liquor sales as a consequence.

In the 20th century, Franklin County benefited from the flood control and power generation activities of the. TVA helped bring new industry to the area and opened up opportunities for water recreation by its creation of new lakes, but many county residents were displaced from their homes in the process. The establishment of the federal, which lies partly in the county, also helped spur economic growth and technical development. Although the system barely touched the county, it did provide valuable access via  to nearby.

Two notable figures who were born in the county early in the twentieth century were singer/entertainer and entrepreneur/philanthropist, later a British subject and recipient of a knighthood.

During this same period, s took root in Franklin County as in most of the American South, and the movement made only very slow progress there. There were few violent disturbances compared to many localities, but it was not until the mid-1960s, a decade after the historic court decision, that the county's schools were finally desegregated.

Considerable industrial growth occurred in the county in the last decades of the century, including the construction of a large automobile engine plant by the corporation in. An emphasis on tourism also developed, based on Civil War history and local scenic attractions such as the forests, for which an annual festival is held.

Geography
Franklin is one of Tennessee's southern tier of counties and abuts the border. It has a varied geography, extending from the southeast corner of the over the  and up onto the, for a difference in elevation of about 1300 ft. The county is well watered and forested, and except for the steeper areas of the plateau is well suited for agriculture, having a long growing season and mild winters.

According to the, the county has a total area of 1,491 (576 ). 1,436 km² (555 sq mi) of it is land and 55 km² (21 sq mi) of it (3.69%) is water.

Adjacent Counties

 * (north)
 * (northeast)
 * (east)
 * (south)
 * (southwest)
 * (west)
 * (northwest)

Demographics
As of the of 2000, there were 39,270 people, 15,003 households, and 11,162 families residing in the county. The was 27/km² (71/sq mi). There were 16,813 housing units at an average density of 12/km² (30/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 92.20%, 5.49% or , 0.20% , 0.41% , 0.03% , 0.60% from , and 1.06% from two or more races. 1.58% of the population were or  of any race.

There were 15,003 households out of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.10% were living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.60% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.00% under the age of 18, 10.90% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,044, and the median income for a family was $42,279. Males had a median income of $31,506 versus $21,479 for females. The for the county was $17,987. About 9.60% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the, including 17.00% of those under age 18 and 13.00% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

 * Belvidere
 * (Straddles northwestern part of county)
 * (Straddles northwestern part of county)
 * (Straddles northwestern part of county)
 * (Straddles northwestern part of county)
 * (Straddles northwestern part of county)
 * (Straddles northwestern part of county)
 * (Straddles northwestern part of county)

Notable Residents

 * , and
 * , (1822-1873), born in Franklin County, general
 * (1916-1994),, ,