Franklin County is a county in Southern Illinois. At the 2020 census, it had a population of 37,804.[1] The largest city is West Frankfort and the county seat is Benton.[2] This area of Southern Illinois is known locally as "Little Egypt".
Franklin County | |
|---|---|
 Franklin County Courthouse in Benton | |
 Flag | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Illinois | |
 Illinois's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 37°59′N 88°55′W / 37.99°N 88.92°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Illinois |
| Founded | January 2, 1818 |
| Named for | Benjamin Franklin |
| Seat | Benton |
| Largest city | West Frankfort |
| Area | |
| • Total | 432 sq mi (1,120 km2) |
| • Land | 409 sq mi (1,060 km2) |
| • Water | 23 sq mi (60 km2) 5.2% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 37,804  |
| • Density | 88/sq mi (34/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 12th |
| Website | www |
History
Franklin County was established on January 2, 1818, and formed from parts of Gallatin and White counties. It was named for Benjamin Franklin.[3]
Franklin County at the time of its formation in 1818
The creation of Williamson County in 1839 reduced Franklin to its current borders.
Coal mining
Coal was mined in Franklin County as early as 1889, at the King Coal Mine, located at Township 5 South, Range 3 East.[4]
The high levels of gas found in Franklin County's coal deposits have resulted in mining disasters and explosions over the years.[5] Between 1905 and 1968, there were eleven mine disasters.[6] In 1905, the Zeigler No. 1 mine, located in Zeigler, had an explosion that killed about fifty people.[7] In 1917, an explosion in Old Ben Mine No. 11, located in Christopher, killed 17.[8] The worst explosion occurred in 1951, in the Orient No. 2 Mine in West Frankfort, in which 119 people died.[9]
The West Frankfort quadrangle of Franklin County is home to 17 coal mines, according to a 2004 report.[5]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 431 square miles (1,120 km2), of which 409 square miles (1,060 km2) is land and 23 square miles (60 km2) (5.2%) is water.[10] Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area is located in this county.
Climate and weather
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In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Benton have ranged from a low of 21 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 90 °F (32 °C) in July, although a record low of −22 °F (−30 °C) was recorded in January 1977 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in August 2007. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.87 inches (73 mm) in February to 4.59 inches (117 mm) in May.[11]
On April 21, 1912, a tornado destroyed facilities at the Possum Ridge Mine.[5][12]
On March 18, 1925, Franklin County was among five southern Illinois counties effected by the infamous Tri-State Tornado. The storm cut across the southern edge of the county, hitting West Frankfort and destroying most of the northern side of town, causing significant damage to the town's mining facilities. Farther to the east, the village of Parrish was also struck, and was never rebuilt. The storm killed 192 people in Franklin County, injuring hundreds more and leaving scores of people homeless.
Adjacent counties
- Jefferson County (north)
- Hamilton County (east)
- Saline County (southeast)
- Williamson County (south)
- Jackson County (southwest)
- Perry County (west)
Transit
Major highways
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 1,763 | — | |
| 1830 | 4,083 | 131.6% | |
| 1840 | 3,682 | −9.8% | |
| 1850 | 5,681 | 54.3% | |
| 1860 | 9,393 | 65.3% | |
| 1870 | 12,652 | 34.7% | |
| 1880 | 16,129 | 27.5% | |
| 1890 | 17,138 | 6.3% | |
| 1900 | 19,675 | 14.8% | |
| 1910 | 25,943 | 31.9% | |
| 1920 | 57,293 | 120.8% | |
| 1930 | 59,442 | 3.8% | |
| 1940 | 53,137 | −10.6% | |
| 1950 | 48,685 | −8.4% | |
| 1960 | 39,281 | −19.3% | |
| 1970 | 38,329 | −2.4% | |
| 1980 | 43,201 | 12.7% | |
| 1990 | 40,319 | −6.7% | |
| 2000 | 39,018 | −3.2% | |
| 2010 | 39,561 | 1.4% | |
| 2020 | 37,804 | −4.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 37,138 | [13] | −1.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[14] 1790-1960[15] 1900-1990[16] 1990-2000[17] 2010-2013[1] | |||
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 39,561 people, 16,617 households, and 10,912 families residing in the county.[18] The population density was 96.8 inhabitants per square mile (37.4/km2). There were 18,525 housing units at an average density of 45.3 per square mile (17.5/km2).[10] The racial makeup of the county was 97.7% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.3% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population.[18] In terms of ancestry, 21.8% were German, 18.7% were Irish, 15.9% were English, 9.4% were American, and 5.7% were Italian.[19]
Of the 16,617 households, 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.3% were non-families, and 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 41.8 years.[18]
The median income for a household in the county was $34,381 and the median income for a family was $43,170. Males had a median income of $39,122 versus $28,950 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,504. About 14.5% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.5% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.[20]
Communities
Cities
Villages
Census-designated place
Townships
Franklin County is divided into twelve townships:
Unincorporated communities
Education
Regional
- Franklin, Johnson, Massac, and Williamson County Regional Office of Education #21 [21]
Primary and secondary
- Christopher Unit School District 99 [22]
- Sesser-Valier Community Unit School District 196 [23]
- Benton Community Consolidated School District 47 [24]
- Frankfort Community Unit School District 168 [25]
- Zeigler-Royalton Community Unit School District 188 [26]
- Thompsonville Community Unit School District 174[27]
- Ewing-Northern Community Consolidated School District 115 [28]
Higher education
- John A. Logan College Extension Center - West Frankfort
Specialized
- Franklin & Jefferson County Special Education Cooperative [29]
Politics
Franklin County voted mostly for Democratic US presidential candidates until 2000. Since then it has voted for Republican presidential nominees.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 13,622 | 72.97% | 4,760 | 25.50% | 287 | 1.54% |
| 2016 | 13,116 | 70.10% | 4,727 | 25.26% | 868 | 4.64% |
| 2012 | 10,267 | 57.31% | 7,254 | 40.49% | 393 | 2.19% |
| 2008 | 9,404 | 50.25% | 8,880 | 47.45% | 430 | 2.30% |
| 2004 | 10,388 | 53.68% | 8,816 | 45.56% | 148 | 0.76% |
| 2000 | 8,490 | 44.19% | 10,201 | 53.10% | 521 | 2.71% |
| 1996 | 5,354 | 30.84% | 9,814 | 56.54% | 2,190 | 12.62% |
| 1992 | 5,504 | 25.62% | 12,744 | 59.33% | 3,233 | 15.05% |
| 1988 | 7,677 | 40.87% | 11,023 | 58.69% | 83 | 0.44% |
| 1984 | 9,656 | 47.39% | 10,667 | 52.35% | 54 | 0.27% |
| 1980 | 9,731 | 49.01% | 9,425 | 47.47% | 700 | 3.53% |
| 1976 | 7,420 | 36.51% | 12,818 | 63.07% | 86 | 0.42% |
| 1972 | 10,121 | 54.04% | 8,545 | 45.62% | 63 | 0.34% |
| 1968 | 9,036 | 42.88% | 10,095 | 47.90% | 1,943 | 9.22% |
| 1964 | 7,620 | 35.94% | 13,581 | 64.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 11,861 | 50.98% | 11,368 | 48.86% | 37 | 0.16% |
| 1956 | 11,761 | 50.98% | 11,308 | 49.02% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 11,723 | 49.33% | 11,981 | 50.41% | 62 | 0.26% |
| 1948 | 9,407 | 43.87% | 11,750 | 54.79% | 287 | 1.34% |
| 1944 | 11,377 | 49.01% | 11,663 | 50.24% | 173 | 0.75% |
| 1940 | 12,936 | 45.14% | 15,523 | 54.16% | 201 | 0.70% |
| 1936 | 10,708 | 40.22% | 15,254 | 57.29% | 663 | 2.49% |
| 1932 | 7,560 | 32.46% | 14,754 | 63.35% | 976 | 4.19% |
| 1928 | 9,900 | 45.79% | 11,369 | 52.58% | 353 | 1.63% |
| 1924 | 6,779 | 39.59% | 5,791 | 33.82% | 4,551 | 26.58% |
| 1920 | 7,608 | 51.11% | 4,894 | 32.88% | 2,384 | 16.02% |
| 1916 | 6,371 | 46.42% | 6,419 | 46.77% | 934 | 6.81% |
| 1912 | 2,098 | 36.12% | 2,435 | 41.92% | 1,276 | 21.97% |
| 1908 | 2,539 | 48.52% | 2,401 | 45.88% | 293 | 5.60% |
| 1904 | 2,077 | 50.04% | 1,801 | 43.39% | 273 | 6.58% |
| 1900 | 2,117 | 47.99% | 2,226 | 50.46% | 68 | 1.54% |
| 1896 | 2,038 | 47.43% | 2,233 | 51.97% | 26 | 0.61% |
| 1892 | 1,631 | 44.25% | 1,782 | 48.35% | 273 | 7.41% |