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Franklin County, Kentucky

Coordinates: 38°14′N 84°53′W / 38.24°N 84.88°W / 38.24; -84.88
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Not to be confused with Franklin, Kentucky.

Franklin County
County
Franklin County courthouse in Frankfort
Franklin County courthouse in Frankfort
Flag of Franklin County
Flag
Map of Kentucky highlighting Franklin County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°14′N 84°53′W / 38.24°N 84.88°W / 38.24; -84.88
Country United States
State Kentucky
FoundedMay 10, 1795[1]
Named forBenjamin Franklin
SeatFrankfort
Largest cityFrankfort
Area
 • Total
212 sq mi (550 km2)
 • Land208 sq mi (540 km2)
 • Water4.3 sq mi (11 km2)  2.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
51,541
 • Estimate 
(2023)
51,644 Increase
 • Density240/sq mi (94/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitefranklincounty.ky.gov

Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 51,541, making it the second-least populous capital county in the United States after Hughes County, South Dakota.[2] Its county seat is Frankfort,[3] the state capital. The county was formed in 1795 from parts of Woodford, Mercer and Shelby counties, and was named after the American inventor and statesman Benjamin Franklin.[4] Franklin County is part of the Frankfort, Kentucky Micropolitan Statistical Area. It shares a name with Franklin County in Ohio, where Columbus is located. This makes it one of two pairs of capital cities in counties of the same name, along with Marion Counties in Oregon and Indiana.

History

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The three original counties of Kentucky (Jefferson, Fayette and Lincoln counties) intersected in what is today Franklin County. Franklin County was established in 1795 from land given by Mercer, Shelby, and Woodford counties.[5] Franklin was the 18th Kentucky county in order of formation.[6]

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 212 square miles (550 km2), of which 208 square miles (540 km2) is land and 4.3 square miles (11 km2) (2.0%) is water.[7]

Transit

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Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Government and politics

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In recent presidential elections the county has supported both Democrats and Republicans. In 2000 Democrat Al Gore won 50% of the vote to Republican George W. Bush's 47%. In 2004, Bush won 50% of the vote to Democrat John Kerry's 48%. In 2008 Republican John McCain defeated Democrat Barack Obama 49.47% to 48.87%, a difference of only 144 votes, only for Obama to narrowly edge out Mitt Romney in 2012. However, Donald Trump won the county in 2016. He won it again in 2020, but only by a slim margin of 248 votes. In 2023, incumbent-Democratic governor Andy Beshear won it by a large margin over Republican attorney general Daniel Cameron, getting 68% of the vote.

United States presidential election results for Franklin County, Kentucky[8]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 13,246 51.41% 11,996 46.56% 521 2.02%
2020 12,900 49.48% 12,652 48.53% 520 1.99%
2016 11,819 49.52% 10,717 44.91% 1,329 5.57%
2012 11,345 48.61% 11,535 49.43% 457 1.96%
2008 11,911 49.47% 11,767 48.87% 401 1.67%
2004 12,281 50.89% 11,620 48.15% 232 0.96%
2000 10,209 47.15% 10,853 50.12% 592 2.73%
1996 7,132 35.02% 11,251 55.24% 1,984 9.74%
1992 7,591 36.09% 9,896 47.05% 3,544 16.85%
1988 9,805 50.88% 9,271 48.11% 195 1.01%
1984 11,057 58.12% 7,790 40.95% 177 0.93%
1980 6,455 34.84% 11,193 60.40% 882 4.76%
1976 5,536 33.67% 10,475 63.71% 430 2.62%
1972 7,781 56.88% 5,601 40.95% 297 2.17%
1968 4,057 30.82% 6,396 48.58% 2,712 20.60%
1964 2,320 18.57% 10,130 81.08% 44 0.35%
1960 4,742 40.21% 7,052 59.79% 0 0.00%
1956 4,047 38.35% 6,412 60.76% 94 0.89%
1952 3,097 29.75% 7,309 70.20% 5 0.05%
1948 1,962 21.79% 6,679 74.19% 362 4.02%
1944 2,050 24.27% 6,356 75.24% 42 0.50%
1940 1,927 21.66% 6,956 78.18% 14 0.16%
1936 2,010 24.34% 6,222 75.35% 26 0.31%
1932 2,034 24.20% 6,331 75.33% 39 0.46%
1928 3,485 47.45% 3,853 52.46% 7 0.10%
1924 2,826 37.15% 4,678 61.50% 102 1.34%
1920 2,710 31.48% 5,878 68.28% 21 0.24%
1916 1,426 29.70% 3,345 69.67% 30 0.62%
1912 783 17.85% 2,980 67.93% 624 14.22%

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18005,078—
18108,01357.8%
182011,02437.6%
18309,254−16.1%
18409,4201.8%
185012,46232.3%
186012,6941.9%
187015,30020.5%
188018,69922.2%
189021,26713.7%
190020,852−2.0%
191021,1351.4%
192019,357−8.4%
193021,0648.8%
194023,30810.7%
195025,93311.3%
196029,42113.5%
197034,48117.2%
198041,83021.3%
199043,7814.7%
200047,6878.9%
201049,2853.4%
202051,5414.6%
2023 (est.)51,644[9]0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[2]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 47,687 people, 19,907 households, and 12,840 families residing in the county. The population density was 227 per square mile (88/km2). There were 21,409 housing units at an average density of 102 per square mile (39/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.98% White, 9.36% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. 1.11% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 19,907 households, out of which 29.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.70% were married couples living together, 12.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.50% were non-families. 30.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.86.

22.60% of the population was under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,011, and the median income for a family was $51,052. Males had a median income of $32,826 versus $26,201 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,229. About 6.90% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.80% of those under age 18 and 12.20% of those age 65 or over.

Education

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The county is served by two public school districts: Franklin County Public Schools and Frankfort Independent Schools.[15]

Franklin County Public Schools

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This district takes in almost all of the county, including the majority of the city of Frankfort. It operates the following schools:

  • Bridgeport Elementary School (grades K-5)
  • Collins Lane Elementary School (grades K-5)
  • Early Childhood Education Center (grades K-1)
  • Elkhorn Elementary School (grades 2–5)
  • Hearn Elementary School (grades 2–5)
  • Peaks Mill Elementary School (grades 2–5)
  • Westridge Elementary School (grades K-5)
  • Bondurant Middle School (grades 6–8)
  • Elkhorn Middle School (grades 6–8)
  • Franklin County High School (grades 9–12)
  • Western Hills High School (grades 9–12)
  • The Academy (grades 9–12) (For kids with problems/juveniles)
  • Franklin County Career and Technical Center (grades 9–12) (Career center for all public high schools in the county.)

Frankfort Independent Schools

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This district serves an area roughly covering the Frankfort neighborhoods known as "downtown", South Frankfort (the vicinity of the state capitol building), and Bellepoint. It operates two schools:

Private schools

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  • Capital Day School (grades PreK-8)
  • Frankfort Christian Academy (grades K-12)
  • Good Shepherd Catholic School (grades PreK-8)

University

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Parks

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  • Capitol View Park
  • Cove Spring Park and Nature Preserve
  • Dolly Graham Park
  • East Frankfort Park
  • Josephine Sculpture Park
  • Juniper Hill Park and Golf Course
  • Lakeview Park and Golf Course
  • Leslie Morris Park on Fort Hill: 120 acres (0.49 km2) of woodland overlooking downtown Frankfort. It contains trails that guide visitors through the remains of earthwork forts that were the main defensive position for Union troops protecting the city during an 1864 Civil War skirmish.
  • Riverview Park and riverside walk
  • Todd Park

Communities

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City

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Unincorporated communities

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  • Bald Knob

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Kentucky: County – Franklin – Welcome". Franklincounty.ky.gov. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_luoxAQAAMAAJ/page/n35 35].
  5. ^ Hogan, Roseann Reinemuth (1992). Kentucky Ancestry: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research. Ancestry Publishing. p. 232. ISBN 9780916489496. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  6. ^ Collins, Lewis (1882). Collins' Historical Sketches of Kentucky: History of Kentucky, Volume 2. Collins & Company. p. 26.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  8. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  9. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  15. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Franklin County, KY" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2022. - Text list - For more detailed boundaries of the independent school districts see: "Appendix B: Maps Of Independent School Districts In Operation In FY 2014-FY 2015 Using 2005 Tax District Boundaries – Frankfort ISD" (PDF). Research Report No. 415 – Kentucky's Independent School Districts: A Primer. Frankfort, KY: Office of Education Accountability, Legislative Research Commission. September 15, 2015. p. 110 (PDF p. 124/174). Archived (PDF) from the original on December 10, 2020.
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38°14′N 84°53′W / 38.24°N 84.88°W / 38.24; -84.88

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