Franklin County, Texas

Franklin County, Texas
The Franklin County Courthouse in Mount Vernon in 2018
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Coordinates: 33°11′N 95°13′W / 33.18°N 95.22°W / 33.18; -95.22
Country United States
State Texas
FoundedMarch, 1875
SeatMount Vernon
Largest townMount Vernon
Area
 • Total
295 sq mi (760 km2)
 • Land284 sq mi (740 km2)
 • Water10 sq mi (26 km2)  3.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
10,359
 • Density35/sq mi (14/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.co.franklin.tx.us

Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 10,359.[1] The county seat is Mount Vernon.[2]

History

Franklin County was erected and established in 1875, four decades after the independence of Texas, from land ceded by neighboring Titus County.[3] Although the origin of the county's name is not recorded, it is generally believed to have been named after Judge Benjamin C. Franklin, the first appointed justice in the Republic of Texas.[4][5]

There are two historic properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Franklin County.

Franklin County was one of the last 30 prohibition,[6] or entirely dry, counties in the state of Texas.[7] Citizens of its county seat, Mount Vernon, voted to allow beer and wine sales, both on and off premises in May 2013.[2]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 295 square miles (760 km2), of which 284 square miles (740 km2) is land and 10 square miles (26 km2) (3.5%) is water.[8]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Communities

City

Town

Unincorporated communities

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18805,280
18906,48122.7%
19008,67433.8%
19109,3317.6%
19209,304−0.3%
19308,494−8.7%
19408,378−1.4%
19506,257−25.3%
19605,101−18.5%
19705,2913.7%
19806,89330.3%
19907,80213.2%
20009,45821.2%
201010,60512.1%
202010,359−2.3%
2024 (est.)10,912[9]5.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1850–2010[11] 2010–2020[12]

Racial and ethnic composition

Franklin County, Texas– Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[13] Pop 2010[14] Pop 2020[12] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 8,129 8,601 7,786 85.95% 81.10% 76.03%
Black or African American alone (NH) 364 411 394 3.85% 3.88% 3.80%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 46 65 39 0.49% 0.61% 0.38%
Asian alone (NH) 18 49 68 0.19% 0.46% 0.66%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 0 6 0.00% 0.00% 0.06%
Other race alone (NH) 2 9 61 0.02% 0.08% 0.59%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 57 137 460 0.60% 1.29% 4.44%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 842 1,333 1,455 8.90% 12.57% 14.05%
Total 9,458 10,605 10,359 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 10,359. The median age was 43.8 years, 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18, and 22.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.9 males age 18 and over.[15]

The racial makeup of the county was 78.6% White, 3.9% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 6.8% from some other race, and 9.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 14.0% of the population.[16]

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[17]

There were 4,046 households in the county, of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 53.9% were married-couple households, 15.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15]

There were 5,089 housing units, of which 20.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.3% were owner-occupied and 24.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.4%.[15]

According to the United States Census Bureau's 2020 Annual Income Estimates, the median household income was $59,632; the mean income was $82,203.[18]

2000 census

At the 2000 U.S. census, there were 9,458 people, 3,754 households, and 2,732 families residing in the county.[19] The population density was 33 people per square mile (13 people/km2). There were 5,132 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.19% White, 3.94% Black or African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 5.14% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. 8.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Economy

According to a study[20] ordered by the Mount Vernon Economic Development Corporation in 2013, the local retail trade area population is 12,771 people. The county has 720 homes valued at $200,000 or more, 70 homes of $500,000 or more, and 72 homes valued at more than $1,000,000. Most of these homes are centered on Lake Cypress Springs, which was twice voted the Most Beautiful Lake in Texas by the readers of Dallas' "D" magazine (2005, 2010). The lake is located about 10 miles south of Mount Vernon. The EDC study determined the average sale price of lakefront property on Lake Cypress Springs (2012) was $484,000, with 91 percent of the 1,400 water-front homes being second residences. This concentration of second residences causes the population of the county to increase between 3,000 and 8,000 people on weekends and during holidays, according to estimates by the Franklin County Water District,[21] which oversees the lake and its visitors.

Education

The following school districts serve Franklin County:

Politics

Franklin County is represented in the Texas House of Representatives by the Republican Shelley Luther (Tx.HR Dist. 62). It is represented in the Texas Senate by Republican Bryan Hughes of Mineola, Texas (Tx. Sen. Dist. 1).[22] Franklin County is part of the First Congressional District of Texas which has been represented by Republican U.S. Congressman Nathaniel Moran since January 2023.[23][24]

United States presidential election results for Franklin County, Texas[25]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1912 19 3.15% 573 94.87% 12 1.99%
1916 62 7.87% 684 86.80% 42 5.33%
1924 118 8.83% 1,157 86.60% 61 4.57%
1928 386 35.12% 713 64.88% 0 0.00%
1932 56 4.11% 1,305 95.81% 1 0.07%
1936 90 8.85% 925 90.95% 2 0.20%
1940 183 10.13% 1,621 89.76% 2 0.11%
1944 147 9.18% 1,336 83.45% 118 7.37%
1948 146 9.56% 1,236 80.94% 145 9.50%
1952 564 29.33% 1,358 70.62% 1 0.05%
1956 556 33.88% 1,082 65.94% 3 0.18%
1960 620 34.95% 1,148 64.71% 6 0.34%
1964 424 21.81% 1,520 78.19% 0 0.00%
1968 481 24.18% 1,001 50.33% 507 25.49%
1972 1,059 65.90% 546 33.98% 2 0.12%
1976 758 31.53% 1,636 68.05% 10 0.42%
1980 1,105 41.97% 1,487 56.48% 41 1.56%
1984 1,836 62.28% 1,104 37.45% 8 0.27%
1988 1,439 49.69% 1,453 50.17% 4 0.14%
1992 1,058 31.66% 1,338 40.04% 946 28.31%
1996 1,575 45.63% 1,484 42.99% 393 11.38%
2000 2,420 69.70% 1,018 29.32% 34 0.98%
2004 3,185 75.53% 1,011 23.97% 21 0.50%
2008 3,392 75.53% 1,036 23.07% 63 1.40%
2012 3,446 80.95% 751 17.64% 60 1.41%
2016 3,585 81.85% 665 15.18% 130 2.97%
2020 4,161 83.07% 804 16.05% 44 0.88%
2024 4,473 84.22% 813 15.31% 25 0.47%
United States Senate election results for Franklin County, Texas1[26]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 4,349 82.43% 859 16.28% 68 1.29%

See also

References

  1. ^ "Franklin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Alvarez, Elizabeth Cruce (November 8, 2011). Texas Almanac 2012–2013. Texas A&M University Press. pp. Contents. ISBN 9780876112571. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 131.
  5. ^ W., KEMP, L. (June 12, 2010). "FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN CROMWELL". Tshaonline.org. Retrieved December 11, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "TABC Local Option Elections General Information". Archived from the original on May 16, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  7. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 10, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  9. ^ {{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/franklincountytexas/PST045224 |title=QuickFacts: Franklin County, Texas |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=June 13, 2025}}
  10. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  11. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  12. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Franklin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Franklin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Franklin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  16. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  17. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  18. ^ "2020 Annual Income Estimates". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  19. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  20. ^ "Economic Development". Comvtx.com. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  21. ^ [1] Archived January 10, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ "Who Represents Me—Districts By County". Fyi.legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  23. ^ "District Population Analysis with County Subtotals | CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS - PLANC2100" (PDF). Texas Legislative Counsel. October 17, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  24. ^ "Texas First Congressional District Election Results". The New York Times. November 8, 2022. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  25. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  26. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.

33°11′N 95°13′W / 33.18°N 95.22°W / 33.18; -95.22