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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Franklin County, Alabama
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,113. Its county seat is Russellville. Its name is in honor of Benjamin Franklin, famous statesman, scientist, and printer. It is a dry county, although the city of Russellville is wet.

History

Franklin County was established on February 6, 1818.

Colbert County

Once part of Franklin County, Colbert County was originally established on February 6, 1867, after it split from Franklin County over political issues after the American Civil War. It was abolished eight months later by an Alabama constitutional convention and then reestablished on February 24, 1870.

Musical history

Many musicians and songwriters are from Franklin County including Billy Sherrill, Ricky Pierce, Kerry Gilbert, Eddie Martin and many others.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 647 square miles (1,680 km), of which 634 square miles (1,640 km) is land and 13 square miles (34 km) (2.0%) is water.

Adjacent Counties

National protected area

Transportation

Major highways

Rail

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18204,988—
183011,078122.1%
184014,27028.8%
185019,61037.4%
186018,627−5.0%
18708,006−57.0%
18809,15514.4%
189010,68116.7%
190016,51154.6%
191019,36917.3%
192022,01113.6%
193025,37215.3%
194027,5528.6%
195025,705−6.7%
196021,988−14.5%
197023,9338.8%
198028,35018.5%
199027,814−1.9%
200031,22312.3%
201031,7041.5%
202032,1131.3%
2023 (est.)31,802−1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2020

2020 census

Franklin County, Alabama – Racial and Ethnic Composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
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 Pop 2000 Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 27,268 25,249 23,581 87.33% 79.64% 73.43%
Black or African American alone (NH) 1,307 1,211 1,139 4.19% 3.82% 3.55%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 87 121 128 0.28% 0.38% 0.40%
Asian alone (NH) 32 51 67 0.10% 0.16% 0.21%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 3 2 2 0.01% 0.01% 0.01%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 5 32 77 0.02% 0.10% 0.24%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 205 328 860 0.66% 1.03% 2.68%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2,316 4,710 6,259 7.42% 14.86% 19.49%
Total 31,223 31,704 32,113 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census of 2020, there were 32,113 people, 11,048 households, and 7,669 families residing in the county.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 31,704 people, 12,286 households, and 8,741 families living in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile (22 people/km). There were 14,022 housing units at an average density of 21.7 units per square mile (8.4 units/km). The racial makeup of the county was 83.0% White (non-Hispanic), 3.9% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 10.5% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. 14.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 12,286 households 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 26.1% of households were one person and 12.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.05

The age distribution was 24.8% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% 65 or older. The median age was 37.8 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.3 males.

The median household income was $33,942 and the median family income was $44,352. Males had a median income of $31,997 versus $22,747 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,094. About 14.9% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.2% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 31,223 people, 12,259 households, and 8,949 families living in the county. The population density was 49 people per square mile (19 people/km). There were 13,749 housing units at an average density of 22 units per square mile (8.5 units/km). The racial makeup of the county was 89.68% White (non-Hispanic), 4.21% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 4.62% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. 5.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 12,259 households 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 24.50% of households were one person and 12.10% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 24.50% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

The median household income was $27,177 and the median family income was $34,274. Males had a median income of $27,497 versus $18,631 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,814. About 15.20% of families and 18.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.60% of those under age 18 and 24.10% of those age 65 or over.

Education

There are two school systems and one community college in Franklin County; Russellville City Schools and Franklin County Schools. Northwest Shoals Community College has a campus in Phil Campbell.

Russellville City Schools include:

  • Russellville High School
  • Russellville Middle School
  • Russellville Elementary School (grades 3 - 5)
  • West Elementary School (grades Kindergarten - 2)

Franklin County Schools include:

  • Belgreen High School (grades K - 12)
  • East Franklin Junior High School (grades K - 9)
  • Phil Campbell High School (two separate buildings serving grades K - 12)
  • Red Bay High School (grades K - 12)
  • Tharptown High School (grades K-12)
  • Vina High School (grades K - 12)

There is also the Franklin County Career-Technical Center, located next to Belgreen High School.

Government

Like most rural counties in Alabama, Franklin County has gone solidly Republican in the 21st century, but it has flirted with the party at a federal level since the 1950s. In a pattern typical of most rural Alabama counties, Franklin County supported the Dixiecrats in 1948 and George Wallace in 1968, but unlike other counties, had been won by Republicans in 1956 and 1960, cracking the wall of the Solid South before full-fledged turnover in 1964 and beyond.

As is the case with most rural counties nationwide that supported Bill Clinton in the 1996 election, the county has turned on the Democratic Party. In the 2020 election, Donald Trump won convincingly over Joe Biden, 83–17, continuing a backsliding trend for Democratic candidates in the rural South.

United States presidential election results for Franklin County, Alabama
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 10,376 82.49% 2,086 16.58% 116 0.92%
2016 9,466 78.62% 2,197 18.25% 377 3.13%
2012 7,567 69.54% 3,171 29.14% 143 1.31%
2008 8,048 68.83% 3,469 29.67% 176 1.51%
2004 7,690 62.68% 4,514 36.79% 65 0.53%
2000 6,119 55.11% 4,793 43.17% 191 1.72%
1996 4,449 42.44% 5,028 47.97% 1,005 9.59%
1992 4,794 40.43% 5,953 50.20% 1,111 9.37%
1988 5,146 50.25% 4,961 48.44% 134 1.31%
1984 5,304 52.90% 4,601 45.89% 122 1.22%
1980 4,448 41.33% 6,136 57.01% 179 1.66%
1976 3,345 34.41% 6,279 64.59% 97 1.00%
1972 5,877 75.23% 1,840 23.55% 95 1.22%
1968 2,524 27.75% 588 6.46% 5,984 65.79%
1964 4,025 56.41% 0 0.00% 3,110 43.59%
1960 4,069 54.20% 3,422 45.58% 16 0.21%
1956 3,399 50.21% 3,354 49.55% 16 0.24%
1952 2,424 41.13% 3,461 58.73% 8 0.14%
1948 2,555 44.10% 0 0.00% 3,239 55.90%
1944 1,853 40.56% 2,709 59.30% 6 0.13%
1940 1,989 35.95% 3,523 63.67% 21 0.38%
1936 1,875 37.77% 3,059 61.62% 30 0.60%
1932 1,547 34.71% 2,876 64.53% 34 0.76%
1928 2,937 56.24% 2,279 43.64% 6 0.11%
1924 22 1.06% 1,985 95.66% 68 3.28%
1920 2,930 57.58% 2,094 41.15% 65 1.28%
1916 984 47.44% 1,044 50.34% 46 2.22%
1912 309 17.14% 849 47.09% 645 35.77%
1908 652 47.84% 650 47.69% 61 4.48%
1904 668 44.33% 767 50.90% 72 4.78%

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also