Franklin County, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Franklin County is a county
of the U.S. state
of Alabama
. Its name is in honor of Benjamin Franklin
, famous statesman
, scientist
, and printer
. As of 2010, the population was 31,704. Its county seat
is Russellville
; it is a dry 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.
of 2000, there were 31,223 people, 12,259 households, and 8,949 families residing in the county. The population density
was 49 people per square mile (19/km2). There were 13,749 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.68% White
, 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. 7.42% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 12,259 households out of which 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 all households were made up of individuals and 12.10% 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 2.97.
In the county the population was spread out with 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% who were 65 years of age 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 income for a household in the county was $27,177, and the median income for a family 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.
Russellville City Schools include:
Franklin County Schools include:
There is also the Franklin County Career-Technical Center, located next to Belgreen High School.
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. Its name is in honor of Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
, famous statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
, scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
, and printer
Printer (publisher)
In publishing, printers are both companies providing printing services and individuals who directly operate printing presses. With the invention of the moveable type printing press by Johannes Gutenberg around 1450, printing—and printers—proliferated throughout Europe.Today, printers are found...
. As of 2010, the population was 31,704. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Russellville
Russellville, Alabama
Russellville is a city in Franklin County in the U.S. state of Alabama. At the 2000 census, the population of the city was 8,971. The city is the county seat of Franklin County.-History:...
; it is a dry county
Dry county
A dry county is a county in the United States whose government forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. Hundreds of dry counties exist across the United States, almost all of them in the South...
.
Colbert County
Colbert CountyColbert County, Alabama
Colbert County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of brothers George and Levi Colbert, Chickasaw Indian chiefs. George Colbert operated a ferry across the Tennessee River in 1790 near present day Cherokee....
was originally established on February 6, 1867 after it split from Franklin County over political issues after the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. It was abolished eight months later by an Alabama constitutional convention
Constitutional convention (political meeting)
A constitutional convention is now a gathering for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing constitution. A general constitutional convention is called to create the first constitution of a political unit or to entirely replace an existing constitution...
and then reestablished on February 24, 1870.
Musical History
Many musicians and songwriters are from Franklin County including Billy Sherrill,Tammy Wynette,Ricky Pierce,Eddie Martin,Kerry Gilbert,and many others.Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 646.51 square miles (1,674.5 km²), of which 635.64 square miles (1,646.3 km²) (or 98.32%) is land and 10.86 square miles (28.1 km²) (or 1.68%) is water.Major Highways
U.S. Highway 43
State Route 5State Route 5 (Alabama)State Route 5 is a north–south state highway is the western part of the State of Alabama. While it once extended—prior to the renumbering of the highways of Alabama in 1957—from Mobile north to Tennessee, and was one of the major routes between Mobile and Birmingham, it has since been...
State Route 13
State Route 17
State Route 19
State Route 24
Adjacent Counties
- Colbert CountyColbert County, AlabamaColbert County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of brothers George and Levi Colbert, Chickasaw Indian chiefs. George Colbert operated a ferry across the Tennessee River in 1790 near present day Cherokee....
(north) - Lawrence CountyLawrence County, AlabamaLawrence County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. It was named after James Lawrence, a captain in the United States Navy from New Jersey. As of the 2010 census, the population was...
(east) - Winston CountyWinston County, AlabamaWinston County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, formerly known as Hancock County before 1858.Its name is in honor of John A. Winston, the 15th Governor of Alabama. As of 2010, the population was 24,484. Its county seat is Double Springs....
(southeast) - Marion CountyMarion County, AlabamaMarion County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Marion County was created by an act of the Alabama Territorial General Assembly on February 13, 1818. The county is located in the northwestern part of the state, bounded on the west by the state of Mississippi. It encompasses . Marion County...
(south) - Itawamba County, MississippiItawamba County, MississippiIn 2000, there were 8,773 households out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.30% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were non-families. 23.40% of all households were made up of individuals and...
(southwest) - Tishomingo County, MississippiTishomingo County, MississippiAs of the census of 2000 there were 19,163 people, 7,917 households, and 5,573 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 9,553 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
(northwest)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 31,223 people, 12,259 households, and 8,949 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 49 people per square mile (19/km2). There were 13,749 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.68% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 4.21% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.33% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.11% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.10% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 4.62% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.96% from two or more races. 7.42% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 12,259 households out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.10% 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 2.97.
In the county the population was spread out with 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% who were 65 years of age 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 income for a household in the county was $27,177, and the median income for a family was $34,274. Males had a median income of $27,497 versus $18,631 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
Cities and towns
- BelgreenBelgreen, AlabamaBelgreen is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Franklin County, Alabama, United States, located west of Russellville and around east of Red Bay on Alabama Highway 24. As of the 2010 census, its population was 129...
- HodgesHodges, AlabamaHodges is a town in Franklin County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 261.-Geography:Hodges is located at .According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
- Phil CampbellPhil Campbell, AlabamaPhil Campbell is a town in Franklin County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,091. Phil Campbell is the birthplace of Billy Sherrill.-Geography:Phil Campbell is located at .According to the U.S...
- Red BayRed Bay, AlabamaRed Bay is a city in Franklin County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 3,374.-Geography:Red Bay is located at .According to the U.S...
- RussellvilleRussellville, AlabamaRussellville is a city in Franklin County in the U.S. state of Alabama. At the 2000 census, the population of the city was 8,971. The city is the county seat of Franklin County.-History:...
- VinaVina, AlabamaVina is a town in Franklin County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 400.-Geography:Vina is located at .According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
Schools
There are two school systems in Franklin County; Russellville City Schools and Franklin County Schools.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 Junior 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.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Franklin County, Alabama
- Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Franklin County, Alabama