Franklin County, Florida
Encyclopedia
Franklin County is a coastal county
located in the panhandle
of the U.S. state
of Florida
. As of 2000, the population was 11,057. The U.S. Census Bureau
2005 estimate for the county is 11,177. Its county seat
is Apalachicola, Florida
.
and is the second largest city in the county.
The entire coast line of Franklin County was inhabited by Native Americans for about 12,000 years. Life along the coast was good since seafood was abundant. They traded with the Native Americans in Tallahassee for clay and other items not available on the coast. One style of pottery first found in Carrabelle is named Carrabelle Punctuated. A clay pot was made, and while still damp the potter would take a small stick of similar object, and press the end of the stick into the clay numerous times until the entire pot was covered with small indentations. It was then placed into a shallow pit, covered with small tree branches which were set on fire. The result was a decorated water resistant pot.
During World War II most of Franklin County was used for military training. The beaches and islands were ideal for amphibious training. When the war ended and the military left, Lanark Village was established from the remaining Officer's quarters.
The extreme eastern tip of the county is bordered by the Ochlockonee River
.
, and statewide elections, although there is a tendency to support Conservative Democrats in local elections. Franklin County is located in Florida's 2nd congressional district
, represented by Allen Boyd
, a member of the Democratic Party's fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition. As shown on the Franklin County Supervisor of Elections site, registration is overwhelmingly Democratic.
of 2000, there were 11,057 people, 4,096 households, and 2,727 families residing in the county. The population density
was 20 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 7,180 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup
of the county was 81.24% White, 16.32% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. 2.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 4,096 households out of which 24.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.50% were married couples] living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the county the population was spread out with 18.00% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 30.80% from 25 to 44, 27.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 129.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 135.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,756, and the median income for a family was $31,157. Males had a median income of $25,101 versus $20,494 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $16,140. About 11.80% of families and 17.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.20% of those under age 18 and 13.90% of those age 65 or over.
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...
located in the panhandle
Panhandle
A panhandle is an informal geographic term for an elongated arm-like protrusion of a geo-political entity, such as a subnational entity or a sovereign state.-Term:...
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 Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. As of 2000, the population was 11,057. The U.S. Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
2005 estimate for the county is 11,177. 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 Apalachicola, Florida
Apalachicola, Florida
Apalachicola is a city in Franklin County, Florida, on US 98 about southwest of Tallahassee. The population was 2,334 at the 2000 census. The 2005 census estimated the city's population at 2,340...
.
History
Carrabelle is located on the Carrabelle River twenty-five miles east of ApalachicolaApalachicola, Florida
Apalachicola is a city in Franklin County, Florida, on US 98 about southwest of Tallahassee. The population was 2,334 at the 2000 census. The 2005 census estimated the city's population at 2,340...
and is the second largest city in the county.
The entire coast line of Franklin County was inhabited by Native Americans for about 12,000 years. Life along the coast was good since seafood was abundant. They traded with the Native Americans in Tallahassee for clay and other items not available on the coast. One style of pottery first found in Carrabelle is named Carrabelle Punctuated. A clay pot was made, and while still damp the potter would take a small stick of similar object, and press the end of the stick into the clay numerous times until the entire pot was covered with small indentations. It was then placed into a shallow pit, covered with small tree branches which were set on fire. The result was a decorated water resistant pot.
During World War II most of Franklin County was used for military training. The beaches and islands were ideal for amphibious training. When the war ended and the military left, Lanark Village was established from the remaining Officer's quarters.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1037.48 square miles (2,687.1 km²), of which 544.34 square miles (1,409.8 km²) (or 52.47%) is land and 493.14 square miles (1,277.2 km²) (or 47.53%) is water.The extreme eastern tip of the county is bordered by the Ochlockonee River
Ochlockonee River
The Ochlockonee River is a fast running river originating in Georgia and flowing for before terminating in Florida.- Background :The Ochlockonee originates south of the town of Sylvester in Worth County in southwest Georgia emptying into Ochlockonee Bay, then into Apalachee Bay, in Florida...
.
Adjacent counties
- Liberty County, FloridaLiberty County, FloridaLiberty County is a county located in the state of Florida. Its population was estimated in 2005 as 7,733. Its most populous incorporated area and county seat is Bristol....
- north - Wakulla County, FloridaWakulla County, FloridaWakulla County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 22,863. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 28,212 people...
- northeast - Gulf County, FloridaGulf County, FloridaGulf County is a county located in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 13,332. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 13,975 . Its county seat is Port St. Joe.- History :...
- west
National protected areas
- Apalachicola National ForestApalachicola National ForestThe Apalachicola National Forest is the largest U.S. National Forest in the state of Florida. It contains and is the only national forest located in the Florida Panhandle. The Apalachicola National Forest contains two Wilderness Areas, Bradwell Bay and Mudswamp/New River...
(part) - St. Vincent National Wildlife RefugeSt. Vincent National Wildlife RefugeThe St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge is part of the United States National Wildlife Refuge System, located in northwestern Florida, on the barrier island of St. Vincent, off the coast of Apalachicola....
(part)
Unincorporated
- Alligator PointAlligator Point, FloridaAlligator Point is an unincorporated community in Franklin County, Florida, United States. It is located along US 98, south of Bald Point State Park. , on the Gulf of Mexico. Alligator Point is a small beach community made up of mostly beach homes and the...
- Bald PointBald PointBald Point is an unincorporated community located at the eastern tip of Franklin County, Florida, United States on Ochlockonee Bay.A small, beach front community, much of the non-residential areas of Bald Point have been incorporated into Bald Point State Park, which is a popular location for...
- EastpointEastpoint, FloridaEastpoint is a census-designated place in Franklin County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,158 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Eastpoint is located at ....
- Lanark VillageLanark Village, FloridaLanark Village is an unincorporated community in Franklin County, Florida, United States. It is located along US 98, on the Gulf of Mexico.-Geography:Lanark Village is located at ....
- St. TeresaSt. Teresa, FloridaSt. Teresa is a beachfront unincorporated community in Franklin County, Florida, United States. It is located along U.S. Route 98, on St. George Sound and the Gulf of Mexico....
Barrier Islands
- Cape St. George IslandCape St. George IslandCape St. George Island is an uninhabited barrier island situated on Florida’s North Gulf Coast, south-southeast of St. Vincent Island, west of St. George Island and 8-10 miles south-southwest of the town of Apalachicola in Franklin County, Florida. It was formerly part of St...
- Dog Island
- St. George Island
- St. Vincent IslandSt. Vincent Island, FloridaSt. Vincent Island is the western-most of 4 barrier islands in the northwestern Florida Gulf coast which include Cape St. George Island, St. George Island and Dog Island. St. Vincent Island is located just offshore in Franklin County, Florida south southeast of Cape San Blas and north of Cape St...
Politics
Like most of the Florida Panhandle, Franklin County votes Republican in presidential, CongressionalUnited States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, and statewide elections, although there is a tendency to support Conservative Democrats in local elections. Franklin County is located in Florida's 2nd congressional district
Florida's 2nd congressional district
Florida's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. The district consists of the eastern part of the Florida Panhandle along with much of the Big Bend region along the Emerald Coast, and is anchored in the state capital of Tallahassee and includes Panama...
, represented by Allen Boyd
Allen Boyd
Fred Allen Boyd Jr. is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1997 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He currently works for a lobbying firm, the Twenty-First Century Group.-Early life, education and career:...
, a member of the Democratic Party's fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition. As shown on the Franklin County Supervisor of Elections site, registration is overwhelmingly Democratic.
| Year | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Other Third party (United States) The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties . The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.The United States has had a... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 63.1% | 35.3% | 1.6% |
| 2004 | 58.5% | 40.5% | 1.0% |
| 2000 | 52.8% | 44.1% | 3.1% |
| 1996 | 34.2% | 45.9% | 19.9% |
| 1992 | 38.0% | 35.0% | 27.0% |
| 1988 | 58.5% | 39.2% | 2.3% |
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 11,057 people, 4,096 households, and 2,727 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 20 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 7,180 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup
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 the county was 81.24% White, 16.32% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. 2.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 4,096 households out of which 24.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.50% were married couples] living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the county the population was spread out with 18.00% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 30.80% from 25 to 44, 27.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 129.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 135.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,756, and the median income for a family was $31,157. Males had a median income of $25,101 versus $20,494 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 $16,140. About 11.80% of families and 17.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.20% of those under age 18 and 13.90% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Franklin County residents are within the Franklin County School District. All Students K-12 attend the Franklin County School at Eastpoint, FL, except those attending the Apalachicola Bay Charter School or other private schools.Government links/constitutional offices
- Franklin County Board of County Commissioners
- Franklin County Clerk of Court
- Franklin County Supervisor of Elections
- Franklin County Property Appraiser
- Franklin County Sheriff's Office
- Franklin County Tax Collector
Special districts
Judicial branch
- Franklin County Clerk of Courts
- Public Defender, 2nd Judicial Circuit of Florida serving Franklin, GadsdenGadsden County, FloridaGadsden County is a county located in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2000 census, the population was 45,087. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 46,428 . Its county seat is Quincy, Florida. Gadsden County is the only predominantly African-American...
, JeffersonJefferson County, FloridaJefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population is 12,902. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 14,490 . Its county seat is Monticello, Florida....
, LeonLeon County, FloridaLeon County is a county located in the state of Florida, named after the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León. At the 2010 Census, the population was 275,487. The county seat of Leon County is Tallahassee which also serves as the state capital. The county seat is home to two of Florida's major...
, LibertyLiberty County, FloridaLiberty County is a county located in the state of Florida. Its population was estimated in 2005 as 7,733. Its most populous incorporated area and county seat is Bristol....
, and WakullaWakulla County, FloridaWakulla County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 22,863. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 28,212 people...
counties - Office of the State Attorney, 2nd Judicial Circuit of Florida
- Circuit and County Court for the 2nd Judicial Circuit of Florida