Franklin County, Kansas

Infobox U.S. County
county=Franklin County
state=Kansas
founded=August 25, 1855
seat wl=Ottawa
area_total_km2=1494|area_total_sq_mi=577
area_land_km2=1486|area_land_sq_mi=574
area_water_km2=7|area_water_sq_mi=3
area percentage=0.49%
census estimate yr=2006
pop=26513
density_km2=17.8|density_sq_mi=46.2
time zone=Central
UTC offset=-6
DST offset=-5
web=www.franklincoks.org
named for=Benjamin Franklin|

Franklin County (county code FR) is a county located in East Central Kansas, in the Central United States. The county's population—one of the fastest growing in the state of Kansas—was estimated to be 26,513 in the year 2006. Its county seat and most populous city is Ottawa.GR|6 The county is a part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area.

History

Franklin County was one of the 33 original Kansas Territory counties created by the first Territorial Legislature of 1855. The county was named after Benjamin Franklin, and is rich in Native American lore, which dates back centuries before Kansas became a territory. The area was included in a treaty ceding land to the Osage Nation in 1808, and ceded back to the federal government in 1825. After 1825 and prior to 1867, treaties with various Indian nations set off parts of what was later to become Franklin County for their use.

Law and government

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1994, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement. [Cite web| url=http://www.ksrevenue.org/abcwetdrymap.htm| title=Map of Wet and Dry Counties| publisher=Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue| month=November | year=2006| accessdate=2007-12-26]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 577 square miles (1,494 km²), of which 574 square miles (1,486 km²) is land and 3 square miles (7 km²), or 0.49%, is water.GR|2

Major highways

*Interstate 35/U.S. Route 50
*U.S. Route 59
*K-68

Adjacent counties

*Douglas County (north)
*Johnson County (northeast)
*Miami County (east)
*Linn County (southeast)
*Anderson County (south)
*Coffey County (southwest)
*Osage County (west)

Demographics

Franklin County's population was estimated to be 26,513 in the year 2006, an increase of 1639, or +6.6%, over the previous six years;Cite web| url=http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php| title=Population Estimates| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division| Annual estimates of the population to 2006-07-01. Released 2007-03-22. Six year change is from 2000-07-01 to 2006-07-01.] it has the fifth fastest growing population in the state.

As of the U.S. Census in 2000,GR|2 there were 24,784 people, 9,452 households, and 6,720 families residing in the county. The population density was 43 people per square mile (17/km²). There were 10,229 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.05% White, 1.21% Black or African American, 0.94% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.78% from other races, and 1.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.62% of the population.

There were 9,452 households out of which 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.50% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,052, and the median income for a family was $45,197. Males had a median income of $31,223 versus $22,992 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,311. About 5.60% of families and 7.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.40% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

Notable natives

*Steve Grogan, NFL quarterback, who grew up in Ottawa.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2005 estimate):Cite web| url=http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php| title=Population Estimates| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division| Annual estimates of the population to 2005-07-01. Released 2006-06-21.]
*Ottawa, 12,597 (county seat)
*Wellsville, 1,631
*Pomona, 942
*Richmond, 514
*Williamsburg, 359
*Princeton, 327
*Lane, 259
*Rantoul, 245

Unincorporated places

*Centropolis
*Homewood
*LeLoup
*Peoria
*Richter

Townships

Franklin County is divided into sixteen townships. The city of Ottawa is considered "governmentally independent" and is excluded from the census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size.

Education

Unified school districts

* West Franklin USD 287 ( [http://www.usd287.org/ Web site] )
* Central Heights USD 288 ( [http://www.usd288.k12.ks.us/ Web site] )
* Wellsville USD 289 ( [http://www.wellsville-usd289.org/ Web site] )
* Ottawa USD 290 ( [http://www.usd290.org/ Web site] )

Colleges and universities

* Ottawa University, Ottawa
* Neosho County Community College (branch campus), Ottawa

ee also

References

External links

Official sites
* [http://www.franklincoks.org/ Franklin County]
* [http://www.kscourts.org/dstcts/4frco.htm Franklin County District Court]
* [http://www.franklincountykansas.net/ Franklin County Genealogical Society]

Additional information
* [http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties/FR/ Blue Skyways]
* [http://www.ku.edu/pri/ksdata/county.shtml Kansas Statistical Abstract]