Franklin County, Illinois

Infobox U.S. County
county = Franklin County
state = Illinois


seallink =


map size = 150
founded = January 2, 1818
seat = Benton
largest city = West Frankfort
area_total_sq_mi = 431
area_total_km2 = 1117
area_land_sq_mi = 412
area_land_km2 = 1067
area_water_sq_mi = 19
area_water_km2 = 50
area percentage = 4.48%
census yr = 2000
pop = 39018
density_sq_mi = 95
density_km2 = 37
time zone = Central
UTC offset = -6
DST offset= -5
footnotes =
web = |

Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of 2000, the population was 39,018. Its county seat is Benton.GR|6

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 431 square miles (1,117 km²), of which, 412 square miles (1,067 km²) of it is land and 19 square miles (50 km²) of it (4.48%) is water.

Townships

The county's twelve townships are Barren, Benton, Browning, Cave, Denning, Eastern, Ewing, Frankfort, Goode, Northern, Six Mile, and Tyrone.

Township map

Adjacent counties

*Jefferson County (north)
*Hamilton County (east)
*Saline County (southeast)
*Williamson County (south)
*Jackson County (southwest)
*Perry County (west)

Political subdivisions

Cities and towns

*Benton
*Christopher
*Orient
*Sesser
*West Frankfort
*Zeigler

Villages

*Buckner
*Ewing
*Freeman Spur
*Hanaford
*Macedonia
*North City
*Royalton
*Thompsonville
*Valier
*West City

Townships

Franklin County is divided into twelve townships:

* Barren
* Benton
* Browning
* Cave
* Denning
* Eastern
* Ewing
* Frankfort
* Goode
* Northern
* Six Mile
* Tyrone

Demographics

USCensusPop
1820=1763
1830=4083
1840=3682
1850=5681
1860=9393
1870=12652
1880=16129
1890=17138
1900= 19675
1910= 25943
1920= 57293
1930= 59442
1940= 53137
1950= 48685
1960= 39281
1970= 38329
1980= 43201
1990= 40319
2000= 39018
footnote=UVa Census Browser 1820-1890 [Citation
title = Historial Census Browser, University of Virginia, Geospacial and Statistical Data Center
year = 2004
url = http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus/index.html]
Illinois Counties 1900-1990 [Citation
publication-date =
contribution =
contribution-url=
title =Illinois Counties 1900-1990
publisher =U.S. Census Bureau
url =http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/il190090.txt] As of the U.S. Census of 2000,GR|2 there were 39,018 people, 16,408 households, and 10,976 families residing in the county. The population density was 95 people per square mile (37/km²). There were 18,105 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile (17/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.63% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 0.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.6% were of American, 16.2% German, 14.9% English, 11.4% Irish and 6.6% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000. 98.2% spoke English and 1.0% Spanish as their first language.

There were 16,408 households out of which 28.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.10% were non-families. 29.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.00% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 18.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,411, and the median income for a family was $36,294. Males had a median income of $31,429 versus $19,664 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,407. About 12.60% of families and 16.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.10% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.

History

Franklin County was established on January 2, 1818 and formed out of Gallatin and White Counties. It was named for Benjamin Franklin. [Citation
last =Adams
first =James N. (compiler)
year =
date =
publication-date =1989
editor-last =Keller
editor-first =William E.
title =Illinois Place Names
edition =
series =
place =
publication-place =Springfield
publisher =Illinois State Historical Society
volume =
pages =581
isbn =0912226242]

The first settlers arrived in Franklin County in 1804. This group included six brothers named Jordan. They settled near the southeastern corner of the County, near modern Thompsonville. The first year they built a pole shed, covered with brush, chinked with mud, thatched with grass, and open to the south. They kept a fire burning outside the south face. This was called the Jordan Settlement.Fact|date=February 2007

In the winter of 1809, during Tecumseh's War, there was fear of attacks by Indians. Governor Edwards issued a call for the building of forts. Frank Jordan built two forts. The one at the settlement was called "Jordan's Fort". The second was several miles west. It was called "Frank's Fort", which eventually became West Frankfort.Fact|date=February 2007

References