Franklin, Tennessee

For the historical proposed state in Eastern Tennessee, see State of Franklin.
Not to be confused with Franklin County, Tennessee.
Franklin, Tennessee
City

Historic Downtown Franklin

Location of Franklin, Tennessee
Coordinates: 35°55′45″N 86°51′27″W / 35.92917°N 86.85750°W / 35.92917; -86.85750Coordinates: 35°55′45″N 86°51′27″W / 35.92917°N 86.85750°W / 35.92917; -86.85750
Country United States
State Tennessee
County Williamson
Government
 • mayor Ken Moore
Area
 • Total 30.1 sq mi (78.0 km2)
 • Land 30.0 sq mi (77.8 km2)
 • Water 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2)
Elevation 643 ft (196 m)
Population (2013)
 • Total 68,886
 • Density 1,393.3/sq mi (538.0/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP Code(s) 37064, 37065, 37067, 37068, 37069[1]
Area code(s) 615
FIPS code 47-27740[2]
GNIS feature ID 1284816[3]
Website www.franklintn.gov

Franklin is a city in and county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States.[4] Located about 21 miles south of Nashville, it is one of the principal cities of the Nashville metropolitan area. Since 1980 its population has increased more than fivefold and, based on its 2013 estimated population of 68,886, it is ranked as the seventh-largest city in Tennessee.[5]

History

Franklin United States Post Office

The city of Franklin was founded October 26, 1799, by Abram Maury, Jr. (1766–1825), a state senator who is buried with his family in Founders Pointe. Maury named the town after national founding father Benjamin Franklin,[6] who was a close friend of Dr. Hugh Williamson, a member of the Continental Congress after whom Williamson County was named.

Ewen Cameron built the first European-American house in the town of Franklin. Cameron was born February 23, 1768, in Balgalkan, Ferintosh, Scotland. He emigrated to Virginia in 1785 and from there came to Tennessee. Cameron died February 28, 1846, having lived forty-eight years in the same log house. He and his second wife, Mary, are buried in the old City Cemetery. His descendants have lived in Franklin continuously since 1798 when his son Duncan was born.

During the American Civil War, the Battle of Franklin was fought in the city on November 30, 1864, resulting in almost 10,000 casualties (killed, wounded, captured and missing). Forty-four buildings were converted to use as field hospitals. The Carter, Carnton and the Lotz historic homes are still standing from this era.

Long a suburb to Nashville, Tennessee, Franklin has expanded more than fivefold since 1980, when its population was 12,407. In 2012 it had an estimated population of 68,280.[5] This makes it rank as the seventh-largest city in the state. Many of its residents commute to businesses in Nashville, but there has been considerable growth in Franklin and the county of a regional economy.

December 24, 1988 Tornado

On the early morning hours of Christmas Eve, 1988, one person died when an F4 tornado struck the city.

Geography

Franklin is located at 35°55′45″N 86°51′27″W / 35.92917°N 86.85750°W / 35.92917; -86.85750 (35.929074, -86.857402).[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 78.0 km² (30.1 mi²). 77.8 km² (30.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.27%) is water.

Demographics

Historic Downtown Franklin
Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18701,552—
18801,6325.2%
18902,25037.9%
19002,180−3.1%
19102,92434.1%
19203,1236.8%
19303,3778.1%
19404,12022.0%
19505,47532.9%
19606,97727.4%
19709,49736.1%
198012,40730.6%
199020,09862.0%
200041,842108.2%
201062,48749.3%
Est. 201470,612[8]13.0%
Sources:[5][9]

Since the late 20th century, the city has grown rapidly in population, attracting many businesses. As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 62,487 people (Williamson County's population was 193,595), 16,128 households, and 11,225 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,393.3 people per square mile (538.0/km2). There were 17,296 housing units at an average density of 575.9 per square mile (222.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 84.53% Caucasian, 10.35% African American, 4.84% Hispanic/Latino, 1.61% Asian, 0.24% Native American, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.17% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races.

There were 16,128 households out of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.09. In the city the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 38.1% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $75,871, and the median income for a family was $91,931. Males had a median income of $66,622 versus $43,193 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $36,445. About 5.0% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over. Less than 5.0% of the eligible workforce was unemployed.[10]

Government

The city is run by a mayor elected at-large in the city and a board of eight aldermen, four elected from single-member districts and four elected at-large. They are elected for four-year terms, with the ward alderman elected in one cycle, and the major and at-large aldermen elected two years later. The city's policies and procedures are decided by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. Resolutions, Municipals Ordinances, and the Municipal Code are carried out by the city's various departments. City Departments include: Administration, Building and Neighborhood Services, Engineering, Finance, Fire, Human Resources, Information Technology, Law, Planning and Sustainability, Parks, Police, Sanitation and Environmental Services, Streets, and Water Management. These 14 departments are overseen by the City Administrator.[11]

Economy

Downtown Franklin

The city has numerous health-care related businesses, including HealthSpring, Clarcor, Community Health Systems, Healthways, Home Instead Senior Care, MedSolutions Inc, and Renal Advantage Inc. In addition, Magazines.com, the Provident Music Group, World Christian Broadcasting, gas utility Atmos Energy's Kentucky/Mid-States division, and Nissan's North American headquarters are based in Franklin. Upcoming projects that will help the economy are Ovation, Northside, Berry Farms, the construction of Chinese manufacturer Triangle Tire Company's North American Headquarters in Dover Center,[12] and the relocation of CKE Restaurants corporate headquarters to One Franklin Park in Cool Springs.[13]

Top employers

According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[14] the top employers in the city are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 CoolSprings Galleria 3,500
2 Community Health Systems 1,800
3 Williamson Medical Center 1,300
4 Nissan North America 1,300
5 Verizon 1,000
6 Optum 815
7 Healthways 800
8 Mars Petcare US 680
9 Progeny Marketing Innovations 550
10 Lee Company 520

Education

Public Schools

The city is served by Williamson County School District and Franklin Special School District.[15]

Private Schools[16]

Higher Education

In popular culture

Festivals

Main Street Festival

Franklin’s Main Street Festival is a street festival that brings more than 200 artisans, four stages, two carnivals and two food courts to the historic Franklin Square and Downtown District. Arts and crafts booths line Main Street from First to Fifth Avenue.[18]

Wine Down Main Street

Wine Down Main Street is a unique wine-tasting event attracting more than 2,000 attendees to historic Main Street in Franklin on the first Friday in November. This annual event is a benefit for the Boys & Girls Club of Middle Tennessee's Franklin and Fairview clubhouses.

Pumpkinfest

Franklin's Pumpkinfest, an annual fundraiser for the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County, is held each year on the Saturday before Halloween. Halloween-themed activities include music, children's amusements, local artisans, and food.[19]

Dickens of a Christmas

Dickens of a Christmas is celebrated every second week in December, attracting approximately 50,000 visitors yearly. It takes place in Historic Downtown Franklin. More than 250 costumed volunteers masquerade as figures from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Music and dancing are a big part of the festival, and local school and church musical groups often perform. Victorian cuisine is served to visitors, and an arts and crafts bazaar features prominently in Public Square.[20]

Notable people

Sister cities

Franklin is an active participant in the Sister Cities program and has relationships with the following municipalities:

References

  1. ↑ "USPS – ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  2. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  5. 1 2 3 "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  6. ↑ Miller, Larry L. (2001). Tennessee place-names. Indiana University Press. p. 79. ISBN 978-0-253-33984-3.
  7. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing: Decennial Censuses". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
  10. ↑
  11. ↑ "City of Franklin, TN : Government". www.franklintn.gov. Retrieved 2015-09-30.
  12. ↑ http://www.moderntiredealer.com/news/410829/triangle-tyres-will-open-north-american-headquarters-in-tennessee
  13. ↑ http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/real-estate/2016/03/05/hardees-parent-moving-hq-nashville-area/81366088/
  14. ↑ City of Franklin CAFR
  15. ↑ "What’s The Franklin Special School District Anyway?". Tate Real Estate. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
  16. ↑ "Williamson County Private Schools - Williamson, Inc.". Williamson, Inc. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
  17. ↑ "ABC's 'Nashville' takes over Franklin Theatre". Franklin Home Page. 2014-07-23. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
  18. ↑ Main Street Festival 2014 | Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County TN. Historicfranklin.com. Retrieved on 2013-09-07.
  19. ↑ Pumpkinfest | Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County TN. Historicfranklin.com. Retrieved on 2013-09-07.
  20. ↑ Dickens of a Christmas | Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County TN Historicfranklin.com. Retrieved on 2014-11-2.
  21. 1 2 "Sister Cities of Franklin". sistercitiestn.org. Retrieved October 12, 2014.

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