Franklin, Louisiana

Geobox City
name = City of Franklin
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =
category = City

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image_size =
image_caption = Historic lampposts lining Franklin's Main Street.


flag_size =
symbol =
symbol_size =
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nickname =
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country = United States
state = Louisiana
region = St. Mary
region_type = Parish
area_imperial = 10.5
area_land_imperial = 10.4
area_water_imperial = 0.1
area_water_percentage = auto
area_percentage_round = 2
area_round = 1
location =
lat_d = 29
lat_m = 47
lat_s = 30
lat_NS = N
long_d = 91
long_m = 30
long_s = 30
long_EW = W
elevation_imperial = 10
elevation_round = 1
population_as_of = 2000
population = 8354
population_density_imperial = 806.5
population_density_round = 1
government =
established_type = Incorporated
established = 1820
leader = Raymond Harris
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
postal_code = 70538
postal_code_type = ZIP code
area_code = 337
area_code_type =
code2_type =
code2 =
free_type =
free =
free1_type =
free1 =


map_size =
map_caption = Location of Franklin in Louisiana
map_locator = Louisiana
map1 = Map of USA LA.svg
map1_caption = Location of Louisiana in the United States
website =

Franklin is a city in and the parish seat of St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, United States.GR|6 The population was 8,354 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Morgan City Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Franklin, named for Benjamin Franklin, was founded in 1808 as Carlin's Settlement, and became the parish seat in 1811. The town was incorporated in 1820. Though early settlers included French, Acadian, German, Danish and Irish, the town’s culture and architecture is heavily influenced by the unusually large numbers of English that chose to settle there after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Numerous large sugar plantations arose in the area, and with the development of steamboating, Franklin became an interior sugar port. [ [http://www.franklin-la.org/history.htm www.franklin-la.org "Welcome to the City of Franklin"] ]

ugar Plantations

By the 1830s, Bayou Teche was the main street of Acadiana, with one plantation after another. The area’s sugar cane planters were among the South’s wealthiest agriculturists. This is reflected in the grand plantation homes and mansions they built in Franklin and the surrounding countryside. Most of these magnificent structures are still standing and well preserved, giving Franklin its unique architectural flavor. Franklin’s Historic District is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and encompasses over 420 notable structures. [ [http://www.franklin-la.org/history.htm www.franklin-la.org "Welcome to the City of Franklin"] ]

Civil War

During the Civil War, the Battle of Irish Bend was fought near Franklin on April 14, 1863. Though eventually forced to retreat, the badly outnumbered Confederate forces cost the Union troops significant losses. Four hundred men were killed or wounded in the confrontation, which proved to be an important point in stopping the Union drive to invade Texas. [ [http://www.franklin-la.org/history.htm www.franklin-la.org "Welcome to the City of Franklin"] ]

Geography

Franklin is located at coor dms|29|47|30|N|91|30|30|W|city (29.791759, -91.508253)GR|1 and has an elevation of convert|10|ft|1GR|3.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.5 square miles (27.2 km²), of which, 10.4 square miles (26.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (1.24%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 8,354 people, 3,026 households, and 2,181 families residing in the city. The population density was 806.5 people per square mile (311.3/km²). There were 3,352 housing units at an average density of 323.6/sq mi (124.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 47.47% White, 50.00% African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.30% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.79% of the population.

There were 3,026 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples living together, 22.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the city the population was spread out with 30.4% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years, more than a year older than the state-wide median age of 34.0 years. For every 100 females there were 81.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,844, and the median income for a family was $30,625. Males had a median income of $32,188 versus $16,935 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,943. About 24.5% of families and 27.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.6% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.

Notable natives and residents

* C. C. Aycock, the only three term Lieutenant governor in modern Louisiana history.
* Donelson Caffery, US Senator who fought for the Confederacy.
* Leonard Marshall, football player, defensive lineman for LSU and the New York Giants
* Kenneth Devon Hawkins, Author of novel The 2nd Time Around.
* Murphy J. Foster, Governor of Louisiana from 1892 to 1900, also a Senator.
* Murphy J. Foster, Jr., Governor of Louisiana from 1996 to 2004.
* Ned Romero, Native American actor
* Rick Norwood, mathematician and comic book publisher
* Wallace Francis, football player, wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills and the Atlanta Falcons

References