Editing Franklin County, Missouri (section)

==Geography==
{{more citations needed section|date=April 2014}}
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|931|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|923|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|8.0|sqmi}} (0.9%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021170230/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 21, 2013 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=November 15, 2014 |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files }}</ref> It is the fourth-largest county in Missouri by land area and third-largest by total area.

The center of the [[Missouri River]] forms the nominal northern border of the county, although the river has changed its course since boundaries were first established: a portion of [[Saint Charles County, Missouri|St. Charles County]] near [[St. Albans, Missouri|St. Albans]] is now south of the river, while a portion of Franklin County near [[Augusta, Missouri|Augusta]] is north of the river.

The [[Bourbeuse River]] flows for 107 miles through the county. It cuts a deep, narrow valley and is very crooked. It empties into the [[Meramec River]] near [[Union, Missouri|Union]]. This river is mostly undeveloped, with limited access and few bridges over it. During low water, a number of [[Ford (crossing)|fords]] allow crossing.

The county is located in the [[Ozarks]] region, with steep hills and deep valleys, [[caves]], [[spring (hydrosphere)|springs]], and [[sinkholes]] characteristic of [[karst]] areas. The underlying rock is typically [[Carbonate minerals|carbonate]], including [[limestone]] and [[Dolomite (rock)|dolomite]]. Mining activity in the county included ores of [[lead]], [[copper]], [[zinc]], and deposits of [[refractory]] [[clay]]. The soils in most of the county tend to be thin, rocky red clay, and are poor for most agriculture, while the soil near the Missouri River is dark, rich, and thick, and used primarily for row crops such as [[Maize|corn]], [[wheat]], and [[soybean]]s. Much of the county is covered with thick [[forest]]s, reestablished since the 1920s.

Urbanization is increasing in the county, especially surrounding [[Washington, Missouri|Washington]] and [[Union, Missouri|Union]], and along [[Interstate 44 in Missouri|Interstate 44]]. [[St. Albans, Missouri|St. Albans]] is now a continuation of the suburban region of [[St. Louis County, Missouri|St. Louis County]] while the majority of the county retains a rural character and includes extensive wilderness areas, typical of exurban areas.

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Warren County, Missouri|Warren County]] (north)
* [[St. Charles County, Missouri|St. Charles County]] (northeast)
* [[St. Louis County, Missouri|St. Louis County]] (northeast)
* [[Jefferson County, Missouri|Jefferson County]] (east)
* [[Washington County, Missouri|Washington County]] (southeast)
* [[Crawford County, Missouri|Crawford County]] (southwest)
* [[Gasconade County, Missouri|Gasconade County]] (west)

===Major highways===
* [[Image:i-44 (MO).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 44 (Missouri)|Interstate 44]]
* [[Image:US 50.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 50 (Missouri)|U.S. Route 50]]
* [[Image:US 66.svg|20px]] ''[[U.S. Route 66 (Missouri)|U.S. Route 66]]'' (1926–79)
* [[Image:MO-30.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 30|Route 30]]
* [[Image:MO-47.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 47|Route 47]]
* [[Image:MO-100.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 100|Route 100]]
* [[Image:MO-185.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 185|Route 185]]