Editing Franklin, Connecticut

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                   = Town of Franklin
| official_name          = Franklin, Connecticut
| settlement_type        = [[New England town|Town]]
| image_skyline          = Congregational Church, Franklin CT.JPG
| imagesize              = 250px
| image_caption          = Congregational Church
| image_flag             = 
| image_seal             = FranklinCTseal.gif
| image_map              = {{switcher|[[File:New London County Connecticut Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Franklin Highlighted 2010.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Franklin's location within New London County and Connecticut]]|&nbsp;[[New London County, Connecticut|New London County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Southeastern Connecticut incorporated and unincorporated areas Franklin highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Franklin's location within the Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region and the state of Connecticut]]|&nbsp;[[Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region]] and Connecticut|default=1}}
| image_map1             = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=280|frame-height=200|frame-coord=SWITCH:{{coord|qid=Q2723766}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|37|11|N|72|08|33|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:10;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q2723766;Q779;Q30|type2=shape|fill2=#ffffff|fill-opacity2=SWITCH:0;0.1;0.1|stroke-width2=2|stroke-color2=#808080|stroke-opacity2=SWITCH:0;1;1|switch=Franklin;Connecticut;the United States}}
| coordinates            = {{coord|41|37|11|N|72|08|33|W|region:US-CT|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type       = Country
| subdivision_name       = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1      = [[U.S. state]]
| subdivision_name1      = {{flag|Connecticut}}
| subdivision_type2      = [[County (United States)|County]]
| subdivision_name2      = [[New London County, Connecticut|New London]]
| subdivision_type3      = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
| subdivision_name3      = [[Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Southeastern CT]]
| established_title      = Incorporated
| established_date       = 1786
| government_type        = [[Board of selectmen|Selectman-town meeting]]
| leader_title           = First selectman
| leader_name            = Alden Miner
| unit_pref              = Imperial
| area_total_km2         = 50.8
| area_total_sq_mi       = 19.6
| area_land_km2          = 50.5
| area_land_sq_mi        = 19.5
| area_water_km2         = 0.2
| area_water_sq_mi       = 0.1
| elevation_m            = 96
| elevation_ft           = 315
| population_total       = 1863
| population_as_of       = 2020
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone               = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset             = -5
| timezone_DST           = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset_DST         = -4
| postal_code_type       = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code            = 06254
| area_code              = [[Area codes 860 and 959|860/959]]
| blank_name             = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info             = 09-29910
| blank1_name            = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info            = 0213431
| website                = {{URL|www.franklinct.com}}
}}
'''Franklin''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[New London County, Connecticut|New London County]], [[Connecticut]], United States. The town is part of the [[Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region]]. The population was 1,863 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US0901129910|title=Census - Geography Profile: Franklin town, New London County, Connecticut |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=December 15, 2021}}</ref> The town includes the village of North Franklin.

==History==
[[File:Franklin CT Map 1811.png|thumb|left|Map of Franklin's pre-1861 borders.]] Europeans first settled in what would become Franklin in 1663 as part of the larger division of the town of [[Norwich, Connecticut|Norwich]].<ref>Woodward, Ashbel (1870). ''A Historical Address Delivered in Franklin, Connecticut, October 14, 1868, on the Two Hundreth Anniversary of the Settlement of the Town and the One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of its Ecclesiastical Organizations''. New Haven, CT. Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor. p. 15</ref> The residents of what would become Franklin first petitioned for an ecclesiastical society in 1710, but were denied. Six years later, their petition was granted and they formed the second ecclesiastical society of Norwich, also called the West Farms .<ref>Woodward, Ashbel (1870). p. 25</ref><ref>Caulkins, Frances Manwaring (1866). ''History of Norwich, Connecticut: From its Poessession by the Indians, to the year 1866''. Hartford, CT: Case, Lockwood & Brainard. p. 429</ref>

During the [[First Great Awakening]] the society was shaken by controversy, partly over the location of the meetinghouse, but mostly fueled by conflict between the [[Old and New Lights]] in the society. The minister, Henry Willes, retired in 1749 as a result and in 1758 permission was granted to the eastern portion of the society to be formed as the Eighth, or Pautipaug, society of Norwich. The boundaries between the two societies would not be set until 1761.<ref>Woodward, Ashbel (1870). p. 36-38</ref>

The West Farms and Pautipaug societies were incorporated together as the Town of Franklin in 1786.<ref>Woodward, Ashbel (1870). p 40</ref><ref>Caulkins, Frances Manwaring (1866). p. 429-434</ref><ref name="Magazine">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qoEyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA332 | title=The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly | publisher=Connecticut Magazine Company | year=1903 | page=332}}</ref> The town is named after [[Benjamin Franklin]].<ref name="Magazine" />

Until 1861 the town's borders extended east to the [[Shetucket River]] and included the early village of [[Baltic, Connecticut|Baltic]]. That year, the town of [[Sprague, Connecticut|Sprague]], was incorporated from the towns of Franklin and [[Lisbon, Connecticut|Lisbon]], which gave Franklin its present boundaries.<ref>Caulkins, Frances Manwaring (1866). p. 446</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|19.6|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|19.5|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2}}, or 0.36%, is water.

==Demographics==

{{US Census population
|1790= 1192
|1800= 1210
|1810= 1161
|1820= 1161
|1830= 1196
|1840= 1000
|1850= 895
|1860= 2358
|1870= 731
|1880= 686
|1890= 585
|1900= 546
|1910= 527
|1920= 552
|1930= 611
|1940= 667
|1950= 727
|1960= 974
|1970= 1356
|1980= 1592
|1990= 1810
|2000= 1835
|2010= 1922
|2020= 1863
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web | url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html | title=Census of Population and Housing | publisher=Census.gov | access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
<ref name="Norwich Packet">{{Cite news |title = Norwich January 14|work = Norwich Packet |publisher = John Trumbull|page = 3|date = January 14, 1791|language = English}}</ref>}}

{{See also|List of Connecticut locations by per capita income}}
At the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]] there were 1,863 people, 702 households, and 511 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|93.47|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 729 housing units at an average density of {{convert|37.19|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2020 census|racial makeup]] of the town was 85.9% White, 2.2% African American, 0.0% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 9.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.6%.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=October 15, 2024|title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>

Of the 702 households 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples living together. 23.1% of households were the householder living alone and 12.3% of that demographic were aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.06.

The age distribution was 23.4% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 18.9% from 25 to 44, 32.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% 65 or older.  The median age was 44.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.6 males.

The median household income was $41,845 and the median family income was $91,875. The per capita income for the town was $25,477.  About 3.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]].

{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 31, 2023<ref>{{cite web|title = Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 32, 2023 | publisher = Connecticut Secretary of State | access-date = October 9, 2024 | url = https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/sots/electionservices/registration_and_enrollment_stats/nov23re-rev2.pdf}}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Active Voters
! Inactive Voters
! Total Voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 347
| style="text-align:center;"| 23
| style="text-align:center;"| 370
| style="text-align:center;"| 24.31%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 436
| style="text-align:center;"| 27
| style="text-align:center;"| 463
| style="text-align:center;"| 30.42%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| [[Independent voter|Unaffiliated]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 615
| style="text-align:center;"| 42
| style="text-align:center;"| 657
| style="text-align:center;"| 43.17%
|-
| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
| [[Third Party (United States)|Minor Parties]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 31
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 32
| style="text-align:center;"| 2.10%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! style="text-align:center;"| 1,429
! style="text-align:center;"| 93
! style="text-align:center;"| 1,522
! style="text-align:center;"| 100%
|}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |Presidential Election Results<ref>{{cite web|title=General Election Statements of Vote, 1922 – Current|url=https://authoring.ct.gov//SOTS/Election-Services/Statement-Of-Vote-PDFs/General-Elections-Statement-of-Vote-1922|access-date=May 3, 2021|website=CT Secretary of State}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Election Night Reporting|url=https://ctemspublic.pcctg.net/#/selectTown|access-date=May 3, 2021|website=CT Secretary of State}}</ref>
|-
!Year
![[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
![[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
![[Third party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.8% ''553''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''53.4%''' 674
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.8% ''34''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|37.8% ''413''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''56.1%''' ''613''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|6.1% ''67''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''49.1%''' ''519''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|48.9% ''516''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.0% ''20''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''50.5%''' ''538''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.3% ''504''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.2% ''22''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|48.0% ''513''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''50.5%''' ''540''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.5% ''15''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''53.3%''' ''534''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|41.9% ''420''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|4.8% ''48''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.3%''' ''493''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|34.0% ''327''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|14.7% ''141''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|34.3% ''386''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''35.6%''' ''401''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|30.1% ''339''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|39.2% ''396''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''59.1%''' ''597''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.7% ''16''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|29.0% ''302''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''70.1%''' ''729''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.9% ''8''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|30.4% ''272''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''59.3%''' ''531''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|10.3% ''92''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|47.8% ''380''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''51.9%''' ''413''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.3% ''2''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|34.3% ''252''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''65.2%''' ''478''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.5% ''3''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1968 United States presidential election|1968]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|41.1% ''249''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''51.9%''' ''315''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|7.0% ''42''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1964 United States presidential election|1964]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''61.6%''' ''328''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|38.4% ''205''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1960 United States presidential election|1960]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.4% ''239''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''56.6%''' ''312''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1956 United States presidential election|1956]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|33.6% ''165''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''66.4%''' ''326''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|}

==Emergency services==

=== Police ===
Due to the size of Franklin, there is no police department. Instead, the town has a partnership with the [[Connecticut State Police]] (Troop K) to provide coverage in case of an emergency.<ref>{{cite web|author=Veronica Rose, Chief Analyst |url=http://www.cga.ct.gov/2011/rpt/2011-R-0194.htm |title=Connecticut Police Department Statistics |publisher=Cga.ct.gov |date= |accessdate=August 13, 2022}}</ref>

=== Fire Department ===
Franklin's volunteer fire department is led by Chief David Wheeler. The all-volunteer department provides fire, rescue, and emergency services to the town.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mainelementhosting.com/franklin/default.asp?contentID=515 |title=Archived copy |access-date=April 13, 2012 |archive-date=August 31, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831153116/http://www.mainelementhosting.com/franklin/default.asp?contentID=515 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Notable locations==

*[[Ashbel Woodward House]] – built in 1835 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

==Notable people==

* [[Lafayette S. Foster]] (1806–1880), [[United States senator]] and [[Connecticut Supreme Court]] judge; born in Franklin.
* [[Jacob Kingsbury]] (1756–1837), Army Officer during the [[American Revolutionary War]], [[Northwest Indian War]], and [[War of 1812]].
* [[Orsamus H. Marshall]] (1813–1884), former Chancellor of [[University of Buffalo]]
* [[Uriah Tracy]] (1755–1807), patriot, [[United States House of Representatives|congressman]], [[United States Senate|U.S. senator]], and first person interred in the [[Congressional Cemetery]]; born in Franklin.
* [[Ashbel Woodward House|Ashbel Woodward]] (1804–1885), medical doctor, historian, and Regimental Surgeon of the [[26th Connecticut Infantry Regiment]] Regiment during the [[American Civil War]].

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Connecticut}}
*[http://www.franklinct.com/ Town of Franklin official website]
*[https://www.ashbelwoodwardmuseum.org/ Ashbel Woodward Museum's official website]

{{Connecticut}}
{{New London County, Connecticut}}
{{Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Franklin, Connecticut| ]]
[[Category:Towns in New London County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut]]