Editing Franklin County, North Carolina

{{Short description|County in North Carolina, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Franklin, North Carolina}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Franklin County
 | state                = North Carolina
 | ex image             = Franklin County Courthouse NC 01.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Franklin County Courthouse in Louisburg
 | seal                 = Franklin County, North Carolina seal.png
 | founded              = 1779
 | named for            = [[Benjamin Franklin]]
 | seat wl              = Louisburg
 | largest city wl      = Louisburg
 | city type            = community
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 494.57
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 491.80
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 2.77
 | area percentage      = 0.56
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 68573
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 77001 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | coordinates          = {{coord|36.09|-78.28|type:adm2nd_region:US-NC_source:USCensusBureau2020gazetteerfiles|display=inline,title}}
 | web                  = www.franklincountync.gov
 | motto                = "{{lang|la|Leges Juraque Vindicamus}}" <small>([[Latin]])</small><br />(We Defend Laws and Justice)<br />"A Research Triangle Region Community"
 | district             = 13th
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | logo                 = Franklin County Logo.png }}

'''Franklin County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[North Carolina]]. As of the [[2010 United States Census|2020 census]], the population was 68,573.<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> Its [[county seat]] is [[Louisburg, North Carolina|Louisburg]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> Franklin County is included in the [[Raleigh, North Carolina|Raleigh]]-[[Cary, North Carolina|Cary]], NC [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]], which is also included in the [[Research Triangle|Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC Combined Statistical Area]], which had an estimated population of 2,368,947 in 2023.<ref name="PopEstCBSA">{{cite web |date=March 14, 2024 |title=Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas Population Totals: 2020-2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-metro-and-micro-statistical-areas.html#v2023 |access-date=March 15, 2024 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], Population Division}}</ref>

==History==
The county was formed in 1779 from the southern half of [[Bute County, North Carolina|Bute County]]. It is named for [[Benjamin Franklin]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n120 131]}}</ref> It is a part of the [[Research Triangle]].

===County formation timeline===
* 1664 – [[Albemarle County, North Carolina|Albemarle County]] formed (original, extinct)
* 1668 – Albemarle County subdivided into Carteret, Berkeley, & Shaftesbury Precincts
* 1681 – Shaftesbury Precinct renamed Chowan Precinct
* 1722 – Bertie Precinct formed from Chowan Precinct
* 1739 – Bertie Precinct becomes [[Bertie County, North Carolina|Bertie County]]
* 1741 – [[Edgecombe County, North Carolina|Edgecombe County]] formed from Bertie County
* 1746 – [[Granville County, North Carolina|Granville County]] formed from Edgecombe County
* 1754 – Creation of Bertie Precinct, Edgecombe County, & Granville County repealed by King George II, in Privy Council
* 1756 – Bertie, Edgecombe, & Granville re-created
* 1764 – [[Bute County, North Carolina|Bute County]] (extinct) formed from Granville County
* 1779 – Franklin County formed from Bute County (extinct)
* 1787 – Franklin County gains land from [[Wake County, North Carolina|Wake County]]
* 1875 – Franklin County gains land from Granville County
* 1881 – Franklin County loses land to help form [[Vance County, North Carolina|Vance County]]

===School desegregation===
The integration of Franklin County Schools in 1965–1968 was marked by a federal lawsuit and some violence against African-American residents. The [[North Carolina Humanities Council]] funded the Tar River Center for History and Culture at [[Louisburg College]] to prepare "An Oral History of School Desegregation in Franklin County, North Carolina."<ref>{{cite web
|title=An Oral History of School Desegregation in Franklin County, North Carolina
|url=http://www.louisburg.edu/tarrivercenter/oralHistoryProject.html
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160704122326/http://www.louisburg.edu/tarrivercenter/oralHistoryProject.html
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=July 4, 2016
|date=July 4, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|title=County Schools Fully Desegregated Fifty Years Ago
|date=March 29, 2018
|author=Louisburg College
|author-link=Louisburg College
|url=https://www.louisburg.edu/_resources/tar-river-center/pdfs-files/County-Schools-Fully-Desegregated.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202155202/https://www.louisburg.edu/_resources/tar-river-center/pdfs-files/County-Schools-Fully-Desegregated.pdf |archive-date=December 2, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==County song==
The "Franklin County Song" was selected in a 1929 contest by the county historical association as the song most suitable for public occasions. The words were written by Fred U. Wolfe, an agriculture teacher at Gold Sand. Sung to the tune "Maryland, My Maryland" ("O Christmas Tree"), the song was incorporated in the Bicentennial programs of 1979. At the evening convocation of January 29, Mrs. Beth Norris announced to the audience that Wolfe (retired and residing in North, South Carolina) was aware his song was part of the program that night.<ref>Willard, George-Anne. Franklin County Sketchbook. Louisburg, NC: Franklin County-Louisburg Bicentenary Committee, 1982.</ref>

<blockquote>
<poem>
With loyalty we sing thy praise,
Glory to thy honored name!
Our voices loud in tribute raise,
Making truth thy pow'r proclaim.
Thy past is marked with vict'ry bold;
Thy deeds today can ne'er be told,
And heroes brave shall e'er uphold
Franklin's name forevermore.

We love thy rich and fruitful soil,
Wood, and stream, and thriving town.
We love the gift of daily toil,
Making men of true renown.
Thy church and school shall ever stand
To drive the darkness from our land—
A true and loyal, valiant band,
Sons of Franklin evermore.

A shrine of promise, pow'r and truth,
Lasting righteousness and peace,
A land of hope for toiling youth,
Yielding songs that never cease.
Let ev'ry son and daughter stay
The hand of vice that brings decay.
When duty's voice we shall obey,
Franklin's name shall live for aye.
</poem>
</blockquote>

==Geography==
{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q502526|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Franklin County}}
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|494.57|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|491.80|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.77|sqmi}} (0.56%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_37.txt |access-date=September 9, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

===State and local protected areas===
* [[Sandy Creek Game Land]] (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands">{{Cite web |title=NCWRC Game Lands |url=https://www.ncpaws.org/ncwrcmaps/gamelands |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=www.ncpaws.org}}</ref>
* [[Shocco Creek Game Land]] (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands"/>
* [[V.E. and Lydia H. Owens Recreational Park at Bull Creek]]

===Major water bodies===
* [[Buffalo Creek (North Carolina)|Buffalo Creek]]
* [[Camping Creek (North Carolina)|Camping Creek]]
* [[Crooked Creek (North Carolina)|Crooked Creek]]
* [[Fishing Creek (North Carolina)|Fishing Creek]]
* [[Lake Royale, North Carolina|Lake Royale]]
* [[Little River (Neuse River tributary)|Little River]]
* [[Sandy Creek, North Carolina|Sandy Creek]]
* [[Shocco Creek (North Carolina)|Shocco Creek]]
* [[Tar River]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Warren County, North Carolina|Warren County]] – northeast
* [[Vance County, North Carolina|Vance County]] – north
* [[Granville County, North Carolina|Granville County]] – northwest
* [[Wake County, North Carolina|Wake County]] – southwest
* [[Johnston County, North Carolina|Johnston County]] – south
* [[Nash County, North Carolina|Nash County]] – east

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|I-Future|87}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|1}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|1A}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|64}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|401}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|39}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|56}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|58}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|96}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|97}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|98}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|561}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|581}}
{{div col end}}

===Major infrastructure===
* [[Triangle North Executive Airport]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 7502
|1800= 8529
|1810= 10166
|1820= 9741
|1830= 10665
|1840= 10980
|1850= 11713
|1860= 14107
|1870= 14134
|1880= 20829
|1890= 21090
|1900= 25116
|1910= 24692
|1920= 26667
|1930= 29456
|1940= 30382
|1950= 31341
|1960= 28755
|1970= 26820
|1980= 30055
|1990= 36414
|2000= 47260
|2010= 60619
|2020= 68573
|estyear=2023
|estimate=77001
|estref=<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 14, 2015}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 14, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nc190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=January 14, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=January 14, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/all?q=Franklin%20County,%20North%20Carolina&g=1600000US3736513|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606235648/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37069.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011}}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/franklincountynorthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Franklin County, North Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 21, 2024}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Franklin County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US37069&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 23, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 42,285
| 61.66%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 15,785
| 23.02%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 259
| 0.38%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 452
| 0.66%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 17
| 0.02%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 2,813
| 4.1%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 6,962
| 10.15%
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 68,573 people, 26,720 households, and 20,443 families residing in the county.

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 17, 2015 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> there were 60,619 people, 23,023 households, and 16,317 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|123|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. The racial makeup of the county was 66.0% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 26.7% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.5% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.0% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 4.4% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.8% from two or more races. 7.9% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 23,023 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.3% under the age of 20, 5.5% from 20 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.1 years. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,696, and the median income for a family was $51,353. Males had a median income of $41,025 versus $34,562 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $21,399. About 12.3% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 20.6% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over.

===Housing===
There were 26,577 housing units at an average density of {{convert|54|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. 13.4% of housing units were vacant.

There were 23,023 occupied housing units in the town. 17,029 were owner-occupied units (74.0%), while 5,994 were renter-occupied (26.0%). The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% of total units. The rental unit vacancy rate was 7.6%.<ref name="GR2" />

==Law and government==
Franklin County is governed by an appointed [[county executive|county manager]] and a seven-member [[county commission|Board of Commissioners]] who are elected in staggered four-year terms. Five are chosen by district and the other two at-large.<ref name="COMMISSIONERS">[http://www.franklincountync.us/commissioners Franklin County, North Carolina (Commissioners)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118030803/http://www.franklincountync.us/commissioners |date=November 18, 2016 }}, Retrieved November 3, 2015.</ref>  Additional county officials who are elected include [[Sheriff]], [[Register of Deeds]], [[Board of Education]] and [[court clerk|Clerk of Superior Court]].<ref name="SERVICES">[http://www.franklincountync.us/services Franklin County, North Carolina (Services)], Retrieved November 3, 2015.</ref>

Franklin County is patrolled by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office located in Louisburg. The current sheriff is Kevin White, who was elected in 2022.<ref name="FCSO">{{Cite web |title=Franklin County Sheriff's Office |url=https://www.fcsonc.org/ |access-date=November 3, 2015 |website=www.fcsonc.org |language=en}}</ref> [[Bunn, North Carolina|Bunn]], [[Franklinton, North Carolina|Franklinton]], Louisburg and [[Youngsville, North Carolina|Youngsville]] have their own municipal police departments, regulated by the respective town governments. The community of [[Lake Royale, North Carolina|Lake Royale]] near Bunn also has its own police department.<ref name="LRPD">[http://www.lakeroyalepolice.org/ Lake Royale Police Department], Retrieved November 3, 2015.</ref> Franklin County also is covered by Troop C, District IV of the [[North Carolina Highway Patrol]], located in [[Henderson, North Carolina]].<ref name="NCDPS">[https://www.ncdps.gov/Index2.cfm?a=000003,000014,001841,000745,000749 North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Troop C - Raleigh] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125233424/https://www.ncdps.gov/Index2.cfm?a=000003,000014,001841,000745,000749 |date=November 25, 2015 }}, Retrieved November 4, 2015.</ref>

Franklin County is a member of the [[Councils of governments in North Carolina|Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments]].<ref name="KTRCOC">[http://www.kerrtarcog.org/ Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments], Retrieved November 4, 2015.</ref>

* '''Interim County Manager:''' Ryan Preble
* '''County Assistant Managers:''' Vacant 
* '''Commissioner (district 1):''' Logan Davis
* '''Commissioner (district 2):''' Roxanne Bragg
* '''Commissioner (district 3):''' James Mark Speed
* '''Commissioner (district 4):''' David Bunn
* '''Commissioner (district 5):''' Michael Schriver
* '''Commissioner (at-large):''' Harry L. Foy Jr.
* '''Commissioner (at-large):''' Stuart May
* '''Clerk to the Board:''' Kristen G. King
* '''Sheriff:''' Kevin White
* '''Clerk of Superior Court:''' Shelley Dickerson 
* '''Register of Deeds:''' Brandi Brinson
* '''Finance Director:''' Jamie Holtzman
* '''Public Utilities Director:''' Chris Doherty
* '''Emergency Management Director:''' Nicholas Thorpe
* '''Public Information Officer:''' James Hicks

===Politics===
{{multiple image| align = right| total_width = 300| image1 = Franklin County Democratic Party headquarters.jpg| width1 = 290 | height1 = 290| image2 = Franklin County Republican Headquarters.jpg| width2 = 290 | height2 = 290| footer= County political party headquarters in Louisburg}}
{| role="presentation"
|
|-
| {{PresHead|place=Franklin County, North Carolina|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->{{PresRow|2024|Republican|23,938|18,167|562|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|20,901|15,879|571|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|16,368|12,874|1,126|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|14,603|13,436|350|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|13,273|13,085|281|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|11,540|9,286|92|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|8,501|7,454|96|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|5,648|6,448|930|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|4,669|6,517|2,080|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|5,499|5,438|23|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|5,984|4,766|18|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|3,508|5,427|146|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,630|5,405|58|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,431|2,341|172|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|1,375|2,855|5,525|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,097|4,554|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,108|5,081|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|792|5,298|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|740|5,376|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|234|4,538|185|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|289|3,967|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|227|4,724|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|231|5,209|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|199|4,294|11|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|729|2,831|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|302|1,991|13|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|589|2,742|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|396|2,057|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|71|1,856|347|North Carolina}}
|}
Franklin County, from 1912 until 1964, was a typical [[Solid South]] entity, with [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] presidential candidates nearly always receiving 80 percent or more of the popular vote. [[George Wallace]] garnered the majority of the vote in 1968 as a third-party candidate. Beginning in 1972, the county swung in the opposite direction, with the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] candidate earning the majority of the vote in most elections since.

== Economy ==
The county's economy and population is growing due to its proximity to growth in Wake County.<ref>{{cite news| last = Hoopfer| first = Evan| title = Million-dollar deal in Franklinton showcases 'exciting growth'| newspaper = Triangle Business Journal| date = January 26, 2023| url = https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2023/01/26/franklin-county-the-slammer-speakeasy-sold.html| access-date = January 27, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last = Barkin| first = Dan| title = Granville County's Oxford looks like the next boomtown| newspaper = Business North Carolina| date = March 14, 2022| url = https://businessnc.com/granville-countys-oxford-looks-like-the-next-boomtown/| access-date = January 29, 2023}}</ref>

==Education==
[[Franklin County Schools (North Carolina)|Franklin County Schools]] operates 16 schools throughout the county, ranging from [[pre-kindergarten]] through twelfth grade. They include four high schools, four middle schools and eight elementary schools.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Franklin County Schools / Homepage |url=https://www.fcschools.net/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fcschools.net%2Fdefault.aspx%3FPageID%3D1 |access-date=May 25, 2022 |website=www.fcschools.net |language=en}}</ref>

Franklin County is home to the two-year Methodist-affiliated [[Louisburg College]] and to a satellite campus of [[Vance-Granville Community College]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home - Louisburg College |url=https://www.louisburg.edu/ |access-date=May 25, 2022 |website=www.louisburg.edu}}</ref>

Youngsville Academy, a college-preparatory, tuition-free charter school, opened in July 2015. Wake Preparatory Academy, a charter school with an enrollment of 750, opened in 2022.

==Communities==
[[File:Map of Franklin County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels.PNG|thumb|300px|Map of Franklin County with municipal and township labels]]

===Towns===
* [[Bunn, North Carolina|Bunn]]
* [[Franklinton, North Carolina|Franklinton]]
* [[Louisburg, North Carolina|Louisburg]] (county seat)
* [[Youngsville, North Carolina|Youngsville]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Centerville, North Carolina|Centerville]]
* [[Lake Royale, North Carolina|Lake Royale]] (largest community)

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Alert, North Carolina|Alert]]
* [[Epsom, North Carolina|Epsom]]
* [[Five Points (Franklin County), North Carolina|Five Points]]
* [[Gold Sand, North Carolina|Gold Sand]]
* [[Gupton, North Carolina|Gupton]]
* [[Halls Crossroads, North Carolina|Halls Crossroads]]
* [[Harris Crossroads (Franklin County), North Carolina|Harris Crossroads]]
* [[Hickory Rock, North Carolina|Hickory Rock]]
* [[Ingleside, North Carolina|Ingleside]]
* [[Katesville, North Carolina|Katesville]]
* [[Kearney, North Carolina|Kearney]]
* [[Justice, North Carolina|Justice]]
* [[Laurel Mill, North Carolina|Laurel Mill]]
* [[Mapleville, North Carolina|Mapleville]]
* [[Margaret, North Carolina|Margaret]]
* [[Mitchiners Crossroads, North Carolina|Mitchiners Crossroads]]
* [[Moulton, North Carolina|Moulton]]
* [[Needmore, North Carolina|Needmore]]
* [[New Hope (Franklin County), North Carolina|New Hope]]
* [[Oswego, North Carolina|Oswego]]
* [[Pearces, North Carolina|Pearces]]
* [[Pilot (Franklin County), North Carolina|Pilot]]
* [[Pine Ridge, North Carolina|Pine Ridge]]
* [[Pocomoke, North Carolina|Pocomoke]]
* [[Raynor, North Carolina|Raynor]]
* [[Riley, North Carolina|Riley]]
* [[Rocky Ford, North Carolina|Rocky Ford]]
* [[Royal (Franklin County), North Carolina|Royal]]
* [[Schloss, North Carolina|Schloss]]
* [[Seven Paths, North Carolina|Seven Paths]]
* [[Stallings Crossroads, North Carolina|Stallings Crossroads]]
* [[Sutton, North Carolina|Sutton]]
* [[White Level, North Carolina|White Level]]
* [[Wilders Corner, North Carolina|Wilders Corner]]
* [[Wood, North Carolina|Wood]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{div col}}
* Cedar Rock
* Cypress Creek
* Dunn
* Franklinton
* Gold Mine
* Harris
* Hayesville
* Louisburg
* Sandy Creek
* Youngsville
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[List of counties in North Carolina]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Franklin County, North Carolina]]
* [[Haliwa-Saponi]], state-recognized tribe that resides in the county

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{osmrelation|2528700}}
* {{Official website|http://www.franklincountync.gov}}
* [http://www.franklin-chamber.org/ Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.fcsonc.org/ Franklin County Sheriff's Office]
* [http://www.fcschools.net/ Franklin County Schools]
* [http://www.FCNO.us/ ''Franklin County News Online'']
* [http://www.wakeweekly.com/ ''Wake Weekly'']

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Franklin County, North Carolina
|North     = [[Warren County, North Carolina|Warren County]]
|Northeast = [[Halifax County, North Carolina|Halifax County]]
|East      = [[Nash County, North Carolina|Nash County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Johnston County, North Carolina|Johnston County]]
|Southwest = [[Wake County, North Carolina|Wake County]]
|West      = [[Granville County, North Carolina|Granville County]]
|Northwest = [[Vance County, North Carolina|Vance County]]
}}
{{Franklin County, North Carolina}}
{{Triangle, NC}}
{{North Carolina}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Franklin County, North Carolina| ]]
[[Category:Research Triangle]]
[[Category:1779 establishments in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1779]]