Franklin County, Illinois

Franklin County
County
Franklin County Courthouse in Benton
Flag
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°59′N 88°55′W / 37.99°N 88.92°W / 37.99; -88.92
Country	United States
State	Illinois
Founded	January 2, 1818
Named for	Benjamin Franklin
Seat	Benton
Largest city	West Frankfort
Area
• Total	432 sq mi (1,120 km2)
• Land	409 sq mi (1,060 km2)
• Water	23 sq mi (60 km2)  5.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	37,804
• Estimate  (2023)	37,138
• Density	88/sq mi (34/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	12th
Website	www.franklincountyil.gov

Franklin County is a county in Southern Illinois. At the 2020 census, it had a population of 37,804.^[1] The largest city is West Frankfort and the county seat is Benton.^[2] This area of Southern Illinois is known locally as "Little Egypt".

Franklin County was established on January 2, 1818, and formed from parts of Gallatin and White counties. It was named for Benjamin Franklin.^[3]

• 
  Franklin County at the time of its formation in 1818
• 
  The creation of Williamson County in 1839 reduced Franklin to its current borders.

Coal was mined in Franklin County as early as 1889, at the King Coal Mine, located at Township 5 South, Range 3 East.^[4]

The high levels of gas found in Franklin County's coal deposits have resulted in mining disasters and explosions over the years.^[5] Between 1905 and 1968, there were eleven mine disasters.^[6] In 1905, the Zeigler No. 1 mine, located in Zeigler, had an explosion that killed about fifty people.^[7] In 1917, an explosion in Old Ben Mine No. 11, located in Christopher, killed 17.^[8] The worst explosion occurred in 1951, in the Orient No. 2 Mine in West Frankfort, in which 119 people died.^[9]

The West Frankfort quadrangle of Franklin County is home to 17 coal mines, according to a 2004 report.^[5]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 431 square miles (1,120 km²), of which 409 square miles (1,060 km²) is land and 23 square miles (60 km²) (5.2%) is water.^[10] Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area is located in this county.

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Benton have ranged from a low of 21 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 90 °F (32 °C) in July, although a record low of −22 °F (−30 °C) was recorded in January 1977 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in August 2007. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.87 inches (73 mm) in February to 4.59 inches (117 mm) in May.^[11]

On April 21, 1912, a tornado destroyed facilities at the Possum Ridge Mine.^[5][12]

On March 18, 1925, Franklin County was among five southern Illinois counties affected by the infamous Tri-State Tornado. The storm cut across the southern edge of the county, hitting West Frankfort and destroying most of the northern side of town, causing significant damage to the town's mining facilities. Farther to the east, the village of Parrish was also struck, and was never rebuilt. The storm killed 192 people in Franklin County, injuring hundreds more and leaving scores of people homeless.

• Jefferson County (north)
• Hamilton County (east)
• Saline County (southeast)
• Williamson County (south)
• Jackson County (southwest)
• Perry County (west)

• South Central Transit

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 39,561 people, 16,617 households, and 10,912 families residing in the county.^[18] The population density was 96.8 inhabitants per square mile (37.4/km²). There were 18,525 housing units at an average density of 45.3 per square mile (17.5/km²).^[10] The racial makeup of the county was 97.7% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.3% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population.^[18] In terms of ancestry, 21.8% were German, 18.7% were Irish, 15.9% were English, 9.4% were American, and 5.7% were Italian.^[19]

Of the 16,617 households, 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.3% were non-families, and 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 41.8 years.^[18]

The median income for a household in the county was $34,381 and the median income for a family was $43,170. Males had a median income of $39,122 versus $28,950 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,504. About 14.5% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.5% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.^[20]

• Mulkeytown

Franklin County is divided into twelve townships:

• Franklin, Johnson, Massac, and Williamson County Regional Office of Education #21 ^[21]

• Christopher Unit School District 99 ^[22]
• Sesser-Valier Community Unit School District 196 ^[23]
• Benton Community Consolidated School District 47 ^[24]
• Frankfort Community Unit School District 168 ^[25]
• Zeigler-Royalton Community Unit School District 188 ^[26]
• Thompsonville Community Unit School District 174^[27]
• Ewing-Northern Community Consolidated School District 115 ^[28]

• John A. Logan College Extension Center - West Frankfort

• Franklin & Jefferson County Special Education Cooperative ^[29]

Franklin County voted mostly for Democratic US presidential candidates until 2000. Since then it has voted for Republican presidential nominees.

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Franklin County, Illinois
• Ku Klux Klan in Southern Illinois
• Fourth Franklin County Courthouse

• United States Census Bureau 2007 TIGER/Line Shapefiles
• United States Board on Geographic Names (GNIS)
• United States National Atlas

37°59′N 88°55′W / 37.99°N 88.92°W / 37.99; -88.92