Franklin, Louisiana

Franklin is a small city in, and the parish seat of, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, United States.[3] The population was 7,660 at the 2010 census.[4] It is part of the Morgan City Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Not to be confused with Franklin Parish, Louisiana.
Franklin, Louisiana
City
City of Franklin
Historic lampposts lining Franklin's Main Street
Location of Franklin in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Coordinates: 29°47′30″N 91°30′30″W
CountryUnited States
StateLouisiana
ParishSt. Mary
Incorporated1820
Government
Area
 • Total10.49 sq mi (27.17 km2)
 • Land9.92 sq mi (25.70 km2)
 • Water0.57 sq mi (1.48 km2)
Elevation
10 ft (3 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total7,660
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
6,709
 • Density676.17/sq mi (261.08/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
70538
Area code(s)337
FIPS code22-27155
Websitewww.franklin-la.com

History

Franklin, named for Benjamin Franklin, was founded in 1808 as Carlin's Settlement by French-born pioneer Joseph Carlin and his family. It became the parish seat in 1811 and the town was incorporated in 1820.[5] 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. Franklin's First United Methodist Church was established in 1806, making it the first Protestant church established in the state of Louisiana.

Sugar 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.[6]

Civil War

During the Civil War, the Battle of Irish Bend, also known as Nerson's Woods, was fought near Franklin on April 14, 1863. Though eventually forced to retreat, the badly outnumbered Confederate forces commanded by General Richard Taylor cost the Union troops, under General Cuvier Grover, significant losses. Four hundred men were killed or wounded in the confrontation, including Confederate Colonel James Reily, a factor in halting the Union drive to invade Texas.[6][7]

Geography

Franklin is located at 29°47′30″N 91°30′30″W (29.791759, -91.508253)[8] and has an elevation of 10 feet (3.0 m).[9]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.5 square miles (27.2 km2), of which 9.9 square miles (25.7 km2) is land and 0.58 square miles (1.5 km2), or 5.44%, is water.[4]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1850891—
18701,265—
18801,70234.5%
18902,12725.0%
19002,69226.6%
19103,85743.3%
19203,504−9.2%
19303,271−6.6%
19404,27430.7%
19506,14443.8%
19608,67341.2%
19709,3257.5%
19809,5842.8%
19909,004−6.1%
20008,354−7.2%
20107,660−8.3%
Est. 20196,709[2]−12.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

As of the census[11] 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 per square mile (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 statewide 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.

Government
  • Mayor - Eugene P. Foulcard (Democrat)
  • Mayor Protempore - At Large - Lester Levine (Democrat)
  • Councilman District A - Jaime Robison (Independent)
  • Councilman District B - Chuck Autin (Independent)
  • Councilman District C - Larry J. Guilbeau, Sr. (Democrat)
  • Councilman District D - Joseph H. Garrison (Democrat)
  • Clerk of Council - Karen LeBlanc

Education

St. Mary Parish School Board operates public schools:

Elementary schools:

  • W. P. Foster Elementary School
  • LaGrange Elementary School

Secondary schools:

  • Franklin Junior High School
  • Franklin Senior High School

Not Operated by St. Mary Parish School Board:

Private schools:

  • St. John Elementary School
  • Hanson Memorial High School

Notable people

Theatre

Teche Theater (founded 1939 as a cinema and revamped for live theatre in 1993): http://www.ttpaonline.com

  • Earl Long in Purgatory (2004) (John "Spud" McConnell)
  • Driving Miss Daisy (2005) (Diane Wiltz, Tyra Yarber, and Ed "Tiger" Verdin)
  • A Soldier's Play (2006) (Tyra Yarber, Ed "Tiger Verdin and Averis Anderson)
  • Fiddler on the Roof (2006) (Larry Deslatte and Allison Jones)
  • November (2009) (Ed "Tiger" Verdin and Ricky Pellerin)

Movies (filmed in the area)

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Franklin city, Louisiana". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  5. Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. "Franklin Historical Marker".
  6. www.franklin-la.org "Welcome to the City of Franklin"
  7. John D. Winters, The Civil War in Louisiana, Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1963, ISBN 0-8071-0834-0, p. 229
  8. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  9. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. "Lafargue, Alvan Henry". Louisiana Historical Association, A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
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