Franklin is a city in, and the county seat of, Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. Located about 21 miles south of Nashville, it is one of the principal cities of the Nashville metropolitan area and Middle Tennessee.
Williamson County was primarily rural into the late 20th century, with an economy based on traditional commodity crops and livestock. Since 1980, the northern part of the county has begun to be developed for residential and related businesses, in addition to modern service industries. Franklin's population has increased more than fivefold. Based on its 2016 estimated population of 74,794, it is ranked as the seventh-largest city in Tennessee.
Video Franklin, Tennessee
History
18th century
The community of Franklin was founded October 26, 1799, by Abram Maury, Jr. (1766-1825). He was later elected as a state senator. He is buried with his family in Founders Pointe. Maury named the town after national founding father Benjamin Franklin.
Ewen Cameron built a log house, the first by a European-American in the town of Franklin. Cameron was born February 23, 1768, in Bogallan, Ferintosh, Scotland. He immigrated to Virginia in 1785 and traveled into Tennessee, along with other migrants after the American Revolutionary War. Cameron died February 28, 1846, having lived 48 years in the same log house. He and his second wife, Mary, were buried in the old City Cemetery. Some of his descendants have continued to live in Franklin.
19th century
This area was part of Middle Tennessee, and white planters prospered in the antebellum years, with cultivation of tobacco and hemp as commodity crops, and raising of livestock. Farmers depended on numerous slaves as workers.
During the Civil War, Franklin was the site of a major battle in the Franklin-Nashville Campaign. The Battle of Franklin was fought in the city on November 30, 1864, resulting in a total of almost 10,000 casualties (killed, wounded, captured, and missing). 44 buildings were temporarily converted to use as field hospitals. The Carter, Carnton, and the Lotz historic homes are still standing from this era, and are among the numerous examples of historic architecture in the city.
After the war, there was considerable violence in Franklin and the area as whites attempted to dominate the majority-black population and assert white supremacy. In 1866 the Ku Klux Klan, a secret organization made up of insurgent white Confederate veterans, was founded in Pulaski, Tennessee. Soon it had chapters in many towns, including Franklin, as well as chapters in other states.
After Tennessee authorized African Americans to vote in February 1867, well before the Fifteenth Amendment was passed, most freedmen and formerly free people of color joined the Republican Party, which Conservative whites and Democrats struggled to suppress. On July 6, 1867 a political rally of Union League black Republicans in Franklin was disrupted by Conservatives, who were mostly white but included some blacks. Later that evening, what became known as the "Franklin Riot" took place. Black Union League men were ambushed by whites at the town square and returned fire. An estimated 25 to 39 men were wounded, most of them black. One white man was killed outright, and at least three black people died soon after.
On August 15, 1868 in Franklin, Samuel Bierfield became the first Jewish man to be lynched in the United States, when he was shot by a large group of masked men believed to be KKK members. Bowman, a black man who worked for him and was with him at his store, was fatally wounded in the attack.
After Reconstruction, white violence continued against African Americans. Five African Americans were recorded as lynched in Williamson County from 1877 to 1950, most during the decades around the turn of the century, a time of high social tensions and legal oppression in the South. Some of these murders took place in Franklin after the men were taken from the courthouse or county jail before trial.
For example, on August 10, 1888, Amos Miller, a 23-year-old African-American, was lynched before his trial, taken from the courtroom and hanged from the balcony of the Williamson County Courthouse. On April 30, 1891, Jim Taylor, another African-American man, was lynched on Murfreesboro Road in Franklin.
20th century
Population growth slowed noticeably from 1910 to 1940 (see table in Demographic section), as many African Americans left the area to escape Jim Crow conditions and the decline in agricultural work. They went north in the Great Migration.
A suburb of Nashville, Franklin has benefited from regional growth in the economy since the late 20th century. Its population has increased more than fivefold since 1980, when its population was 12,407. In 2012, it had an estimated population of 68,280. As of 2016 Census estimates, it ranks as the seventh-largest city in the state.
Many of its residents commute to businesses in Nashville. The regional economy has also expanded, with considerable growth in businesses and jobs in Franklin and the county.
The city began to grow after the historic preservation movement had started, and it has worked to identify and preserve historic assets. It has five historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as are many individually significant buildings.
In the early morning of Christmas Eve of 1988, one person died when an F4 tornado struck the city.
Maps Franklin, Tennessee
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 78.0 km² (30.1 mi²). 77.8 km² (30.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.27%) is covered by water.
Demographics
Since the late 20th century, the city has grown rapidly in population, attracting many businesses. As of the census of 2010, 62,487 people (Williamson County's population was 193,595), 16,128 households, and 11,225 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,393.3 people per square mile (538.0/km2). The 17,296 housing units averaged 575.9 per square mile (222.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 84.53% White, 10.35% African American, 4.84% Latino, 1.61% Asian, 0.24% Native American, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.17% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races.
Of the 16,128 households, 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were not families; 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.09. In the city, the population was distributed as 27.9% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 38.1% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $75,871, and for a family was $91,931. Males had a median income of $66,622 versus $43,193 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $36,445. About 5.0% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over. Less than 5.0% of the eligible workforce was unemployed.
Economy
The city is home to health-care related businesses such as HealthSpring, Clarcor, Community Health Systems, Healthways, Home Instead Senior Care, MedSolutions Inc, and Renal Advantage Inc. In addition, Magazines.com, the Provident Music Group, World Christian Broadcasting, gas utility Atmos Energy's Kentucky/Mid-States division, and Nissan's North American headquarters are in Franklin.
Future development includes the construction in Dover Center of the North American headquarters of the Chinese manufacturer Triangle Tyre Company.
Franklin has benefited from its proximity to Nashville, whose growth has been a catalyst for this county seat as well. The Cool Springs area is a business, dining and shopping hub that has attracted several Fortune 500 companies. In 2016, CKE Restaurants announced the relocation of its corporate headquarters to Cool Springs.
Top employers
According to the City's 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,the top employers in the city are:
Government
The city is run by a mayor elected at-large in the city and a board of eight aldermen, four elected from single-member districts, and four elected at-large. This results in a board that is biased toward the majority, as half the members and the mayor must be elected by majority voting. They are elected for four-year terms, with the ward alderman elected in one cycle, and the mayor and at-large aldermen elected two years later. The city's policies and procedures are decided by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
Resolutions, Municipals Ordinances, and the Municipal Code are carried out by the city's various departments. These are: Administration, Building and Neighborhood Services, Engineering, Finance, Fire, Human Resources, Information Technology, Law, Planning and Sustainability, Parks, Police, Sanitation and Environmental Services, Streets, and Water Management. These 14 departments are overseen by the City Administrator.
Education
Public schools
The city is served by the Williamson County School District and the Franklin Special School District.
Private schools
Local private schools include Battle Ground Academy, Benton Hall School, the Classical Academy of Franklin, Franklin Christian Academy, Grace Christian Academy, Heritage Covenant School, Montessori School of Franklin, New Hope Academy, St. Matthews Catholic School, and Willow Hall Academy.
Higher education
- Belmont University, Williamson County campus
- Columbia State Community College, Franklin campus
- Lipscomb University
- O'More College of Design
- University of Phoenix, Franklin Learning Center
- Williamson College
Parks
Pinkerton Park is a 34-acre municipal park located in Franklin. Fort Granger is located to the north of the park, and may be reached by a trail.
Festivals
Main Street Festival
Franklin's Main Street Festival involves artisans, four stages, two carnivals, and two food courts installed in the historic Franklin Square and Downtown District. Arts and crafts booths run from First to Fifth Avenue.
Pumpkinfest
Pumpkinfest is an annual fundraiser for the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County, held on the Saturday before Halloween. The holiday theme is carried through activities including music, children's amusements, local artisans, and food.
Dickens of a Christmas
Dickens of a Christmas is celebrated every second week in December, attracting approximately 50,000 visitors yearly. It takes place in Historic Downtown Franklin. Costumed volunteers masquerade as figures from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Music and dancing are a big part of the festival, and local school and church musical groups often perform. Victorian cuisine is served to visitors, and an arts and crafts bazaar features prominently in Public Square.
Notable people
- Chris Carrabba, musician Dashboard Confessional, Twin Forks, Further Seems Forever
- Billy Ray Cyrus, singer/songwriter and actor
- Miley Cyrus, singer/songwriter and actress
- Trace Cyrus, musician and recording artist
- Robert Knight, musician
- Andrew Puzder, businessman and President Donald Trump's Secretary of Labor choice
- Dave Ramsey, TV/radio personality and financial advisor
- TobyMac, musician
- Cal Turner Jr., billionaire heir, former CEO of Dollar General
- Hayley Williams, musician
- Ben Zobrist, baseball player
In popular culture
- ABC's television show Nashville (2012) filmed many concert show segments at the Franklin Theatre.
- Performer Justin Bieber filmed the video for his song "Mistletoe" in Downtown Franklin.
Sister cities
Franklin is an active participant in the Sister Cities program. Sister Cities of Franklin & Williamson County was founded as an outgrowth of Leadership Franklin in March 2002. The City of Franklin has relationships with the following municipalities:
- Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada (2008)
- County Laois, Leinster, Ireland (2008)
- Bad Soden am Taunus, Hesse, Germany (2016)
See also
- Tennessee and Alabama Railroad Freight Depot
References
External links
- City of Franklin (official website)
- City charter
- Franklin: 2009 Dozen Distinctive Destinations, National Trust for Historic Preservation
- The Battle of Franklin, Tennessee by John K. Shellenberger
- "Franklin, a town of Williamson County, Tenn.". The New Student's Reference Work. 1914.
Source of article : Wikipedia
0 Comments