Franklin County, Virginia
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Franklin County is a county located in the US state of Virginia. As of 2000, the population is 47,286. Its county seat is Rocky Mount6.
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History
The county was formed in 1785 from parts of Bedford County and Henry County. It was named for Benjamin Franklin. This county was home to Confederate General Jubal Anderson Early, and Booker T. Washington, a slave who became one of the main civil rights activitist of his era. During Prohibition, local wits named Franklin County the "Moonshine Capital of the World," a name trumpeted today by the local chamber of commerce.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,843 km² (712 mi²). 1,792 km² (692 mi²) of it is land and 50 km² (19 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.74% water.
Districts
The county is divided into seven supervisor districts: Blackwater, Blue Ridge, Boone, Gills Creek, Rocky Mount, Snow Creek, and Union Hall.
Adjacent Counties
- Bedford County, Virginia - northeast
- Pittsylvania County, Virginia - southeast
- Henry County, Virginia - south
- Patrick County, Virginia - southwest
- Floyd County, Virginia - west
- Roanoke County, Virginia - northwest
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 47,286 people, 18,963 households, and 13,918 families residing in the county. The population density is 26/km² (68/mi²). There are 22,717 housing units at an average density of 13/km² (33/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 88.95% White, 9.35% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 1.21% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 18,963 households out of which 29.10% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.10% are married couples living together, 9.40% have a female householder with no husband present, and 26.60% are non-families. 22.60% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.90% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.44 and the average family size is 2.84.
In the county, the population is spread out with 22.20% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 27.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 97.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 96.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $38,056, and the median income for a family is $45,163. Males have a median income of $29,807 versus $22,215 for females. The per capita income for the county is $19,605. 9.70% of the population and 7.30% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 12.70% of those under the age of 18 and 9.80% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Towns
External links
- Franklin County government official website (http://www.franklincountyva.org)
- Valley of the Shadow: Two Communities in the American Civil War (http://valley.vcdh.virginia.edu/)