Franklin, Kentucky Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools
Franklin, Kentucky is a city located in Simpson County in south-central Kentucky. It is situated east of the Tennessee River and is part of the Nashville metropolitan area. The city has a population of approximately 8,800 people and encompasses an area of approximately 6.6 square miles.
Geographically, Franklin lies at the intersection of two major highways: Interstate 65 and US Route 31W. The city is surrounded by rolling hills and farmland, offering beautiful views for visitors and locals alike. Its climate consists mainly of hot summers and cold winters with moderate rainfall throughout the year.
The history of Franklin dates back to 1819 when it was founded by William Heard as a stop on the stagecoach line between Nashville and Russellville, Kentucky. In its early years, Franklin served as a trading post for farmers in the area who relied on it for goods they could not produce themselves. By 1820, Franklin had become an incorporated town with a population of over 400 people. It was also during this time that many businesses began to open including hardware stores, banks, hotels, blacksmiths shops, saloons, barbershops and more.
Politics in Franklin are currently dominated by its mayor Bob Scott who was elected in 2012 after serving as a county commissioner for 12 years prior to that. Scott has been credited for leading several initiatives within the community including improvements to infrastructure such as streetscapes and sidewalks as well as enhancing public safety through increased police presence throughout the city limits.
The economy in Franklin is largely based around agriculture with many local farms producing corn, soybeans, wheat and tobacco among other crops which are sold both locally and abroad. There are also several industrial companies located within the city limits which provide employment opportunities to many residents including automotive suppliers such as Denso Manufacturing Tennessee Inc., Bridgestone Tires Inc., Yokohama Tire Corporation and more recently Amazon Fulfillment Center which opened its doors in 2018 creating hundreds of jobs within the community.
Franklin also has several schools within its boundaries including three elementary schools (Franklin Elementary School Northside Elementary School Southside Elementary School), one middle school (Franklin Middle School) one high school (Franklin High School) along with two private Christian schools (Living Word Christian Academy & Community Christian Academy). All four public schools are part of Simpson County Public Schools district while both private schools offer K-12 education to students from all over Western Kentucky region
Finally some landmarks found in or near Franklin include: The Historic Downtown Square where visitors can walk around various shops & restaurants; The Fountain Park where locals hold numerous events throughout the year; Battle Of Old Fort Building Museum which offers visitors insight into local Civil War history; Westmoreland Park which offers hiking trails & picnic areas; and finally Fort Granger Park offering visitors access to fishing & boating activities on Lake Barkley Reservoir.
Population: 7,996. Estimated population in July 2024: 8,079 (+1.0% change)
Males: 3,785 (47.3%), Females: 4,211 (52.7%)
Simpson County
Zip codes: 42134.
Demographics
Median resident age: 36.0 years
Median household income: $32,001
Median house value: $76,300
Population by Race
Races in Franklin:
- White Non-Hispanic (80.6%)
- Black (16.8%)
- Two or more races (0.9%)
- Hispanic (0.8%)
Ancestries: United States (22.1%), Irish (7.0%), English (5.8%), German (5.2%), Scotch-Irish (1.7%), Scottish (1.4%).
Elevation: 720 feet
Land area: 7.4 square miles
Population by Education
Franklin, Kentucky is a small city located in Simpson County in the state of Kentucky. It has a population of 8,973 people according to the 2019 U.S. Census Bureau estimates. The population is almost evenly split between men and women, with slightly more women than men making up the population. The median age of the population is 37 years old, with 27% of the population under 18 years old and 13% over 65 years old. The racial makeup of Franklin is predominantly white (91%), followed by African American (4%), Hispanic or Latino (3%), and other races (2%).
The majority of Franklin’s residents are employed in manufacturing, healthcare, retail trade, and educational services. The city also has a strong agricultural sector that includes livestock production and crop farming. The median household income for Franklin is $46,719 which is slightly lower than the national average but still above Kentucky’s average income level. Unemployment rate for Franklin was 3 percent in 2019 which was lower than both Kentucky’s unemployment rate as well as the national unemployment rate at that time. Education levels are higher than average in Franklin with 32 percent having a Bachelor’s degree or higher compared to 24 percent nationally.
For population 25 years and over in Franklin
- High school or higher: 68.3%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.9%
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.8%
- Unemployed: 3.6%
- Mean travel time to work: 18.6 minutes
For population 15 years and over in Franklin city
- Never married: 21.1%
- Now married: 51.6%
- Separated: 1.4%
- Widowed: 11.4%
- Divorced: 14.4%
1.6% Foreign born
Population change in the 1990s: +317 (+4.1%).
Hospitals
Hospital/medical center in Franklin:
- MEDICAL CENTER AT FRANKLIN,THE (1100 BROOKHAVEN RD)
Other hospitals/medical centers near Franklin:
- MEDIPLEX REHAB BOWLING GREEN (about 17 miles; BOWLING GREEN, KY)
- MEDICAL CENTER,THE (about 20 miles; BOWLING GREEN, KY)
- GREENVIEW REGIONAL HOSP (about 22 miles; BOWLING GREEN, KY)
Airports
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Franklin:
- BOWLING GREEN-WARREN COUNTY RGNL (about 20 miles; BOWLING GREEN, KY; Abbreviation: BWG)
- NASHVILLE INTL (about 43 miles; NASHVILLE, TN; Abbreviation: BNA)
- SMYRNA (about 50 miles; SMYRNA, TN; Abbreviation: MQY)
Other public-use airports nearest to Franklin:
- PORTLAND MUNI (about 13 miles; PORTLAND, TN; Abbreviation: 1M5)
- RUSSELLVILLE-LOGAN COUNTY (about 16 miles; RUSSELLVILLE, KY; Abbreviation: 4M7)
- SPRINGFIELD ROBERTSON COUNTY (about 27 miles; SPRINGFIELD, TN; Abbreviation: M91)
Colleges and Universities
Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Franklin:
- WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY (about 22 miles; BOWLING GREEN, KY; Full-time enrollment: 12,806)
- VOLUNTEER STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 25 miles; GALLATIN, TN; Full-time enrollment: 4,215)
- VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY (about 40 miles; NASHVILLE, TN; Full-time enrollment: 9,823)
- BELMONT UNIVERSITY (about 44 miles; NASHVILLE, TN; Full-time enrollment: 2,654)
- TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY (about 44 miles; NASHVILLE, TN; Full-time enrollment: 7,346)
- NASHVILLE STATE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE (about 44 miles; NASHVILLE, TN; Full-time enrollment: 3,642)
- DAVID LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY (about 45 miles; NASHVILLE, TN; Full-time enrollment: 2,260)
Schools
Public high schools in Franklin:
- FRANKLIN-SIMPSON HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 832; Location: 400 S COLLEGE ST; Grades: 09 – 12)
- LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES CENTER ALT SCH (Students: 29; Location: 205 IRIS DR; Grades: 07 – 12)
Private high school in Franklin:
- FAITH BAPTIST ACADEMY (Students: 66; Location: 1008 W CEDAR; Grades: KG – 12)
Public primary/middle schools in Franklin:
- SIMPSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 677; Location: 721 WITT RD; Grades: 01 – 04)
- FRANKLIN-SIMPSON MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 495; Location: 322 S COLLEGE ST; Grades: 07 – 08)
- LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 473; Location: 601 JOHN J. JOHNSON AVE; Grades: 05 – 06)
- FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 456; Location: 211 S MAIN ST; Grades: PK – 03)
Private primary/middle school in Franklin:
- FRANKLIN MENNONITE ELEM (Students: 22; Location: MENNONITE CHURCH RD; Grades: 1 – 8)
Libraries
Library in Franklin:
- GOODNIGHT MEMORIAL LIBRARY (Operating income: $309,438; Location: 203 SOUTH MAIN STREET; 30,094 books; 99 audio materials; 185 video materials; 82 serial subscriptions)