Kentucky

Franklin

51,541
2020 population
1800
first census record
23
census records

About Franklin

Franklin, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1800, when it recorded a population of 5,078. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 51,541.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Action at Frankfort (Confederate occupation 1862), Confederate Inauguration at Frankfort, Action at Frankfort (Morgan Raid 1864), and 61 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202051,541
201049,285
200047,687
199043,781
198041,830
197034,481
196029,421
195025,933
194023,308
193021,064
192019,357
191021,135
190020,852
189021,267
188018,699
187015,300
186012,694
185012,462
18409,420
18309,254
182011,024
18108,013
18005,078
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Franklin

Military engagements that took place in Franklin, Kentucky.

Action at Frankfort (Confederate occupation 1862)
1862
Confederate Inauguration at Frankfort
1862
Action at Frankfort (Morgan Raid 1864)
1864

Historic places in Franklin

National Register of Historic Places listings in Franklin, Kentucky.

Confederate Monument in Frankfort
Frankfort
Corner in Celebrities Historic District
Frankfort
Archeological Site 15 FR 368
Frankfort
Colored Soldiers Monument in Frankfort
Frankfort
Switzer Covered Bridge
Switzer
Frankfort Cemetery and Chapel
Frankfort
Central Frankfort Historic District
Frankfort
Beeches
Frankfort
Old Governor's Mansion
Frankfort
Zeigler, Rev. Jesse R., House
Frankfort
Old Statehouse
Frankfort
Stewart Home School
Frankfort
Berry, George F., House
Frankfort
Kentucky State Capitol
Frankfort
Frankfort Commercial Historic District
Frankfort
Liberty Hall
Frankfort
Old Statehouse Historic District
Frankfort
George T. Stagg Distillery
Frankfort
Gooch House
Frankfort
Old Stone Tavern
Frankfort
Kentucky Governor's Mansion
Frankfort
Old U.S. Courthouse and Post Office
Frankfort
Browse all Kentuckyhistoric sites ›

Other counties in Kentucky

Explore census history and historic records for more Kentucky counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Franklin County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Franklin County, Kentucky. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Franklin

When does Franklin first appear in the US census?
Franklin, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1800, with a recorded population of 5,078.
What is the population of Franklin?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Franklin had a recorded population of 51,541.
Were any battles fought in Franklin?
3 documented military engagements took place in Franklin, including Action at Frankfort (Confederate occupation 1862), Confederate Inauguration at Frankfort, Action at Frankfort (Morgan Raid 1864).
How many historic places are in Franklin?
61 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Franklin, Kentucky.
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