North Carolina

Franklin

68,573
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Franklin

Franklin, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 7,559. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 68,573.

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

On the ground today, 41 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202068,573
201060,619
200047,260
199036,414
198030,055
197026,820
196028,755
195031,341
194030,382
193029,456
192026,667
191024,692
190025,116
189021,090
188020,829
187014,134
186014,107
185011,713
184010,980
183010,665
18209,741
181010,166
18008,529
17907,559
Source

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

Historic places in Franklin

National Register of Historic Places listings in Franklin, North Carolina.

Fuller House
Louisburg
Clifton House and Mill Site
Royal
Speed Farm
Gupton
Cascine
Louisburg
Cascine (Boundary Increase)
Louisburg
Harris, Dr. J. H., House
Franklinton
Davis, Archibald H., Plantation
Justice
Dean Farm
Louisburg
Kearney, Shemuel, House
Franklinton
Baker Farm
Bunn
Franklinton Depot
Franklinton
Andrews-Moore House
Bunn
Locust Grove
Ingleside
McGhee, C.L. and Bessie G., House
Franklinton
Taylor, Archibald, House
Wood
Person-McGhee Farm
Franklinton
Savage, Dr. J. A., House
Franklinton
Massenburg Plantation
Louisburg
Cooke House
Louisburg
Portridge
Louisburg
Green Hill House
Louisburg
Laurel Mill and Col. Jordan Jones House
Gupton
Concord School
Kittrell
Massenburg Plantation (Boundary Increase)
Louisburg
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more North Carolina counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Franklin County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Franklin County, North Carolina. 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, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 7,559.
What is the population of Franklin?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Franklin had a recorded population of 68,573.
How many historic places are in Franklin?
41 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Franklin, North Carolina.
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