Virginia

Franklin

54,477
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Franklin

Franklin, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 6,842. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 54,477.

Its recorded population peaked at 56,159 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 3 percent.

On the ground today, 32 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202054,477
201056,159
200047,286
199039,549
198035,740
197026,858
196025,925
195024,560
194025,864
193024,337
192026,283
191026,480
190025,953
189024,985
188025,084
187018,264
186020,098
185017,430
184015,832
183014,911
182012,017
181010,724
18009,302
17906,842
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, Virginia.

Early, Jubal A., House
Boones Mill
Booker T. Washington National Monument
Rocky Mount
Hook-Powell-Moorman Farm
Hales Ford
Elms, The
Franklin (Independent City)
Boones Mill Depot
Boones Mill
Snow Creek Anglican Church
Penhook
Washington Iron Furnace
Rocky Mount
Woods-Meade House
Rocky Mount
Franklin Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Franklin (Independent City)
Evergreen-Callaway-Deyerle House
Rocky Mount
Waverly
Burnt Chimney
Boones Mill Historic District
Boones Mill
Rocky Mount Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Rocky Mount
Holland-Duncan House
Moneta
Farm, The
Rocky Mount
Ferrum College Historic District
Ferrum
Booth-Lovelace House
Hardy
Greer House
Rocky Mount
Rocky Mount Historic District
Rocky Mount
Bowman Farm
Boones Mill
Bleak Hill
Callaway
Burwell-Holland House
Glade Hill
Franklin Historic District
Franklin (Independent City)
Dudley, Gwin, Home Site
Wirtz
Browse all Virginiahistoric sites ›

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Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Franklin County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Franklin County, Virginia. 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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Virginiahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Virginia

Frequently asked about Franklin

When does Franklin first appear in the US census?
Franklin, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 6,842.
What is the population of Franklin?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Franklin had a recorded population of 54,477.
When did Franklin's population peak?
Franklin's recorded population peaked at 56,159 in 2010.
How many historic places are in Franklin?
32 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Franklin, Virginia.
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