Franklin County, Illinois

Franklin County is a county in Southern Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 39,561.[1] Its county seat is Benton.[2] It is located in the southern portion of Illinois known locally as "Little Egypt".

Franklin County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°59′N 88°55′W
Country United States
State Illinois
FoundedJanuary 2, 1818
Named forBenjamin Franklin
SeatBenton
Largest cityWest Frankfort
Area
 • Total431 sq mi (1,120 km2)
 • Land409 sq mi (1,060 km2)
 • Water23 sq mi (60 km2)  5.2%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total39,561
 • Estimate 
(2018)
38,701
 • Density92/sq mi (35/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district12th
Websitewww.franklincountyil.gov

History

Franklin County was established on January 2, 1818 and formed from parts of Gallatin and White counties. It was named for Benjamin Franklin.[3]

  • Franklin County at the time of its formation in 1818
  • The creation of Williamson County in 1839 reduced Franklin to its current borders.

Coal mining

Coal was mined in Franklin County as early as 1889, at the King Coal Mine, located at Township 5 South, Range 3 East.[4]

The high levels of gas found in Franklin County's coal deposits have resulted in mining disasters and explosions over the years.[5] Between 1905 and 1968, there were eleven mine disasters.[6] In 1905, the Zeigler No. 1 mine, located in Zeigler, had an explosion that killed about fifty people.[7] In 1917, an explosion in Old Ben Mine No. 11, located in Christopher, killed 17.[8] The worst explosion occurred in 1951, in the Orient No. 2 Mine in West Frankfort, in which 119 people died.[9]

The West Frankfort quadrangle of Franklin County is home to 17 coal mines, according to a 2004 report.[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 431 square miles (1,120 km2), of which 409 square miles (1,060 km2) is land and 23 square miles (60 km2) (5.2%) is water.[10] Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area is located in this county.

Climate and weather
Benton, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
2.9
 
 
39
21
 
 
2.9
 
 
45
26
 
 
4.2
 
 
56
36
 
 
4.5
 
 
67
45
 
 
4.6
 
 
76
54
 
 
4.1
 
 
85
63
 
 
3.2
 
 
90
68
 
 
3
 
 
88
65
 
 
2.9
 
 
81
58
 
 
2.9
 
 
69
45
 
 
4.5
 
 
56
37
 
 
3.6
 
 
43
26
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[11]

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Benton have ranged from a low of 21 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 90 °F (32 °C) in July, although a record low of −22 °F (−30 °C) was recorded in January 1977 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in August 2007. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.87 inches (73 mm) in February to 4.59 inches (117 mm) in May.[11]

In 1912, a tornado destroyed facilities at the Possum Ridge Mine.[5][12]

On March 18, 1925, Franklin County was among five southern Illinois counties effected by the infamous Tri State Tornado. The storm cut across the southern edge of the county, hitting West Frankfort and destroying most of the northern side of town, causing significant damage to the town's mining facilities. Farther to the east, the village of Parrish was also struck, and was never rebuilt. The storm killed 192 people in Franklin County, injuring hundreds more and leaving scores of people homeless.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18201,763—
18304,083131.6%
18403,682−9.8%
18505,68154.3%
18609,39365.3%
187012,65234.7%
188016,12927.5%
189017,1386.3%
190019,67514.8%
191025,94331.9%
192057,293120.8%
193059,4423.8%
194053,137−10.6%
195048,685−8.4%
196039,281−19.3%
197038,329−2.4%
198043,20112.7%
199040,319−6.7%
200039,018−3.2%
201039,5611.4%
2018 (est.)38,701[13]−2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
1790-1960[15] 1900-1990[16]
1990-2000[17] 2010-2013[1]
2000 census age pyramid for Franklin County

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 39,561 people, 16,617 households, and 10,912 families residing in the county.[18] The population density was 96.8 inhabitants per square mile (37.4/km2). There were 18,525 housing units at an average density of 45.3 per square mile (17.5/km2).[10] The racial makeup of the county was 97.7% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.3% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population.[18] In terms of ancestry, 21.8% were German, 18.7% were Irish, 15.9% were English, 9.4% were American, and 5.7% were Italian.[19]

Of the 16,617 households, 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.3% were non-families, and 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 41.8 years.[18]

The median income for a household in the county was $34,381 and the median income for a family was $43,170. Males had a median income of $39,122 versus $28,950 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,504. About 14.5% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.5% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.[20]

Communities

Cities

Villages
Map of Franklin County, Illinois

Census-designated place

Townships

Franklin County is divided into twelve townships:

Education

Regional
  • Franklin, Johnson, Massac, and Williamson County Regional Office of Education #21 [21]

Primary and secondary
  • Christopher Unit School District #99 [22]
  • Sesser Unit School District [23]
  • Benton School District #47 [24]
  • Frankfort Community Unit School District #168 [25]
  • Zeigler-Royalton Community Unit School District #188 [26]
  • Thompsonville Community Unit School District #174 [27]
  • Ewing-Northern Community Unit School District #115 [28]

Higher education

Specialized
  • Franklin & Jefferson County Special Education Cooperative [29]

Politics

Because of its strong Southern leanings and opposition to the “Yankee” Civil War, the county leaned strongly toward the Democratic Party until the 2000s. It voted for Republican Presidential nominees only in landslide GOP victories, and even Walter Mondale when he came within 3,819 votes of losing all fifty states in 1984 was able to carry Franklin County by 1,011 votes. However, since the turn of the century opposition to the Democratic Party's liberal views on social issues has produced a powerful swing towards the Republican Party.[30] In 2016, Hillary Clinton did fifteen percent worse than any previous Democratic candidate, receiving only 25 percent of the county's ballots.

Presidential election results
Presidential election results[31]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 73.1% 13,622 25.6% 4,760 1.3% 244
2016 70.1% 13,116 25.3% 4,727 4.6% 868
2012 57.3% 10,267 40.5% 7,254 2.2% 393
2008 50.3% 9,404 47.5% 8,880 2.3% 430
2004 53.7% 10,388 45.6% 8,816 0.8% 148
2000 44.2% 8,490 53.1% 10,201 2.7% 521
1996 30.8% 5,354 56.5% 9,814 12.6% 2,190
1992 25.6% 5,504 59.3% 12,744 15.1% 3,233
1988 40.9% 7,677 58.7% 11,023 0.4% 83
1984 47.4% 9,656 52.4% 10,667 0.3% 54
1980 49.0% 9,731 47.5% 9,425 3.5% 700
1976 36.5% 7,420 63.1% 12,818 0.4% 86
1972 54.0% 10,121 45.6% 8,545 0.3% 63
1968 42.9% 9,036 47.9% 10,095 9.2% 1,943
1964 35.9% 7,620 64.1% 13,581
1960 51.0% 11,861 48.9% 11,368 0.2% 37
1956 51.0% 11,761 49.0% 11,308
1952 49.3% 11,723 50.4% 11,981 0.3% 62
1948 43.9% 9,407 54.8% 11,750 1.3% 287
1944 49.0% 11,377 50.2% 11,663 0.8% 173
1940 45.1% 12,936 54.2% 15,523 0.7% 201
1936 40.2% 10,708 57.3% 15,254 2.5% 663
1932 32.5% 7,560 63.4% 14,754 4.2% 976
1928 45.8% 9,900 52.6% 11,369 1.6% 353
1924 39.6% 6,779 33.8% 5,791 26.6% 4,551
1920 51.1% 7,608 32.9% 4,894 16.0% 2,384
1916 46.4% 6,371 46.8% 6,419 6.8% 934
1912 36.1% 2,098 41.9% 2,435 22.0% 1,276
1908 48.5% 2,539 45.9% 2,401 5.6% 293
1904 50.0% 2,077 43.4% 1,801 6.6% 273
1900 48.0% 2,117 50.5% 2,226 1.5% 68
1896 47.4% 2,038 52.0% 2,233 0.6% 26
1892 44.3% 1,631 48.4% 1,782 7.4% 273

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 131.
  4. Hinton, Wayne. "Illinois Coal & Coal Mining, History & Genealogy - Coal Mines of Franklin County, Illinois". Wayne's World of History & Genealogy. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  5. Chenowith, Cheri; Myers, Alan R (2014). "Directory of Coal Mines in Illinois, 7.5 Minute Quadrangle Series, West Frankfort Quadrangle, Franklin County" (PDF). Illinois State Geological Survey.
  6. United States Mine Rescue Association. "Mine Disasters in the United States - By County - Franklin County, IL". Mine Disasters in the United States. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  7. United States Mine Rescue Association. "Ziegler Mine Explosion". Mine Disasters in the United States. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  8. United States Mine Rescue Association. "Old Ben No. 11 Mine Explosion". Mine Disasters in the United States. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  9. United States Mine Rescue Association. "Orient No. 2 Mine Explosion - West Frankfort, Illinois". Mine Disasters in the United States. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  10. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  11. "Monthly Averages for Benton, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  12. Hubbs, Barbara Barr. "Possum Ridge Mine History". Williamson County Illinois Historical Society. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  13. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  14. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  15. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  16. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  17. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  18. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  19. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  20. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  21. Franklin, Johnson, Massac, and Williamson County Regional Office of Education #21
  22. Christopher Unit School District #99
  23. Sesser Unit School District #196
  24. Benton School District #47
  25. Frankfort Community Unit School District #168
  26. Zeigler-Royalton Community Unit School District #188
  27. Thompsonville Community Unit School District #174
  28. Ewing-Northern Community Unit School District #115
  29. Franklin & Jefferson County Special Education Cooperative
  30. Cohn, Nate; ‘Demographic Shift: Southern Whites’ Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats’, The New York Times, April 24, 2014
  31. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 2, 2018.

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