Franklin County, Missouri

Franklin County is located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 101,492.[1] Its county seat is Union.[2] The county was organized in 1818 and is named after Founding Father Benjamin Franklin.[3][4]

Not to be confused with Franklin, Missouri.
Franklin County
U.S. county
Franklin County Courthouse in Union
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°25′N 91°05′W
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedDecember 11, 1818
Named forBenjamin Franklin
SeatUnion
Largest cityWashington
Area
 • Total931 sq mi (2,410 km2)
 • Land923 sq mi (2,390 km2)
 • Water8.0 sq mi (21 km2)  0.9%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total101,492
 • Estimate 
(2018)
103,670
 • Density110/sq mi (42/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.franklinmo.org

Franklin County is part of the St. Louis, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area and contains some of the city's exurbs. It is located along the south side of the Missouri River.

The county has wineries that are included in the Hermann AVA (American Viticultural Area) and is part of the region known as the Missouri Rhineland, which extends on both sides of the Missouri River.

History

Occupied by succeeding cultures of indigenous peoples, this area was populated by the historic Osage tribe at the time of European encounter. The region was first settled by Europeans during the rule of the Spanish Empire. The Spanish log fort San Juan del Misuri (1796–1803) was built in present-day Washington. After the American Revolutionary War, migrants from the new United States started moving West. Among them were the family and followers of Daniel Boone, an explorer from Kentucky who settled the area starting in 1799. For the next two decades, most settlers came from the Upper South, especially Kentucky and Virginia, bringing their slaves with them to work the land.

In 1833 substantial numbers of German immigrant families began settling in the area, and soon they outnumbered the slave owners in the county. The German newcomers were opposed to slavery, and their sons would become Union supporters during the U.S. Civil War. Former governor and then Confederate General Sterling Price led his cavalry though the county during his Missouri raid of 1864.

Before the war Franklin County had served by steamboats that moved freight and passenger traffic on the Missouri River. Afterwards, it became a railroad transportation center. Manufacturing industries were established at the end of the Civil War and successive ones have continued.

Bias Vineyard, near the small city of Berger, is located within the Hermann American Viticultural Area (AVA), designated in 1983. Röbller Vineyard and Winery near New Haven is also in the Hermann AVA. Wineries along both sides of the Missouri River are part of the Missouri Rhineland, whose vineyards were started by German immigrants in the mid-19th century. Before Prohibition, Missouri was the second-largest wine-producing state in the nation. Everything was closed down except for limited production of wine allowed for religious purposes. The state's wine industry had to be completely rebuilt, which has been taking place since the 1960s.

The rural county has had severe problems with local production, distribution and consumption of methamphetamine. The struggles of the county with adverse effects of the drug, was explored in a 2005 A&E documentary entitled Meth: A County in Crisis.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 931 square miles (2,410 km2), of which 923 square miles (2,390 km2) is land and 8.0 square miles (21 km2) (0.9%) is water.[5] It is the fourth-largest county in Missouri by land area and third-largest by total area.

The center of the Missouri River forms the nominal northern border of the county, although the river has changed its course since boundaries were first established: a portion of St. Charles County near St. Albans is now south of the river, while a portion of Franklin County near Augusta is north of the river.

The Bourbeuse River flows for 107 miles through the county. It cuts a deep, narrow valley and is very crooked. It empties into the Meramec River near Union. This river is mostly undeveloped, with limited access and few bridges over it. During low water, a number of fords allow crossing.

The county is located in the Ozarks region, with steep hills and deep valleys, caves, springs, and sinkholes characteristic of karst areas. The underlying rock is typically carbonate, including limestone and dolomite. Mining activity in the county included ores of lead, copper, zinc, and deposits of refractory clay. The soils in most of the county tend to be thin, rocky red clay, and are poor for most agriculture, while the soil near the Missouri River is dark, rich, and thick, and used primarily for row crops such as corn, wheat, and soybeans. Much of the county is covered with thick forests, reestablished since the 1920s.

Urbanization is increasing in the county, especially surrounding Washington and Union, and along Interstate 44. St. Albans is now a continuation of the suburban region of St. Louis County while the majority of the county retains a rural character and includes extensive wilderness areas, typical of exurban areas.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18202,379—
18303,48446.4%
18407,515115.7%
185011,02146.7%
186018,08564.1%
187030,09866.4%
188026,534−11.8%
189028,0565.7%
190030,5819.0%
191029,830−2.5%
192028,427−4.7%
193030,5197.4%
194033,86811.0%
195036,0466.4%
196044,56623.6%
197055,11623.7%
198071,23329.2%
199080,60313.2%
200093,80716.4%
2010101,4928.2%
2018 (est.)103,670[6]2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2015[1] 2018[11]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 93,807 people, 34,945 households, and 25,684 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile (39/km2). There were 38,295 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile (16/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.47% White, 0.94% Black or African American, 0.27% Asian, 0.24% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. Approximately 0.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 44.9% were of German, 13.0% American, 10.7% Irish and 7.7% English ancestry.

There were 34,945 households, out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.50% were non-families. 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.40% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 30.00% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $54,392, and the median income for a family was $62,969. Males had a median income of $35,849 versus $23,344 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,529. About 4.50% of families and 7.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.90% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The unemployment rate in Franklin County is 2.9% as of December 2018, below state and national averages.

Manufacturing accounts for the most (23.8%) employment in Franklin County, primarily in the cities of Washington and Union, followed by trade, transportation and utilities (18.8%), education and health care (17.7%), and construction (11.3%).

The biggest employers in Franklin County are the manufacturing firms of Magnet LLC, Cardinal Brands Hazel Division, GDX Automotive, Sporlan Valve Company, Esselte, Silgan, Buddeez, and Meramec Group Inc. as well as the Meramec Valley R-III School District in the public education sector and Schatz Underground Cable Inc. in the construction industry. Small farms and wineries also greatly contribute to the economy in Franklin County.

Education

The highest educational attainment in Franklin County consists of the following:

  • High School Graduates: 59.1%
  • Associate Degree: 10.6%
  • Bachelor's Degree: 10.9%
  • Graduate Degree: 7.5%

Public schools

Private schools

Alternative schools
  • Autumn Hill State School (K–12) – Union – Handicapped/Special needs
  • Franklin County Special Education Cooperative (Pre-K–12) – St. Clair – Special Education
  • Four Rivers Career Center (9–12) – Washington – Vocational/Technical

Colleges/universities

Public libraries
  • Gerald Area Library[13]
  • Scenic Regional Library[14]
  • Sullivan Public Library[15]
  • Washington Public Library[16]

Crime

Rural Franklin County has had problems with the local production and consumption of methamphetamine and was featured in an A&E documentary entitled Meth: A County in Crisis (2005).

Politics

Local

The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Franklin County. Republicans hold all but one of the elected positions in the county.

Franklin County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Tom Copeland Republican
Auditor Tammy Vemmer Republican
Circuit Clerk Bill D. Miller Republican
County Clerk Tim Baker Republican
Collector Doug Trentmann Republican
Commissioner
(Presiding)		 Tim Brinker Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)		 Todd Boland Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)		 Dave Hinson Republican
Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Becker Republican
Public Administrator Mary Jo Straatmann Democratic
Recorder Jennifer Metcalf Republican
Sheriff Steve Pelton Republican
Treasurer Debbie Aholt Republican

State
Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 55.99% 28,069 41.61% 18,756 6.60% 3,306
2012 48.08% 22,335 49.23% 22,869 2.69% 1,252
2008 46.82% 22,896 51.29% 25,082 1.89% 921
2004 56.33% 25,557 42.31% 19,195 1.36% 617
2000 54.75% 21,336 41.61% 16,216 3.64% 1,418
1996 46.18% 15,540 50.44% 16,973 3.38% 1,137

Franklin County is divided into four legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives,[17] all of which are held by Republicans.

  • District 61 — Justin Alferman (R-Hermann). Consists of Berger, Gerald, Leslie, New Haven, and part of Washington.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 61 — Franklin County (2016)[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Justin Alferman 9,575 75.43% +3.05
Democratic Tom Smith 3,119 24.57% -3.05
Missouri House of Representatives — District 61 — Franklin County (2014)[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Justin Alferman 5,109 72.38% -0.10
Democratic Tom Smith 1,950 27.62% +0.10
Missouri House of Representatives — District 61 — Franklin County (2012)[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dave Schatz 8,446 72.48%
Democratic Michael Sage 3,207 27.52%
  • District 109 — Paul Curtman (R-Union). Consists of Gray Summit, Union, Villa Ridge, and part of Washington.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 109 — Franklin County (2016)[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Paul Curtman 14,164 81.10% +9.71
Green Ellen Skiljan 3,301 19.90% +19.90
Missouri House of Representatives — District 109 — Franklin County (2014)[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Paul Curtman 6,720 71.39% +13.77
Democratic Barbara Bollmann 2,693 28.61% -13.77
Missouri House of Representatives — District 109 — Franklin County (2012)[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Paul Curtman 9,810 57.62%
Democratic Ann Schroeder 7,215 42.38%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 110 — Franklin County (2016)[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kirk Matthews 2,801 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 110 — Franklin County (2014)[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kirk Mattews 1,284 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 110 — Franklin County (2012)[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Timothy W. Jones 2,559 100.00%
  • District 119 — Dave Hinson (R-St. Clair). Consists of Oak Grove Village, Parkway, St. Clair, and Sullivan.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 119 — Franklin County (2016)[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Nate Tate 12,950 100.00% +31.56
Missouri House of Representatives — District 119 — Franklin County (2014)[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dave Hinson 5,152 68.44% -31.56
Democratic Susan Cunningham 2,376 31.56% +31.56
Missouri House of Representatives — District 119 — Franklin County (2012)[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dave Hinson 11,880 100.00%

All of Franklin County is a part of Missouri's 26th District in the Missouri Senate and is represented by Dave Schatz (R-Sullivan).

Missouri Senate — District 26 — Franklin County (2014)[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dave Schatz 18,752 73.64%
Democratic Lloyd Klinedinst 6,714 26.36%

Federal
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Franklin County (2016)[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roy Blunt 28,258 56.57% +10.59
Democratic Jason Kander 19,102 38.24% -8.92
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 1,417 2.84% -4.02
Green Jonathan McFarland 670 1.34% +1.34
Constitution Fred Ryman 505 1.01% +1.01
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Franklin County (2012)[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Todd Akin 21,281 45.98%
Democratic Claire McCaskill 21,826 47.16%
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 3,178 6.86%

All of Franklin is included in the 3rd Congressional District, represented by Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives — District 3 — Franklin County (2016)[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Blaine Luetkemeyer 34,308 70.23% +0.71
Democratic Kevin Miller 12,279 25.14% -0.20
Libertarian Dan Hogan 1,811 3.71% -1.24
Constitution Doanita Simmons 449 0.92% +0.92
U.S. House of Representatives — District 3 — Franklin County (2014)[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Blaine Luetkemeyer 17,797 69.52% +3.76
Democratic Courtney Denton 6,487 25.34% -5.18
Libertarian Steven Hedrick 1,268 4.95% +1.23
Write-in Harold Davis 48 0.19% +0.19
U.S. House of Representativess — District 3 — Franklin County (2012)[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Blaine Luetkemeyer 29,777 65.76%
Democratic Eric Mayer 13,818 30.52%
Libertarian Steven Wilson 1,685 3.72%

Political culture
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 70.9% 38,058 27.1% 14,569 2.0% 1,058
2016 70.2% 35,430 24.5% 12,341 5.4% 2,701
2012 62.6% 29,396 34.8% 16,347 2.5% 1,186
2008 55.3% 27,355 43.0% 21,256 1.7% 847
2004 58.3% 26,429 41.0% 18,556 0.7% 333
2000 55.8% 21,863 41.3% 16,172 3.0% 1,159
1996 40.7% 13,715 41.2% 13,908 18.1% 6,111
1992 31.8% 11,477 37.2% 13,431 30.9% 11,156
1988 58.1% 16,611 41.6% 11,891 0.4% 108
1984 69.2% 18,669 30.8% 8,319
1980 56.7% 15,210 39.1% 10,480 4.3% 1,142
1976 50.3% 12,242 48.0% 11,695 1.7% 405
1972 64.9% 13,785 35.1% 7,464
1968 50.8% 9,823 39.1% 7,566 10.1% 1,960
1964 38.2% 8,313 61.8% 13,464
1960 52.9% 11,610 47.1% 10,324
1956 58.0% 11,605 42.0% 8,391
1952 56.8% 11,367 43.0% 8,610 0.1% 27
1948 49.6% 7,725 50.2% 7,822 0.2% 38
1944 60.8% 9,325 38.9% 5,958 0.3% 43
1940 58.6% 10,283 41.2% 7,237 0.2% 35
1936 48.4% 7,708 47.5% 7,565 4.1% 647
1932 38.4% 5,369 60.6% 8,479 1.0% 144
1928 58.9% 7,831 40.8% 5,429 0.2% 32
1924 59.3% 6,253 32.1% 3,384 8.6% 906
1920 74.3% 8,712 24.0% 2,814 1.8% 207
1916 62.4% 4,325 35.6% 2,468 2.1% 142
1912 43.3% 2,424 40.0% 2,239 16.7% 932
1908 60.9% 4,049 36.5% 2,423 2.6% 175
1904 60.9% 3,738 37.1% 2,278 2.0% 122
1900 57.5% 3,686 41.4% 2,652 1.1% 73
1896 56.5% 3,797 43.2% 2,904 0.4% 24
1892 52.4% 2,987 43.8% 2,498 3.8% 218
1888 55.5% 3,261 43.9% 2,579 0.7% 41

At the presidential level, Franklin County is fairly independent-leaning, but, like many exurban and mostly rural counties, its voters often favor Republican and conservative issues. While southerner Bill Clinton narrowly carried the county both times in 1992 and 1996, George W. Bush strongly carried Franklin County in 2000 and 2004. Like many of the rural counties in Missouri, Franklin County favored John McCain over Barack Obama in 2008.

Like most predominantly rural areas, voters in Franklin County generally strongly support socially and culturally conservative principles and therefore tend to support Republican candidates. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman; the measure overwhelmingly passed Franklin County with 76.89 percent of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters as Missouri became the first state to ban same-sex marriage.[22]

In 2006, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state; it failed in Franklin County with 56.13 percent voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51 percent of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve embryonic stem cell research.

Despite Franklin County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters have advanced some populist causes such as increasing the minimum wage. In 2006, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition B) to increase the minimum wage in the state to $6.50 an hour; it passed Franklin County with 77.61 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 75.94 percent voting in favor as the minimum wage was increased to $6.50 an hour in the state. During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.

2020 Missouri Presidential primary[23]

Republican

President Donald Trump won Franklin County with 97.35 percent of the vote; all other Republican candidates received less than 1 percent of the vote.

Democratic

Forty-seventh Vice President Joe Biden won Franklin County with 59 percent of the vote; U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) came in second with 35.03 percent.

2016 Missouri Presidential primary
Republican

Donald Trump won Franklin County with 44.49 percent of the vote; U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) came in second with 39.77 percent, Governor John Kasich (R-Ohio) came in distant third with 7.65 percent, and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) came in fourth with 5.63 percent.

Democratic

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) won Franklin County with 55.41 percent of the vote while former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came in second with 42.89 percent.

2012 Missouri Presidential primary
Republican

Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania) won Franklin County with 60.12 percent of the vote. Former Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts) came in a distant second place with 21.1 percent, and former U.S. Representative Ron Paul (R-Texas) came in third with 12.36 percent.

Democratic

With no serious contest for incumbent President Barack Obama, only 1,080 Franklin County voters chose to participate in the Democratic primary, and Obama won 81.11 percent.

2008 Missouri Presidential primary
Republican

U.S. Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) won Franklin County with 35.68 percent of the vote. Former Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts) came in a close second place with 30.51 percent while former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Arkansas) finished third with 27.70 percent. Libertarian-leaning U.S. Representative Ron Paul (R-Texas) finished a distant fourth with 4.07 percent.

Democratic

Then-U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) carried Franklin County with 55.83 percent of the vote. Then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois) received 40.28 percent of the vote from Franklin County Democrats, one of his more impressive showings in a predominantly rural albeit exurban county. Although he withdrew from the race, former U.S. Senator John Edwards (D-North Carolina) still received 2.96 percent of the vote in Franklin County.

  • Despite being a strongly Republican county, Hillary Rodham Clinton received more votes, a total of 7,177, than any candidate from either party in Franklin County during the 2008 presidential primary. Barack Obama received 5,179 in the Missouri Democratic Primary. Both Democratic candidates each received more votes than John McCain in the Republican Primary in Franklin County, who received 4,032 votes.

Communities

Cities

Villages

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 131.
  4. Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. p. 166.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  11. "QuickFacts. Franklin County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  13. Breeding, Marshall. "Gerald Area Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  14. Breeding, Marshall. "Scenic Regional Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  15. Breeding, Marshall. "Sullivan Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  16. Breeding, Marshall. "Washington Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  17. "Franklin County Commission". www.franklinmo.org. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  18. "November General Election Official Results". Franklin County Clerk. November 8, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  19. "Election Summary Report, General Election" (PDF). Franklin County Clerk. November 4, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  20. "Election Summary Report, General Election". Franklin County Clerk. November 6, 2012. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  21. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  22. "Missouri Marriage Definition, Amendment 2 (August 2004)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  23. "Election Summary Report" (PDF). Franklin County, Missouri. March 17, 2020. Retrieved May 12, 2020.

Further reading

Historical Review of Franklin County, Missouri, 1818–1968. (Melvin B. Roblee & Vera L. Osiek, editors) (1968). Union, Missouri: Franklin County Sesqui-centennial Corporation.

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