2000 Population:
47,687 County Seat: Frankfort
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History from
Collins' History of Kentucky, 1877
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Franklin county, the 18th in order
of formation, was established in 1794, out of parts of Woodford,
Mercer, and Shelby counties, and named in honor of the distinguished patriot
and statesman, Benjamin Franklin. Portionso f it were taken to form
the counties of Gallatin in 1798, Owen in 1819, and Anderson in 1827. It
embraces nearly 200 square miles, lies on both sides of the Kentucky river,
and is bounded N by Henry and Owen counties, E by Scott, SE by Woodford,
S by Anderson and W by Shelby. The face of the country is diversified;
a small portion, next to Scott and Woodford counties, gently undulating;
another part, intersected by the small streams which flow into the Kentucky
river, rolling and hilly; while tall cliffs, in many places quite precipitous,
rear their heads along the meandering course of that river through the
county - making the stream difficult of access for crossing except at few
points. The other streams are North, South and Main Elkhorn, Big and Little
Benson, and Flat creeks - all which afford good sites for grist and saw
mills, and small factories. The Lock and Dam on the Kentucky river, one
mile below Frankfort, affords water-power of great extent and durability,
but has been but little used. The soil is a clay loam, mixed with small
particles of bog iron ore, and underlaid by thinly stratified limestone.
The crops raised for export are corn, wheat, rye, barley, hemp, and tobacco.
Much attention is paid to the rg of fine blooded stock, and to horses,
mules, sheep, cattle, and hogs for market. |
