Franklin, Pennsylvania

Franklin sits on French Creek and the Allegheny River, which was a great spot for Native Americans to build shelter. In 1740, Scottish fur trader John Fraser built a trading post in Franklin. Once the trading post was abandoned, British fur traders planned to construct it. George Washington was sent to Franklin to warn the French that they were trespassing on British land. The French did not leave; instead they created Fort Machault, where they amassed large forces to attack Fort Pitt (Pittsburgh) in an effort to reclaim Fort Duquesne. The French then had to rescue Fort Niagara; before leaving they burned Fort Machault to the ground. In 1760, the British erected Fort Venango. In 1763, Native Americans killed many British. The American Colonial Forces then constructed Fort Franklin, named after Benjamin Franklin. In 1787 Andrew Ellicott, who surveyed Washington D.C., was hired to lay out the land of Franklin. Once oil was discovered in nearby Titusville, Franklin became a booming oil town. Once oil companies moved west, Franklin created machinery companies.[3]

Franklin is located at 41°23′52″N 79°49′53″W (41.3978, -79.8314).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.7 square miles (12 km²), of which 4.6 square miles (12 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) (1.70%) is water.

As of the census[5] of 2018, there were 6,078 people, 2,989 households, and 1,814 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,560.2 people per square mile (602.7/km²). There were 3,293 housing units at an average density of 709.8 per square mile (274.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.18% White, 3.19% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.

There were 2,989 households, out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,818, and the median income for a family was $34,718. Males had a median income of $32,912 versus $21,178 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,234. About 13.6% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.4% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.

• The Franklin Area School District currently has one high school, one middle school, and three elementary schools (Central Elementary,[7] Sandycreek Elementary,[8] and Victory Elementary[9]) located throughout the area with an estimated 2278 students.[10]
• The Valley Grove School District currently has one high school and one elementary school located in the Franklin area with an estimated 1026 students. It formerly consisted of one high school, one middle school and two elementary schools, but a consolidation and rebuilding project converted the middle school into a single elementary school that reopened in 2007.[11]

• Venango Regional Airport

In 1903, the city was the home of the Franklin Athletic Club, one of the earliest professional football teams. That season, the team was unofficially recognized as the "US Football Champions"[12] and later won the 1903 World Series of Football, held that December at Madison Square Garden.[13] The team included several of the era's top players, such as: Herman Kerchoff, Arthur McFarland, Clark Schrontz, Paul Steinberg, Pop Sweet, Eddie Wood, and coach Blondy Wallace.[14]

Among other sporting accomplishments, Franklin Area High School has won two state basketball championships. In 2001 and 2006, the boys team, playing in PIAA Class AAA District 10, defeated Allentown Central Catholic out of District 11 and Communications Tech from District 12 (Philadelphia Public League), respectively.[15]

• Timothy A. Barrow (January 1, 1934 - March 16, 2019), Arizona businessman and politician.
• John Wilkes Booth (May 10, 1838 – April 26, 1865) Abraham Lincoln's assassin. In 1864 he formed an oil company in Franklin and resided there while performing at the Franklin Opera House.
• Nate Byham (born June 27, 1988) American football tight end formerly of the San Francisco 49ers.
• Jack Fultz (born August 27, 1948) Winner of the 1976 Boston Marathon.
• Alexander Hays (July 8, 1819 – May 5, 1864) USMA graduate and Union General during the Civil War. Meritorious service at Gettysburg. Killed at the Battle of the Wilderness.
• Samuel Hays (1783-1868), U.S. Congressman
• Nate Karns (born November 25, 1987) MLB Pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles.
• Judge Robert Lamberton (March 20, 1809 – August 7, 1885) Associate Judge of the Courts of Venango County, Pennsylvania and founder of the Lamberton Savings Bank.
• Rolland Lawrence (born March 24, 1951) American football cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons.
• Hildegarde Dolson Lockridge (1908-1981) Author of mysteries and histories, including We Shook the Family Tree.
• Ted Marchibroda (March 15, 1931 -- January 16, 2016) American football quarterback and head coach in the National Football League.
• Alexander McDowell (March 4, 1845 – September 30, 1913) Member of the United States House of Representatives.
• Charles Miller (June 15, 1843 – December 21, 1927) Franklin businessman and commander of the Pennsylvania National Guard Division.
• Jesse L. Reno (April 20, 1823 – September 14, 1862) United States Army Major General. Killed at the Battle of South Mountain.
• George C. Rickards (August 25, 1860 — January 15, 1933) Major General in the United States Army and Chief of the National Guard Bureau.
• Sean W. Rowe (born 1975) Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania.
• George R. Snowden (February 12, 1841 – April 21, 1932) Major General in the Pennsylvania National Guard and commander of the Pennsylvania National Guard Division.
• Mary Jo White (born 1941) - Pennsylvania State Senator.
• John A. Wiley (September 3, 1843 – December 28, 1909) National Guard Major General who commanded the 28th Infantry Division.
• Howard Zahniser (February 25, 1906 – May 5, 1964) Environmental activist who authored the Wilderness Act.
• Kid Butler- Major League Baseball player.
• Lil Chop- American rapper.
• Richard Frame- Politician
• Bill Slocum- American politician

• Media related to Franklin, Pennsylvania at Wikimedia Commons
• Franklin, Pennsylvania travel guide from Wikivoyage