Franklin County is a county in Southern Illinois. At the 2020 census, it had a population of 37,804. The largest city is West Frankfort and the county seat is Benton. Franklin County is located in the Metro Lakeland area of Southern Illinois.
History
Franklin County was established on January 2, 1818, and formed from parts of Gallatin and White counties. It was named for Benjamin Franklin.
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File:Franklin County Illinois 1818.png|Franklin County at the time of its formation in 1818
File:Franklin County Illinois 1839.png|The creation of Williamson County in 1839 reduced Franklin to its current borders.
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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.
The high levels of gas found in Franklin County's coal deposits have resulted in mining disasters and explosions over the years. Between 1905 and 1968, there were eleven mine disasters. In 1905, the Zeigler No. 1 mine, located in Zeigler, had an explosion that killed about fifty people. In 1917, an explosion in Old Ben Mine No. 11, located in Christopher, killed 17. The worst explosion occurred in 1951, in the Orient No. 2 Mine in West Frankfort, in which 119 people died.
The West Frankfort quadrangle of Franklin County is home to 17 coal mines, according to a 2004 report.
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Benton have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in January 1977 and a record high of was recorded in August 2007. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in May.
On March 18, 1925, Franklin County was among five southern Illinois counties affected 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
- Jefferson County (north)
- Hamilton County (east)
- Saline County (southeast)
- Williamson County (south)
- Jackson County (southwest)
- Perry County (west)
Transit
- South Central Transit
Major highways
- 25px Interstate 57
- 25px Illinois Route 14
- 25px Illinois Route 34
- 25px Illinois Route 37
- 25px Illinois Route 148
- 25px Illinois Route 149
- 25px Illinois Route 154
- 25px Illinois Route 184