Franklin County, Nebraska

Franklin County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,889. Its county seat is Franklin. The county was formed in 1867 and organized in 1871. It was named for Benjamin Franklin. In the Nebraska license plate system, Franklin County is represented by the prefix 50 (it had the 50th-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

The settlement of Franklin County began after General Eugene Carr's 1869 Republican River Expedition subdued the Cheyenne in the area. In Organized settlements appeared starting in 1870, with the Thompson Colony establishing Riverton along Thompson Creek in September, followed by the Republican Land and Claim Association (also called the Knight Colony) founding Franklin on November 25.<sup>:377</sup>

Geography

Franklin County lies on the south line of Nebraska. Its south boundary line abuts the north boundary line of the state of Kansas. The Republican River flows eastward through the southern part of Franklin County.

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.03%) is water.

Major highways

25px U.S. Highway 136
20px Nebraska Highway 4
20px Nebraska Highway 10
20px Nebraska Highway 44

Adjacent counties

Kearney County - north
Webster County - east
Smith County, Kansas - southeast
Phillips County, Kansas - southwest
Harlan County - west
Phelps County - northwest

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 2,889. The median age was 48.7 years. 21.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 28.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 105.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.0 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 95.5% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.1% from some other race, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.8% of the population.

There were 1,285 households in the county, of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. there were 3,574 people, 1,485 households, and 1,021 families in the county. The population density was . There were 1,746 housing units at an average density of .

The racial makeup of the county was 99.24% White, 0.28% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 0.34% from two or more races. 0.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 63.5% were of German, 6.8% American, 6.6% English and 5.7% Irish ancestry.

There were 1,485 households, out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.40% were married couples living together, 6.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 29.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.87.

The county population contained 24.50% under the age of 18, 4.50% from 18 to 24, 23.60% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 23.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 92.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,304, and the median income for a family was $34,958. Males had a median income of $26,192 versus $18,214 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,390. About 9.70% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.20% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

Franklin

Villages

Bloomington
Campbell
Hildreth
Naponee
Riverton
Upland

Unincorporated community

Macon

Politics

Franklin County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In no national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).