Franklin, Michigan

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There are also three Franklin Townships in Michigan.

Franklin is a village in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,937 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 Trivia
5 External links

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 6.9 km² (2.7 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 2,937 people, 1,073 households, and 866 families residing in the village. The population density was 426.3/km² (1,105.5/mi²). There were 1,118 housing units at an average density of 162.3/km² (420.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 89.79% White, 5.07% African American, 0.10% Native American, 3.58% Asian, 0.34% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.85% of the population.

There were 1,073 households out of which 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.3% were married couples living together, 3.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.2% were non-families. 15.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the village the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 2.9% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 105.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $124,014, and the median income for a family was $139,339. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $61,500 for females. The per capita income for the village was $71,033. About 0.5% of families and 1.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.4% of those under age 18 and 1.0% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

Franklin was founded in 1825 (name unknown) by Elijah Bullock, among others, and became Franklin in 1828. By 1830, a business district had formed. The collection of essentially original condition structures in the village is quite unusual in suburban Detroit.

An historical marker was erected in 1960 which reads: "FRANKLIN VILLAGE Founded in 1824-1825, Franklin received its present name in 1828. First postmaster was Dr. Ebenezer Raynale, state legislator and physician. The William Huston store, opened in 1830, was the forerunner of a business center that later included the famous Broughton Wagon Shop, the Van Every Mills, now "Ye Olde Cider Mill," several taverns, two distilleries, and two churches. The village also was a station on the Underground Railroad. Franklin still has the appearance and atmosphere of an early Michigan village."

Another marker stands in front of Franklin Village School: "Franklin Village School Michigan's Territorial Council passed a law in 1827 requiring every township with fifty or more inhabitants to establish a school. Thus the following year, the first school in Southfield Township was erected in Franklin Village. Sophie Gotie taught twenty-nine students in a log schoolhouse located near the still extant house of early settler Daniel Broughton. Franklin village built a new school in 1845 at the foot of School Hill on property deeded by Winthrop Worthings. On this site in 1869 a third school was constructed on land given by wealthy postmaster A.A. Rust. After that building burned in 1922, the village erected the present school on this same location. The Franklin School District No. 3, Southfield Township, joined the Birmingham Public Schools in 1945." This building closed as a public school in 1979 and is now the site of The Dar Al-Huda Private Islamic school.

[edit] Trivia

Franklin is known for the Franklin Cider Mill, which actually lies just north of Franklin's borders, in neighboring Bloomfield Township, although it does have a Franklin mailing address.

Franklin's current firehouse was built in 1959. The village only employs one firefighter and a chief. The rest of the force is strictly volunteer. The station is located on the site of the old village community hall, which ironically burned down in 1958.

Franklin was designated as Michigan's first historic district on November 11, 1969.