Franklin County, New York

Franklin County, New York

Seal
Map of New York highlighting Franklin County
Location in the state of New York
Map of the United States highlighting New York
New York's location in the U.S.
Founded 1808
Named for Benjamin Franklin
Seat Malone
Largest town Malone
Area
 • Total 1,697 sq mi (4,395 km2)
 • Land 1,629 sq mi (4,219 km2)
 • Water 68 sq mi (176 km2), 4.0%
Population
 • (2010) 51,599
 • Density 32/sq mi (12/km²)
Congressional district 21st
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.franklincony.org

Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 51,599.[1] Its county seat is Malone.[2] The county is named in honor of American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin.[3]

Franklin County comprises the Malone, NY Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Much of Franklin County is within the Adirondack Park. Its Canadian borders are the provinces of Quebec and Ontario.

History

When counties were established in New York in 1683, the present Franklin County was part of Albany County. This was an enormous county, including the northern part of New York State as well as all of the present State of Vermont and, in theory, extending westward to the Pacific Ocean. This county was reduced in size on July 3, 1766 by the creation of Cumberland County, and further on March 16, 1770 by the creation of Gloucester County, both containing territory now in Vermont. On March 12, 1772, what was left of Albany County was split into three parts, one remaining under the name Albany County. One of the other pieces, Charlotte County, contained the eastern portion.

In 1784, the name "Charlotte County" was changed to Washington County to honor George Washington, the American Revolutionary War general and later President of the United States of America.

In 1788, Clinton County was split off from Washington County. This was a much larger area than the present Clinton County, including several other counties or county parts of the present New York State.

Franklin County is part of Macomb's Purchase of 1791.

In 1799, Clinton County was reduced in size by the splitting off of Essex County. In 1802, Clinton County was reduced in size by a part of Clinton and two other counties being taken to form the new St. Lawrence County.

In 1808, Franklin County was split off from Clinton County.

In the late 1800s, Franklin County was home to three of the largest resort hotels in the Adirondacks, Paul Smith's Hotel, Loon Lake House, and Rainbow Inn.

The history of Franklin County is preserved at the Franklin Historical and Museum Society in Malone, New York.

Read and Listen to the Oral history of Franklin County in the late 19th early 20th Centuries

Geography

Lake Flower in Saranac Lake

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,697 square miles (4,400 km2), of which 1,629 square miles (4,220 km2) is land and 68 square miles (180 km2) (4.0%) is water.[4] It is the fourth-largest county in New York by land area. Franklin County is in the northeastern part of New York State. The northern edge is the border with Canada.

Adjacent counties and municipality

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18102,617—
18204,43969.6%
183011,312154.8%
184016,51846.0%
185025,10252.0%
186030,83722.8%
187030,271−1.8%
188032,3907.0%
189038,11017.7%
190042,85312.4%
191045,7176.7%
192043,541−4.8%
193045,6944.9%
194044,286−3.1%
195044,8301.2%
196044,742−0.2%
197043,931−1.8%
198044,9292.3%
199046,5403.6%
200051,1349.9%
201051,5990.9%
Est. 201351,6880.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 51,134 people, 17,931 households, and 11,798 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 23,936 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.03% White, 6.63% Black or African American, 6.20% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 2.07% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 4.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 31.0% were of French, 13.6% Irish, 10.6% American, 9.8% French Canadian, 9.2% English and 5.4% German ancestry according to Census 2000. 94.6% spoke English, 2.3% Spanish and 2.0% French as their first language.

There were 17,931 households out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.50% were married couples living together, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.20% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.80% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 33.20% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 121.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 126.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,517, and the median income for a family was $38,472. Males had a median income of $29,376 versus $22,292 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,888. About 10.10% of families and 14.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.60% of those under age 18 and 13.90% of those age 65 or over.

With its sparsely populated nature, its local courts tend to be pretty quiet. The highways, prisons, and tourism, do create some work for the justices though.

Education

Franklin County is home to North Country Community College and Paul Smith's College. North Country Community College is sponsored by and serves Franklin and Essex counties, with campuses in Malone - Saranac Lake & Ticonderoga.

Transportation

Airports

The following public use airports are located in the county:[10]

Communities

Towns

Villages

Census-designated place

Hamlets

Native reservations

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 131.
  4. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  9. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  10. ↑ Franklin County Public and Private Airports, New York. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  11. ↑ "BEAMAN, Fernando Cortez, (1814 - 1882)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved February 23, 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Franklin County, New York.


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St. Lawrence County Clinton County
   Franklin County, New York  
Hamilton County Essex County

Coordinates: 44°36′N 74°19′W / 44.60°N 74.31°W