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Franklin County Courthouse in Ottawa, Kansas. Photo by Susan Howell.
 Franklin County Courthouse


Franklin County

 Location of Franklin County, KS
 
 
County Seat: Ottawa
Founded: 1857
Population:
    · 24,784   (2000)
    · 21,994   (1990)
    · 21,354   (1900)
Area: 577 Square Miles
Standard Abbreviation: FR

History

Map of Franklin County, KS in 1899
Organized in 1855. County Seat, Ottawa. Named in honor of the illustrious Benjamin Franklin.
 
Map and text from History of Kansas, Noble Prentis, (Winfield: E.P. Greer. 1899)

 
William G. Cutler's History of Kansas, first published in 1883, tells about early Franklin County.
 
The Special Collections of the Ablah Library at WSU contain historical images of Franklin County towns: Ottawa, and Homewood.
 
The Kansas State Historical Society also has more historical data for Franklin County online including a rich bibliography and lists of cemeteries, post offices, and newspapers.

Cities, Towns, & Villages of Franklin County

                           2000
    Town                Population  ZIP         Year  Elevation
    =================   ==========  =========   ====  =========
    Centropolis                                          971
    Homewood                                            1060
    Imes                                                 877
    Lane                       256  66042                910
    Le Loup                                              952
    Norwood                                              948
    Ottawa                  11,921  66067       1864     901
    Peoria                                               950
    Pomona                     923  66076       1870     923
    Princeton                  317  66078                966
    Ransomville                                         1030
    Rantoul                    241  66079                892
    Richmond                   510  66080               1010
    Richter                                              930
    Silkville                                           1160
    Wellsville                1606  66092               1039
    Williamsburg               351  66095               1138
Census Bureau Profile & Map

Special Places in Franklin County

  • The county has a rail converted to trail for hiking and bicycling, called the Praire Spirit Trail that currently runs 33 miles, from Ottawa south to Welda (in Anderson County).
  • The campus of Ottawa University in Ottawa has some fine old stone buildings.

Special Events in Franklin County

  • The Franklin County Fair is held every July at the fairgrounds in Ottawa.
  • Chautauqua Days are held July 4 in Forest Park in Ottawa

Franklin County School Systems

Colleges & Universities

Libraries

Museums

Newspapers

  • Ottawa Herald   (785) 242-4700
    104 S. Cedar, Ottawa, KS 66067
  • Ottawa Times   (785) 242-9200
    104 S. Cedar, Ottawa, KS 66067

Hospitals

More Data About Franklin County

Economic Development
  • Kansas County Profile Reports
    Statistical data from The Institute for Policy and Social Research, the University of Kansas
Health Data

Genealogy

Franklin County Offices

For more about Franklin County contact:

References

  • WPA The WPA Guide to 1930s Kansas ( Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. 1984 ) See pages 266-269.
 
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Last updated on September 6, 2011 by COUNTIES@KSLIB.INFO
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Graphics by John Howell,
photos by Susan Howell,
used by permission.