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Franklin, Pennsylvania

Coordinates: 41°23′52″N 79°49′53″W / 41.39778°N 79.83139°W / 41.39778; -79.83139
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This article is about the city in Venango County, Pennsylvania. For the borough in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, see Franklin, Cambria County, Pennsylvania. For other uses, see Franklin, Pennsylvania (disambiguation).

Franklin, Pennsylvania
City
Downtown Franklin
Downtown Franklin
Flag of Franklin, Pennsylvania
Flag
Nickname: 
The Victorian City
Location of Franklin in Venango County, Pennsylvania.
Location of Franklin in Venango County, Pennsylvania.
Franklin, Pennsylvania is located in Pennsylvania
Franklin, Pennsylvania
Franklin, Pennsylvania
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Coordinates: 41°23′52″N 79°49′53″W / 41.39778°N 79.83139°W / 41.39778; -79.83139
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyVenango
Settled1740s
Platted1795
Incorporated (borough)1828
Incorporated (city)1868
Named forBenjamin Franklin
Government
 • MayorDoug Baker
Area
[1]
 • Total
4.80 sq mi (12.44 km2)
 • Land4.68 sq mi (12.11 km2)
 • Water0.13 sq mi (0.33 km2)  1.70%
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total
6,077
 • Density1,299.34/sq mi (501.67/km2)
 • Demonym
Franklinite
 [3]
Time zoneUTC–5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC–4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
16323
FIPS code42-27456
Websitefranklinpa.gov

Franklin is a city in and the county seat of Venango County, Pennsylvania, United States, located at the confluence of French Creek and the Allegheny River. The population was 6,097 in the 2020 census.[3] Franklin is part of the Oil City micropolitan area.

Franklin is known for its three-day autumn festival in October, Applefest, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors.

History

[edit]
Oil wells near Franklin in 1873

Franklin is located at the confluence of French Creek and the Allegheny River, an important site used for centuries by Native Americans. They had long before developed what became known as the Venango Path, passing from the head of French Creek north to Presque Isle Bay on Lake Erie. Via French Creek and the Allegheny River, the portage effectively linked the waterways of the Ohio River and the Great Lakes.

In 1740, Scottish fur trader John Fraser built a trading post here at Venango, the Lenape village. The French also had designs on this region.

They wanted to link their colonies of New France (Quebec) north of the Great Lakes, in Illinois Country (accessible via the Ohio River), and La Louisiane, on the lower Mississippi River. As tensions increased between France and Great Britain prior to the onset of the French and Indian War (as the North American front of the Seven Years' War was called), the French constructed four forts to control their continued access to the Venango Path and these important waterways. From north to south they were Fort Presque Isle, Fort Le Boeuf (at the south end of the portage and head of French Creek), Fort Machault, and Fort Duquesne, at the Forks of the Ohio.

In December 1753, George Washington, then a 21-year-old major in the Virginia militia, was sent to Fort Le Boeuf to warn the French that they were trespassing on British land and should leave. Although providing respite to Washington and his party, the fort commander gave him a letter suggesting that the Governor of Virginia should instead deliver his message to the French commander in Quebec, New France.[4]

The French maintained this and their other three forts, including at Fort Machault until July 1759, when they surrendered Fort Niagara to the British. At that time, the commander of Fort Presque Isle sent orders to the commanders of Fort Le Boeuf and Fort Machault to abandon their positions and return north. Before leaving, the French troops burned both of these forts to the ground to prevent their use by the British.

In 1760, the British erected Fort Venango here, replacing Fort Marchault. In 1763, Native Americans allied with the French killed many British. The British colonists had repeatedly attacked even neutral tribes, such as the Lenape, who then mostly allied with the French. After the war, the British Americans constructed Fort Franklin here, named after Benjamin Franklin.

In 1787 Andrew Ellicott, who surveyed Washington, D.C., was hired to lay out the town of Franklin, which had developed around the fort. It became a trading center for a largely rural, agricultural region. Once oil was discovered in the late 19th century in nearby Titusville, Franklin became a booming oil town. After other fields were discovered in Texas and Oklahoma, and oil companies moved west, Franklin developed an industry of machinery companies.[5]

Geography

[edit]
Confluence of French Creek and the Allegheny River in Franklin
Franklin from the air

Climate

[edit]
Climate data for Franklin, Pennsylvania (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1897–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 73
(23) 		74
(23) 		90
(32) 		93
(34) 		97
(36) 		101
(38) 		106
(41) 		104
(40) 		100
(38) 		90
(32) 		81
(27) 		74
(23) 		106
(41)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 33.7
(0.9) 		36.3
(2.4) 		45.6
(7.6) 		59.7
(15.4) 		70.9
(21.6) 		78.7
(25.9) 		82.7
(28.2) 		81.2
(27.3) 		74.2
(23.4) 		61.4
(16.3) 		49.0
(9.4) 		38.1
(3.4) 		59.3
(15.2)
Daily mean °F (°C) 26.0
(−3.3) 		27.5
(−2.5) 		35.5
(1.9) 		47.4
(8.6) 		58.5
(14.7) 		67.1
(19.5) 		71.1
(21.7) 		69.8
(21.0) 		62.9
(17.2) 		51.1
(10.6) 		40.3
(4.6) 		31.2
(−0.4) 		49.0
(9.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 18.3
(−7.6) 		18.7
(−7.4) 		25.4
(−3.7) 		35.2
(1.8) 		46.1
(7.8) 		55.5
(13.1) 		59.6
(15.3) 		58.3
(14.6) 		51.7
(10.9) 		40.8
(4.9) 		31.7
(−0.2) 		24.3
(−4.3) 		38.8
(3.8)
Record low °F (°C) −30
(−34) 		−27
(−33) 		−22
(−30) 		0
(−18) 		20
(−7) 		28
(−2) 		33
(1) 		36
(2) 		23
(−5) 		15
(−9) 		0
(−18) 		−14
(−26) 		−30
(−34)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.27
(83) 		2.66
(68) 		3.36
(85) 		4.15
(105) 		4.00
(102) 		4.86
(123) 		5.32
(135) 		4.24
(108) 		3.94
(100) 		3.76
(96) 		3.41
(87) 		3.36
(85) 		46.33
(1,177)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 17.9
(45) 		11.5
(29) 		8.9
(23) 		1.1
(2.8) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		2.6
(6.6) 		11.7
(30) 		53.7
(136)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 17.9 14.7 14.2 14.3 14.5 13.6 12.3 11.6 11.2 14.9 14.1 16.9 170.2
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 9.4 7.5 4.2 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.9 6.0 29.6
Source: NOAA[6][7]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1810159—
182025258.5%
183041062.7%
184059545.1%
185093657.3%
18601,30339.2%
18703,876197.5%
18805,01029.3%
18905,82716.3%
19007,16723.0%
19109,76736.3%
19209,9702.1%
193010,2542.8%
194010,187−0.7%
195010,006−1.8%
19609,586−4.2%
19709,127−4.8%
19808,643−5.3%
19907,926−8.3%
20007,156−9.7%
20106,545−8.5%
20206,097−6.8%
2021 (est.)6,031[3]−1.1%
Sources:[8][9][10][2]

As of the census[9] of 2018, there were 6,078 people, 2,989 households, and 1,814 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,560.2 inhabitants per square mile (602.4/km2). There were 3,293 housing units at an average density of 709.8 per square mile (274.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.18% White, 3.19% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.

There were 2,989 households, out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,818, and the median income for a family was $34,718. Males had a median income of $32,912 versus $21,178 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,234. About 13.6% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.4% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

[edit]

Franklin is home to the DeBence Antique Music World, a museum whose collection contains more than 100 antique mechanical musical instruments.

Sports

[edit]

In 1903, the city was the home of the Franklin Athletic Club, one of the earliest professional football teams. That season, the team was unofficially recognized as the "US Football Champions"[11] and later won the 1903 World Series of Football, held that December at Madison Square Garden.[12] The team included several of the era's top players, such as: Herman Kerkhoff, Arthur McFarland, Clark Schrontz, Paul Steinberg, Pop Sweet, Eddie Wood, and coach Blondy Wallace.[13]

Among other sporting accomplishments, Franklin Area High School has won two state basketball championships. In 2001 and 2006, the boys team, playing in PIAA Class AAA District 10, defeated Allentown Central Catholic out of District 11 and Communications Tech from District 12 (Philadelphia Public League), respectively.[14]

Education

[edit]

The Franklin Area School District currently has one high school, one middle school, and three elementary schools (Central Elementary,[15] Sandycreek Elementary,[16] and Victory Elementary[17]) located throughout the area with an estimated 2278 students.[18]

The Valley Grove School District currently has one high school and one elementary school located in the Franklin area with an estimated 1026 students. It formerly consisted of one high school, one middle school and two elementary schools, but a consolidation and rebuilding project converted the middle school into a single elementary school that reopened in 2007.[19]

Transportation

[edit]

Franklin is served by the Venango Regional Airport.

Notable people

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  4. ^ Nos racines, l'histoire vivante des Québécois, Éditions Comémorative, Livre-Loisir Ltée. p457
  5. ^ "Franklin History". franklinpa.gov. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  6. ^ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  7. ^ "Station: Franklin, PA". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  8. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  9. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  10. ^ "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 11, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  11. ^ PFRA Research. "Franklin's Hired Guns: 1903" (PDF). Coffin Corner. Professional Football Researchers Association: 1–3. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 26, 2010.
  12. ^ Carroll, Bob (1980). "The First Football World Series" (PDF). Coffin Corner. 2 (Annual). Professional Football Researchers Association: 1–8. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2010.
  13. ^ *Smith, William R. (1981). "Franklin's World Champion Football Team" (PDF). Coffin Corner. 3 (Annual). Professional Football Researchers Association: 1–4. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2010.
  14. ^ Rebel, Don (March 22, 2006). "2006 PIAA Basketball Finals Preview". MSA Sports Network. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved December 7, 2008.
  15. ^ "Explore Central Elementary School in Franklin, PA".
  16. ^ "Explore Sandycreek Elementary School in Franklin, PA".
  17. ^ "Victory Elementary School".
  18. ^ Info at greatschools.net
  19. ^ "Search for Schools in Valley Grove School District". Great Schools. Retrieved December 7, 2008.
  20. ^ Ferencz, George J. (2013). "Saddler, Frank (b Franklin, PA, 9 Sept 1864; d Brewster, NY, 25 March 1921)". In Garrett, Charles Hiroshi (ed.). The Grove Dictionary of American Music, Second Edition. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195314281.
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