Franklin, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Franklin is a town in Macon County
, Alabama
, United States
. At the 2010 census the population was 145.
. Each student brought a stick of wood every morning for use in the stove. The school closed in 1942. Its 75-80 students transferred to Tuskegee
schools. After the close of the school the northern classroom was moved to its current location, converted to a community center with the rest torn down.
During its use as a community center, Hank Williams Sr. often performed for dances. Upon Franklin's 1977 incorporation, the town began using the building as the town hall. A mile north of Town Hall lay the remnants of what is rumored the be the first school in Macon County
.
Located at the corner of Co. Rd. 27 and 36 and restored as a historic museum, Harris Barrett School was built in 1903 with handmade bricks made by Tuskegee Normal School (now Tuskegee University
) students under the direction of Booker T. Washington
. For many years, it was an education center for area slave descendants. Both Harris Barrett and Tuskegee Institute played a major role in education in the Franklin community. There was an experimental farm on the west side of Baldwin Farm Road. Booker T. Washington
and George Washington Carver
were both active in farming in Franklin, assisting farmers both black and white. Many farms in Franklin were cleared by the Creek Indians, Well known leader Osceola
was born on Red Creek, 10 miles from the Tallapoosa River
.
Franklin has been home to many churches for over 200 years, including, in the late 1700s and early 1800s, a Methodist Missionary Church for the Creek Indians with two cemeteries, one for white burial and another for Indian burial. James McQueen, great-grandfather of Osceola
is buried in the Indian cemetery.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.34 square miles (8.7 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 145 people, 59 households, and 44 families residing in the town. The population density
was 43 people per square mile (17.2/km²). There were 73 housing units at an average density of 18.0 per square mile (8.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 56.38% Black
or African American
and 43.62% White
. 0.67% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 59 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples
living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.69.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 18.1% from 25 to 44, 33.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $45,923, and the median income for a family was $53,111. Males had a median income of $43,840 versus $40,744 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $45,495. There were none of the families and 4.9% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 9.7% of those over 64.
Macon County, Alabama
Macon County is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Nathaniel Macon, a member of the United States Senate from North Carolina. Developed for cotton plantation agriculture in the nineteenth century, it is one of the counties in Alabama within the Black Belt of the South.As...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. At the 2010 census the population was 145.
History and Educational Legacy
Franklin School was in operation as early as the 1890s teaching grades 1-11. By the mid 1930s it was downsized to grades 1-6. There were northern and southern classrooms adjoined by a common auditorium, The school's original water source was a spring near the buildings, later a dug well in the front yard with a hand pump provided water. Heat was provided by a wood-burning potbelly stovePotbelly stove
A potbelly stove is a cast-iron wood-burning stove, round with a bulge in the middle. The name is derived from the resemblance of the stove to that of a fat man's pot belly. They were designed to heat large spaces and were often found in train stations or one-room schoolhouses...
. Each student brought a stick of wood every morning for use in the stove. The school closed in 1942. Its 75-80 students transferred to Tuskegee
Tuskegee, Alabama
Tuskegee is a city in Macon County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 11,846 and is designated a Micropolitan Statistical Area. Tuskegee has been an important site in various stages of African American history....
schools. After the close of the school the northern classroom was moved to its current location, converted to a community center with the rest torn down.
During its use as a community center, Hank Williams Sr. often performed for dances. Upon Franklin's 1977 incorporation, the town began using the building as the town hall. A mile north of Town Hall lay the remnants of what is rumored the be the first school in Macon County
Macon County, Alabama
Macon County is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Nathaniel Macon, a member of the United States Senate from North Carolina. Developed for cotton plantation agriculture in the nineteenth century, it is one of the counties in Alabama within the Black Belt of the South.As...
.
Located at the corner of Co. Rd. 27 and 36 and restored as a historic museum, Harris Barrett School was built in 1903 with handmade bricks made by Tuskegee Normal School (now Tuskegee University
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee University is a private, historically black university located in Tuskegee, Alabama, United States. It is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund...
) students under the direction of Booker T. Washington
Booker T. Washington
Booker Taliaferro Washington was an American educator, author, orator, and political leader. He was the dominant figure in the African-American community in the United States from 1890 to 1915...
. For many years, it was an education center for area slave descendants. Both Harris Barrett and Tuskegee Institute played a major role in education in the Franklin community. There was an experimental farm on the west side of Baldwin Farm Road. Booker T. Washington
Booker T. Washington
Booker Taliaferro Washington was an American educator, author, orator, and political leader. He was the dominant figure in the African-American community in the United States from 1890 to 1915...
and George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver , was an American scientist, botanist, educator, and inventor. The exact day and year of his birth are unknown; he is believed to have been born into slavery in Missouri in January 1864....
were both active in farming in Franklin, assisting farmers both black and white. Many farms in Franklin were cleared by the Creek Indians, Well known leader Osceola
Osceola
Osceola, also known as Billy Powell , became an influential leader with the Seminole in Florida. He was of Creek, Scots-Irish and English parentage, and had migrated to Florida with his mother after the defeat of the Creek in 1814.Osceola led a small band of warriors in the Seminole resistance...
was born on Red Creek, 10 miles from the Tallapoosa River
Tallapoosa River
The Tallapoosa River runs from the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains in Georgia, in the United States, southward and westward into Alabama. It is formed by the confluence of McClendon Creek and Mud Creek in Paulding County, Georgia. Lake Martin at Alexander City, Alabama is a large and...
.
Franklin has been home to many churches for over 200 years, including, in the late 1700s and early 1800s, a Methodist Missionary Church for the Creek Indians with two cemeteries, one for white burial and another for Indian burial. James McQueen, great-grandfather of Osceola
Osceola
Osceola, also known as Billy Powell , became an influential leader with the Seminole in Florida. He was of Creek, Scots-Irish and English parentage, and had migrated to Florida with his mother after the defeat of the Creek in 1814.Osceola led a small band of warriors in the Seminole resistance...
is buried in the Indian cemetery.
Geography
Franklin is located at 32°27′19"N 85°48′10"W (32.455388, -85.802884).According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.34 square miles (8.7 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 145 people, 59 households, and 44 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 43 people per square mile (17.2/km²). There were 73 housing units at an average density of 18.0 per square mile (8.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 56.38% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
and 43.62% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
. 0.67% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 59 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.69.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 18.1% from 25 to 44, 33.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $45,923, and the median income for a family was $53,111. Males had a median income of $43,840 versus $40,744 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $45,495. There were none of the families and 4.9% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 9.7% of those over 64.