Franklin, Venango County, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Franklin is a city in Venango County
Venango County, Pennsylvania
Venango County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 54,984. Its county seat is Franklin.-History:Venango County was created on March 12, 1800 from parts of Allegheny and Lycoming Counties...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was estimated 7,212 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Venango County.
Geography
Franklin is located at 41°23′42"N 79°50′1"W (41.395032, -79.833538).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 4.7 square miles (12.2 km²), of which 4.6 square miles (11.9 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (1.70%) is water.
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 7,212 people, 3,030 households, and 1,824 families residing in the city. 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 1,560.2 people per square mile (602.7/km²). There were 3,281 housing units at an average density of 709.8 per square mile (274.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.77% White, 3.12% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races
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 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.
There were 3,030 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% 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, 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 $27,063, and the median income for a family was $37,433. Males had a median income of $35,088 versus $22,475 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 city was $16,414. 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.
Crime
| Population | Violent crime | Murder and non-negligent man-slaughter | Forcible rape | Robbery | Aggravated assault | Property crime | Burglary | Larceny-theft | Motor vehicle theft | Arson |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6,608 | 25 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 176 | 27 | 144 | 5 | 0 |
Education
- The Franklin Area School DistrictFranklin Area School DistrictFranklin Area School District is a rural, public school system headquartered in Franklin, Venango County, located in western Pennsylvania. Franklin Area School District encompasses approximately 186 square miles...
currently has one high school, one middle school, and six elementary schools located throughout the area with an estimated 2278 students.http://www.greatschools.net/schools.page?district=213&state=PA+
- The Valley Grove School DistrictValley Grove School DistrictThe Valley Grove School District is a diminutive, rural public school district in Venango County, Pennsylvania, serving the boroughs of Sugarcreek and Cooperstown, as well as Jackson Township. Valley Grove School District encompasses approximately 63 square miles. According to 2001 local census...
currently has one high school and one elementary school located in the Franklin area with an estimated 1026 students. It formally 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.
- Saint Patrick Roman Catholic Church operates an elementary school in the city.
Attractions
- ApplefestApplefestApplefest is a yearly village-wide food, entertainment and crafts fair, taking place in several towns in Canada, the United States and England.-Brighton, Ontario:...
, the largest craft festival in Western Pennsylvania - DeBence Antique Music WorldDeBence Antique Music WorldDeBence Antique Music World is a museum in Franklin, Pennsylvania whose collection contains more than 100 antique mechanical musical instruments, including music boxes, band organs, player pianos, a nickelodeon piano, as well as a number of other antiques...
- Franklin Silver Cornet BandFranklin Silver Cornet BandThe Franklin Silver Cornet Band, formed in 1856, is one of the oldest volunteer community bands in the United States. The band plays concerts throughout the summer months in Franklin, Pennsylvania as well as an indoor concert in Franklin's Barrow-Civic Theatre the day after Thanksgiving.The...
, formed in 1856, one of the oldest traditional town bands in the United States. - Barrow-Civic Theatre, performing arts venue for community and Franklin Civic Operetta Association, founded 1959.
- Franklin Public Library, The Franklin Public Library was founded in 1894 and has had several homes, although its current location on Twelfth Street has been its home since 1921. The original structure on Twelfth Street was built in 1849 as a residence and required extensive renovations in 1921 to make it suitable for library use. A children's room was added in 1964 and another wing was added for the adult collection in 1978.
Notable people
- Judge Robert LambertonJudge Robert LambertonJudge Robert Lamberton was an associate Judge of the Courts of Venango County, Pennsylvania, who founded the first bank in the County later known as the Lamberton Savings Bank...
(March 20, 1809 – August 7, 1885) was an associate Judge of the Courts of Venango County, Pennsylvania, who founded the first bank in the County later known as the Lamberton Savings Bank. The bank building was demolished in 1969 to make way for the First National Bank of Pennsylvania. - John Wilkes BoothJohn Wilkes BoothJohn Wilkes Booth was an American stage actor who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre, in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865. Booth was a member of the prominent 19th century Booth theatrical family from Maryland and, by the 1860s, was a well-known actor...
, United States PresidentPresident of the United StatesThe President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Abraham LincolnAbraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
's assassinAssassinationTo carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
in 1865. In 1864, one year before Lincoln's assassination, he formed an oil company and stayed in Franklin for a time, performing at the Franklin Opera House. - Ted MarchibrodaTed MarchibrodaTheodore "Ted" Joseph Marchibroda is a former American football quarterback and head coach in the National Football League.-Player:...
, former American footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterbackQuarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
and head coach in the National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. Marchibroda is currently employed by the Colts as a radio analyst. - Hildegarde Dolson, author of several mysteries and histories. She may be best remembered as the author of We Shook the Family Tree, which recalls her youth in Franklin.
- Samuel C. T. DoddAttorney at lawAn attorney at law in the United States is a practitioner in a court of law who is legally qualified to prosecute and defend actions in such court on the retainer of clients. Alternative terms include counselor and lawyer...
, lawyer, worked for John D. RockefellerJohn D. RockefellerJohn Davison Rockefeller was an American oil industrialist, investor, and philanthropist. He was the founder of the Standard Oil Company, which dominated the oil industry and was the first great U.S. business trust. Rockefeller revolutionized the petroleum industry and defined the structure of...
and created the first trustTrust lawIn common law legal systems, a trust is a relationship whereby property is held by one party for the benefit of another...
for Standard OilStandard OilStandard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
. - Jesse L. RenoJesse L. RenoJesse Lee Reno was a career United States Army officer who served in the Mexican-American War, the western frontier, and as a Union General during the American Civil War...
graduated from West Point, served under Winfield ScottWinfield ScottWinfield Scott was a United States Army general, and unsuccessful presidential candidate of the Whig Party in 1852....
in Mexico, was part of the federal force sent against the Mormons, and served in the Civil War under Ambrose BurnsideAmbrose BurnsideAmbrose Everett Burnside was an American soldier, railroad executive, inventor, industrialist, and politician from Rhode Island, serving as governor and a U.S. Senator...
. He also fought against West Point classmate Stonewall JacksonStonewall Jacksonຄຽשת״ׇׂׂׂׂ֣|birth_place= Clarksburg, Virginia |death_place=Guinea Station, Virginia|placeofburial=Stonewall Jackson Memorial CemeteryLexington, Virginia|placeofburial_label= Place of burial|image=...
. - Rolland LawrenceRolland LawrenceRolland Derenfro "Bay" Lawrence is a former professional American football cornerback who played his entire NFL career for the Atlanta Falcons from 1973 to 1980. He was selected to his one and only Pro Bowl in 1977...
, American footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
CornerbackCornerbackA cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
for the Atlanta FalconsAtlanta FalconsThe Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Rolland "Bay" Lawrence is the Falcons all-time interceptions leader. - Sean W. RoweSean W. RoweSean W. Rowe is the eighth Episcopal Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania.-Education and early career:Rowe graduated from Grove City College and Virginia Theological Seminary. He was, at age 24, the youngest Episcopal priest in the United States at the time of his...
, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern PA. He previously served as the rector of St. John's Church. - Nate ByhamNate Byham-External links:**...
, American football tight end for the San Francisco 49ers. He was selected by the 49ers in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
Sports
In 1903, the city was the home of the Franklin Athletic ClubFranklin Athletic Club
The Franklin Athletic Club was an early professional football team based in Franklin, Pennsylvania. It was considered the top team in professional football in 1903, by becoming the becoming the US Football Champions and winning the 1903 World Series of Football, held after the 1903 season, at New...
, one of the earliest professional football teams. That season, the team was unofficially recognized as the "US Football Champions" and later won the 1903 World Series of Football, held that December at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden (1890)
Madison Square Garden was an indoor arena in New York City, the second by that name, and the second to be located at 26th Street and Madison Avenue in Manhattan...
. The team included several of the era's top players, such as: Herman Kerchoff
Herman Kerchoff
Herman Kerchoffe was professional American football player for the Pittsburgh Stars of the first National Football League in 1902, the Massillon Tigers in 1904 and the Canton Athletic Club...
, Arthur McFarland
Arthur McFarland
Arthur L. "Tiger" McFarland was an early professional American football player who played with the Greensburg Athletic Association as well as the Latrobe Athletic Association. He later played for the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1902 version of the National Football League and for the 1903 US...
, Clark Schrontz
Clark Schrontz
Clark A. Schrontz was a professional American football player. In 1902 he won a championship in the first National Football League with the Pittsburgh Stars. A year later he was a member of the Franklin Athletic Club football team that was considered the "best in the world"...
, Paul Steinberg
Paul Steinberg
Jacob Paul "Twister" Steinberg was a professional football player in the early 1900s. As a member of the first National Football League, he played with the Philadelphia Athletics in the first professional night game in history. He also won the first, and only, two series of the first World Series...
, Pop Sweet
Lynn Sweet (American football)
Lynn D. Sweet was a professional American football player who played with the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1902 version of the National Football League and for the 1903 US Football Champions, the Franklin Athletic Club...
, Eddie Wood
Eddie Wood
Edward Wood was an early professional football player for the Latrobe Athletic Association, the Franklin Athletic Club and finally for the Canton Bulldogs of the "Ohio League"...
, and coach Blondy Wallace
Blondy Wallace
Charles Edgar "Blondy" Wallace was an early professional football player. He was a 240-pound, former Walter Camp second-team All-American tackle from the University of Pennsylvania. He also played two years at Peddie Institute, in New Jersey, winning state championships in 1896 and 1897...
.
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
Philadelphia Public League
The Philadelphia Public League traces its origin back to 1901, with the formation of the Philadelphia Interscholastic League, a conference encompassing all the city's high schools, public and private. Prior to this date, the public and private schools in the area had been competing among...
), respectively.