Franklin County, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Missouri
on the south side of the Missouri River
. Franklin County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area
and contains many of the St. Louis exurbs. Census 2010 put the population at 101,492; making it the 10th most populous county in Missouri. Its county seat
is Union
. The county was organized in 1818 and is named after Founding Father
Benjamin Franklin
. The county has wineries
included in the Hermann
American Viticultural Area
and is part of the area known as the Missouri Rhineland
. Franklin County also has the notorious reputation as a county with one of the highest methamphetamine
lab busts in Missouri and was featured in a documentary on A&E about methamphetamine entitled "Meth: A County in Crisis."
. Washington
was the location of the Spanish log fort San Juan del Misuri (1796–1803). Family and followers of Daniel Boone
settled the area starting in 1799.
In 1833 substantial numbers of anti-slavery German
families began to move to the area, and soon they overwhelmed the existing population of slaveowners. Residents of German descent became strong supporters of the Union
during the U.S. Civil War
; the area was ransacked by Confederate General Sterling Price
's troops during the war.
The county quickly became a railroad and steamboat transportation center and its manufacturing industry has remained strong from the end of the Civil War until today.
Bias Vineyard near the small city of Berger
is located within the Hermann
American Viticultural Area
(AVA), designated in 1983. Röbller Vineyard and Winery near New Haven
is also in the Hermann AVA. Wineries in this area along both sides of the Missouri River
are part of the Missouri Rhineland
, whose vineyards were started by German immigrants in the mid-19th century. The state's wine industry had to be completely rebuilt after the years during Prohibition
, but the vineyards in the area have produced award-winning wines in recent decades.
The center of the Missouri River
forms the nominal northern border of the county, although the river has changed its course since boundaries were first established: a portion of St. Charles County
near St. Albans
is now south of the river, while a portion of Franklin County near Augusta
is north of the river.
The Bourbeuse River
runs for 107 miles in the county. It cuts a deep, narrow valley and is very crooked. It empties into the Meramec River near Union
. This river is mostly undeveloped, with limited access and few bridges over it. During low water, a number of fords
allow crossing.
The county is located in the Ozarks region, with steep hills and deep valleys, caves, springs
, and sinkholes characteristic of karst
areas. The underlying rock is typically carbonate
, including limestone
and dolomite
. Mining activity in the county included ores of lead
, copper
, zinc
, and deposits of refractory
clay
. The soils in most of the county tend to be thin, rocky red clay, and are poor for most agriculture, while the soil near the Missouri River is dark, rich, and thick, and used primarily for row crops such as corn
, wheat
, and soybean
s. Much of the county is covered with thick forest
s, reestablished since in the 1920s.
Urbanization is increasing in the county, especially surrounding Washington
and Union
, and along Interstate 44. St. Albans
is now a continuation of the suburban region of St. Louis County
while the majority of the county retains a rural
character and includes extensive wilderness areas, typical of exurban areas.
of 2000, there were 93,807 people, 34,945 households, and 25,684 families residing in the county. The population density
was 102 people per square mile (39/km²). There were 38,295 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile (16/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.47% White, 0.94% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races
, and 0.86% from two or more races. Approximately 0.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 44.9% were of German
, 13.0% American
, 10.7% Irish
and 7.7% English
ancestry, according to Census 2000.
There were 34,945 households out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples
living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.50% were non-families. 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.40% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 30.00% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $54,392, and the median income for a family was $62,969. Males had a median income of $35,849 versus $23,344 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $24,529. About 4.50% of families and 7.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.90% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.
Manufacturing accounts for the most (23.8%) employment in Franklin County, primarily in the city of Washington, followed by trade, transportation and utilities (18.8%), education and health care (17.7%), and construction (11.3%).
The biggest employers in Franklin County are the manufacturing firms of Magnet LLC, Cardinal Brands Hazel Division, GDX Automotive, Sporlan Value Company, and Meramec Group Inc. as well as the Meramec Valley R-III School District in the public education sector and Schatz Underground Cable Inc. in the construction industry. Small farms and wineries also greatly contribute to the economy in Franklin County.
. In fact, all but three of Franklin County’s elected officials are Republicans.
Franklin County is divided into five legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives
:
Franklin County is also a part of Missouri’s 26th Senatorial District and is currently represented by State Senator
Brian Nieves
(R-Washington
). The 26th District includes all of Franklin and Warren
counties and well as the western portions of St. Louis County
.
In Missouri's gubernatorial election of 2008
, Democratic Governor Governor Jay Nixon
solidly defeated Republican U.S. Representative Kenny Hulshof
with 58.40 percent of the total statewide vote. Nixon performed extremely well and won many of the counties in the state, including Franklin County. Nixon received 51.29% of the vote in Franklin County to Hulshof's 46.82%.
, Franklin County is a part of Missouri's 9th Congressional District and is currently represented by Blaine Luetkemeyer
(R-Columbia).
At the presidential level, Franklin County is fairly independent-leaning, but, like many exurban and mostly rural counties, its voters often favor Republican and conservative issues. While Bill Clinton
did manage to narrowly carry the county both times in 1992 and 1996, George W. Bush
strongly carried Franklin County in 2000 and 2004 and like many of the rural counties in Missouri, Franklin County favored John McCain
over Barack Obama
in 2008.
Like most predominantly rural areas, voters in Franklin County generally strongly support socially and culturally conservative
principles and therefore tend to be more amendable to voting Republican. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman
—it overwhelmingly passed Franklin County with 76.89 percent of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters as Missouri became the first state to ban same-sex marriage
. In 2006, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state
—it failed in Franklin County with 56.13 percent voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51 percent of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve embryonic stem cell research
. Despite Franklin County’s longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist
causes like increasing the minimum wage
. In 2006, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition B) to increase the minimum wage in the state to $6.50 an hour—it passed Franklin County with 77.61 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 75.94 percent voting in favor as the minimum wage was increased to $6.50 an hour in the state. During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.
U.S. Senator John McCain
(R-Arizona
) won Franklin County with 35.68 percent of the vote. Former Governor
Mitt Romney
(R-Massachusetts
) came in a close second place with 30.51 percent while former Governor Mike Huckabee
(R-Arkansas
) finished third with 27.70 percent of the vote in Franklin County. Libertarian
-leaning U.S. Representative Ron Paul
(R-Texas
) finished a distant fourth with 4.07 percent in Franklin County.
Huckabee slightly led Missouri throughout much of the evening until the precincts began reporting from St. Louis which McCain won and put him over the top of Huckabee. In the end, McCain received 32.95 percent of the vote to Huckabee’s 31.53 percent—a 1.42 percent difference. McCain received all of Missouri’s 58 delegates as the Republican Party utilizes the winner-take-all
system.
Democratic
Then-U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
(D-New York
) carried Franklin County with 55.83 percent of the vote. Then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama
(D-Illinois
) received 40.28 percent of the vote from Franklin County Democrats, one of his more impressive showings in a predominantly rural albeit exurban county. Although he withdrew from the race, former U.S. Senator John Edwards
(D-North Carolina
) still received 2.96 percent of the vote in Franklin County.
Clinton had a large initial lead in Missouri at the beginning of the evening as the rural precincts began to report, leading several news organizations to call the state for her; however, Obama rallied from behind as the heavily African American
precincts from St. Louis began to report and eventually put him over the top. In the end, Obama received 49.32 percent of the vote to Clinton’s 47.90 percent—a 1.42 percent difference. Both candidates split Missouri’s 72 delegates as the Democratic Party utilizes proportional representation
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
on the south side of the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
. Franklin County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area
St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area
Greater St. Louis is the area of Missouri and Illinois that surrounds and includes the independent city of St. Louis. Depending on the counties included in the area, it can refer to the St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan statistical area or the St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL combined...
and contains many of the St. Louis exurbs. Census 2010 put the population at 101,492; making it the 10th most populous county in Missouri. Its 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....
is Union
Union, Missouri
Union is a city in and the county seat of Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,204 at the 2010 census making Union the fastest growing community in Franklin County, Missouri. It is located on the Bourbeuse River. The city was founded in 1827 and is named after the...
. The county was organized in 1818 and is named after Founding Father
Founding Fathers of the United States
The Founding Fathers of the United States of America were political leaders and statesmen who participated in the American Revolution by signing the United States Declaration of Independence, taking part in the American Revolutionary War, establishing the United States Constitution, or by some...
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
. The county has wineries
Winery
A winery is a building or property that produces wine, or a business involved in the production of wine, such as a wine company. Some wine companies own many wineries. Besides wine making equipment, larger wineries may also feature warehouses, bottling lines, laboratories, and large expanses of...
included in the Hermann
Hermann
Hermann or Herrmann is a German given name , and might refer to:-People:* Herrmann or Hermann der Cherusker, "Arminius", Germanic leader opposed to Roman conquest and victor of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest...
American Viticultural Area
American Viticultural Area
An American Viticultural Area is a designated wine grape-growing region in the United States distinguishable by geographic features, with boundaries defined by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau , United States Department of the Treasury....
and is part of the area known as the Missouri Rhineland
Missouri Rhineland
The Missouri Rhineland is a geographical area of Missouri that extends from west of St. Louis to slightly east of Jefferson City, located mostly in the Missouri River Valley on both sides of the river...
. Franklin County also has the notorious reputation as a county with one of the highest methamphetamine
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...
lab busts in Missouri and was featured in a documentary on A&E about methamphetamine entitled "Meth: A County in Crisis."
History
The region was settled during the rule of the Spanish EmpireSpanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
. Washington
Washington, Missouri
Washington is a city on the Missouri River in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 13,243 at the 2000 census. It is the corn cob pipe capital of the world, with Missouri Meerschaum located in Washington.-Geography:...
was the location of the Spanish log fort San Juan del Misuri (1796–1803). Family and followers of Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone was an American pioneer, explorer, and frontiersman whose frontier exploits mad']'e him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. Boone is most famous for his exploration and settlement of what is now the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which was then beyond the western borders of...
settled the area starting in 1799.
In 1833 substantial numbers of anti-slavery German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
families began to move to the area, and soon they overwhelmed the existing population of slaveowners. Residents of German descent became strong supporters of the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
during the U.S. Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
; the area was ransacked by Confederate General Sterling Price
Sterling Price
Sterling Price was a lawyer, planter, and politician from the U.S. state of Missouri, who served as the 11th Governor of the state from 1853 to 1857. He also served as a United States Army brigadier general during the Mexican-American War, and a Confederate Army major general in the American Civil...
's troops during the war.
The county quickly became a railroad and steamboat transportation center and its manufacturing industry has remained strong from the end of the Civil War until today.
Bias Vineyard near the small city of Berger
Berger
- People :Berger is a relatively common last name. It means mountaineer in German, and shepherd in French. The pronunciation of the English name is . Notable people by that name include:-Politics:*James S. Berger , U.S...
is located within the Hermann
Hermann, Missouri
Hermann is a city designated in 1842 as the county seat of Gasconade County, Missouri, United States. It is near the center of the Missouri Rhineland and south of the Missouri River. The population was 2,674 at the 2000 census....
American Viticultural Area
American Viticultural Area
An American Viticultural Area is a designated wine grape-growing region in the United States distinguishable by geographic features, with boundaries defined by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau , United States Department of the Treasury....
(AVA), designated in 1983. Röbller Vineyard and Winery near New Haven
New Haven, Missouri
New Haven is a city in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,867 at the 2000 census. The city was founded in 1856. It was originally called Miller's Landing after Philip Miller, an early settler....
is also in the Hermann AVA. Wineries in this area along both sides of the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
are part of the Missouri Rhineland
Missouri Rhineland
The Missouri Rhineland is a geographical area of Missouri that extends from west of St. Louis to slightly east of Jefferson City, located mostly in the Missouri River Valley on both sides of the river...
, whose vineyards were started by German immigrants in the mid-19th century. The state's wine industry had to be completely rebuilt after the years during Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
, but the vineyards in the area have produced award-winning wines in recent decades.
Education
The highest educational attainment in Franklin County consists of the following:- High School Graduates: 59.1%
- Associate Degree: 10.6%
- Bachelor's Degree: 10.9%
- Graduate Degree: 7.5%
Public Schools
- New Haven Public School District - New HavenNew Haven, MissouriNew Haven is a city in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,867 at the 2000 census. The city was founded in 1856. It was originally called Miller's Landing after Philip Miller, an early settler....
- New Haven Elementary School (K-06)
- New Haven Middle School (07-08)
- New Haven High School (09-12)
- Meramec Valley R-III School District - PacificPacific, MissouriPacific is a city in Franklin and St. Louis counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 7,002 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Pacific is located at . The city straddles the Franklin County/St. Louis County line, which lies halfway on the blocks between Elm and Neosho streets. St...
- Meramec Valley Community School (PK) - Pacific
- Meramec Valley Early Childhood Center (PK) - Pacific
- Truman Elementary School (K-05) - Pacific
- Robertsville Elementary School (K-05) - RobertsvilleRobertsville, MissouriRobertsville is an unincorporated community in eastern Franklin County, Missouri, United States. It is located about six miles southwest of Pacific on Missouri Supplemental Route O. It is Home to the Robertsville State Park....
- Zitzman Elementary School (K-05) - Pacific
- Nike Elementary School (K-05) - CatawissaCatawissa, MissouriCatawissa is a small unincorporated community in Franklin County, Missouri, United States, on the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad, 39 miles from St. Louis, Missouri. It was founded in 1839 and initially had four stores. It is located at the junction of Route N and Route O, southwest of Pacific. ...
- Coleman Elementary School (K-05) - Villa RidgeVilla Ridge, MissouriVilla Ridge is a census-designated place in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2.417 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Villa Ridge is located at ....
- Riverbend School (08) - Pacific
- Meramec Valley Middle School (06-07) - Pacific
- Pacific High School (09-12) - Pacific
- St. Clair R-XIII School District - St. Clair
- St. Clair Elementary School (K-02)
- Edgar Murray Elementary School (03-05)
- St. Clair Jr. High School (06-08)
- St. Clair High School (09-12)
- Sullivan School District - SullivanSullivan, MissouriSullivan is a city that straddles the border of Franklin County and Crawford County in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 6,351 at the 2000 census. Stephen Sullivan founded the city in the late 1850s and cleared brush, which facilitated the building of the railway depot there, and the...
- Sullivan Primary School (PK-01)
- Sullivan Elementary School (02-05)
- Sullivan Middle School (06-08)
- Sullivan High School (09-12)
- Union R-XI School District - UnionUnion, MissouriUnion is a city in and the county seat of Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,204 at the 2010 census making Union the fastest growing community in Franklin County, Missouri. It is located on the Bourbeuse River. The city was founded in 1827 and is named after the...
- Beaufort Elementary School (K-06) - BeaufortBeaufort, MissouriBeaufort is an unincorporated community in western Franklin County, Missouri, United States. It is located at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 and Route 185 about eleven miles west of Union. The community was founded in 1849, and is named after Beaufort, South Carolina...
- Central Elementary School (K-03) - Union
- Clark-Vitt Elementary School (04-06) - Union
- Union Middle School (07-08) - Union
- Union High School (09-12) - Union
- Beaufort Elementary School (K-06) - Beaufort
- Washington School District - WashingtonWashington, MissouriWashington is a city on the Missouri River in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 13,243 at the 2000 census. It is the corn cob pipe capital of the world, with Missouri Meerschaum located in Washington.-Geography:...
- Family Resource Center (PK) - Washington
- Washington West Elementary School (PK-06) - Washington
- South Point Elementary School (K-06) - Washington
- Marthasville Elementary School (K-06) - MarthasvilleMarthasville, MissouriMarthasville is a city in Warren County, Missouri, United States. The population was 837 at the 2000 census. The Katy Trail, a 225-mile long bike path, passes through Marthasville, and the original grave of Daniel Boone is located there. In 1845, Boone's remains were disinterred and moved to...
- Labadie Elementary School (K-06) - LabadieLabadie, MissouriLabadie is an unincorporated community in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. It is located about three miles north of Gray Summit. The community is named after Sylvester Labaddie, Jr., a hunter who was killed by a bear in nearby Labaddie's Cave...
- Fifth Street Elementary School (PK-06) - Washington
- Clearview Elementary School (PK-06) - Union
- Campbellton Elementary School (K-06) - New Haven
- Augusta Elementary School (PK-06) - AugustaAugusta, MissouriAugusta is a city in St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. The population was 218 at the 2000 census. The town boasts wineries, antique shops, retaurants, B&B's, a wood shop, a glass studio, massage therapy, and The Augusta Brewery....
- Washington Middle School (07-08) - Washington
- Washington High School (09-12) - Washington
- Franklin County R-II School District - New Haven
- Franklin County Elementary School (K-08) - New Haven
- Lonedell R-XIV School District - LonedellLonedell, MissouriLonedell is an unincorporated community in eastern Franklin County, Missouri, United States. It is about eight miles east of St. Clair on Route 30, or about an hour southwest of Saint Louis....
- Lonedell Elementary School (K-08) - Lonedell
- Gerald Elementary School District - GeraldGerald, MissouriGerald is a city in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,171 at the 2000 census. The city's current mayor is Otis Schulte.-Geography:Gerald is located at ....
- Gerald Elementary School (K-05) - Gerald
- Strain-Japan R-XVI School District
Private Schools
- The Fulton School at St. Albans - St. AlbansSt. Albans, MissouriSt. Albans is an unincorporated community in northeastern Franklin County, Missouri, United States. It lies less than a mile north of Route 100 about seven miles west of Wildwood. It is near the Missouri River and features high bluffs overlooking the river. The community is on the border of St....
- (PK-12) - Nonsectarian - Cornerstone Baptist Academy - St. Clair - (01-12) - Other Affiliation
- Crosspoint Christian School - Villa Ridge - (K-12) - Nondenominational Christianity
- St. Francis Borgia Regional High School - Washington - (09-12) - Roman CatholicRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
- St. John the Baptist School - Villa Ridge - (PK-8) - Roman CatholicRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
- St. Gertrude School - Krakow - (K-8) - Roman CatholicRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
- St. Francis Borgia Grade School - Washington - (PK - 8) - Roman CatholicRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
- Our Lady of Lourdes - Washington - (PK - 8) - Roman CatholicRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
- St. Clare Catholic Grade School - St. Clair - (PK - 8) - Roman CatholicRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
- St. Bridget of Kildate School - Pacific - (PK - 8) - Roman CatholicRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
Alternative Schools
- Autumn Hill State School (K-12) - Union - Handicapped/Special needs
- Franklin County Special Education Cooperative (PK-12) - St. Clair - Special Education
- Four Rivers Career Center (09-12) - Washington - Vocational/Technical
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 930.65 square miles (2,410.4 km²), of which 922.81 square miles (2,390.1 km²) (or 99.16%) is land and 7.84 square miles (20.3 km²) (or 0.84%) is water.The center of the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
forms the nominal northern border of the county, although the river has changed its course since boundaries were first established: a portion of St. Charles County
Saint Charles County, Missouri
As of 2000, there were 283,883 people, 101,663 households, and 77,060 families residing in the county. The population density was 507 people per square mile . There were 105,514 housing units at an average density of 73 persons/km²...
near St. Albans
St. Albans, Missouri
St. Albans is an unincorporated community in northeastern Franklin County, Missouri, United States. It lies less than a mile north of Route 100 about seven miles west of Wildwood. It is near the Missouri River and features high bluffs overlooking the river. The community is on the border of St....
is now south of the river, while a portion of Franklin County near Augusta
Augusta, Missouri
Augusta is a city in St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. The population was 218 at the 2000 census. The town boasts wineries, antique shops, retaurants, B&B's, a wood shop, a glass studio, massage therapy, and The Augusta Brewery....
is north of the river.
The Bourbeuse River
Bourbeuse River
The Bourbeuse River is a river located in east-central Missouri, in the Ozarks region, and is one of two major tributaries of the Meramec River, the other being the Big River...
runs for 107 miles in the county. It cuts a deep, narrow valley and is very crooked. It empties into the Meramec River near Union
Union, Missouri
Union is a city in and the county seat of Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,204 at the 2010 census making Union the fastest growing community in Franklin County, Missouri. It is located on the Bourbeuse River. The city was founded in 1827 and is named after the...
. This river is mostly undeveloped, with limited access and few bridges over it. During low water, a number of fords
Ford (crossing)
A ford is a shallow place with good footing where a river or stream may be crossed by wading or in a vehicle. A ford is mostly a natural phenomenon, in contrast to a low water crossing, which is an artificial bridge that allows crossing a river or stream when water is low.The names of many towns...
allow crossing.
The county is located in the Ozarks region, with steep hills and deep valleys, caves, springs
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
, and sinkholes characteristic of karst
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
areas. The underlying rock is typically carbonate
Carbonate minerals
Carbonate minerals are those minerals containing the carbonate ion: CO32-.-Anhydrous carbonates:*Calcite group: Trigonal**Calcite CaCO3**Gaspeite CO3**Magnesite MgCO3**Otavite CdCO3**Rhodochrosite MnCO3**Siderite FeCO3**Smithsonite ZnCO3...
, including limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
and dolomite
Dolomite
Dolomite is a carbonate mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate CaMg2. The term is also used to describe the sedimentary carbonate rock dolostone....
. Mining activity in the county included ores of lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
, copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
, zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
, and deposits of refractory
Refractory
A refractory material is one that retains its strength at high temperatures. ASTM C71 defines refractories as "non-metallic materials having those chemical and physical properties that make them applicable for structures, or as components of systems, that are exposed to environments above...
clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
. The soils in most of the county tend to be thin, rocky red clay, and are poor for most agriculture, while the soil near the Missouri River is dark, rich, and thick, and used primarily for row crops such as corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
, and soybean
Soybean
The soybean or soya bean is a species of legume native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible bean which has numerous uses...
s. Much of the county is covered with thick forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s, reestablished since in the 1920s.
Urbanization is increasing in the county, especially surrounding Washington
Washington, Missouri
Washington is a city on the Missouri River in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 13,243 at the 2000 census. It is the corn cob pipe capital of the world, with Missouri Meerschaum located in Washington.-Geography:...
and Union
Union, Missouri
Union is a city in and the county seat of Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,204 at the 2010 census making Union the fastest growing community in Franklin County, Missouri. It is located on the Bourbeuse River. The city was founded in 1827 and is named after the...
, and along Interstate 44. St. Albans
St. Albans, Missouri
St. Albans is an unincorporated community in northeastern Franklin County, Missouri, United States. It lies less than a mile north of Route 100 about seven miles west of Wildwood. It is near the Missouri River and features high bluffs overlooking the river. The community is on the border of St....
is now a continuation of the suburban region of St. Louis County
St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
while the majority of the county retains a rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
character and includes extensive wilderness areas, typical of exurban areas.
Adjacent counties
- Warren CountyWarren County, MissouriWarren County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Warren County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area and is located west of the city on the north side of the Missouri River. As of 2008, the population was estimated to be 31,214. Its county seat is Warrenton...
(north) - St. Charles County & St. Louis CountySt. Louis County, MissouriSt. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
(northeast) - Jefferson CountyJefferson County, MissouriJefferson County is a county located in East Central Missouri in the United States. The county was included as the mean center of U.S. population in 1980. It is the sixth most-populous county in Missouri. Census 2010 put the population at 218,733 Its county seat is Hillsboro. The county was...
(east) - Washington CountyWashington County, MissouriWashington County is a county located in East Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 25,195. The largest city and county seat is Potosi...
(southeast) - Crawford CountyCrawford County, Missouri-State:In the Missouri House of Representatives, most of Crawford County is included within the 150th Legislative District and is currently represented by State Representative Jason T. Smith . In 2008, Smith defeated Democratic challenger James D. Ellis 69.97-30.03 percent; the Crawford County...
(southwest) - Gasconade CountyGasconade County, MissouriGasconade County is a county in the U.S. state of Missouri located on the south side of the Missouri River, which once served as the chief route of transportation in the state. Located in the area called the Missouri Rhineland, the county had a population of 15,342 as of the 2000 U.S. Census. A...
(west)
Major highways
Interstate 44
U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 66 (1926–79)
Route 30
Route 47
Route 100
Route 185
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 93,807 people, 34,945 households, and 25,684 families residing in the county. 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 102 people per square mile (39/km²). There were 38,295 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile (16/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.47% White, 0.94% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.20% 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 0.86% from two or more races. Approximately 0.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 44.9% were of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 13.0% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 10.7% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and 7.7% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
ancestry, according to Census 2000.
There were 34,945 households out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% 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, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.50% were non-families. 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.40% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 30.00% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $54,392, and the median income for a family was $62,969. Males had a median income of $35,849 versus $23,344 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 county was $24,529. About 4.50% of families and 7.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.90% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
The unemployment rate in Franklin County is 10.6% as of August, 2010, above state and national averages.Manufacturing accounts for the most (23.8%) employment in Franklin County, primarily in the city of Washington, followed by trade, transportation and utilities (18.8%), education and health care (17.7%), and construction (11.3%).
The biggest employers in Franklin County are the manufacturing firms of Magnet LLC, Cardinal Brands Hazel Division, GDX Automotive, Sporlan Value Company, and Meramec Group Inc. as well as the Meramec Valley R-III School District in the public education sector and Schatz Underground Cable Inc. in the construction industry. Small farms and wineries also greatly contribute to the economy in Franklin County.
Cities
|
Pacific, Missouri Pacific is a city in Franklin and St. Louis counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 7,002 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Pacific is located at . The city straddles the Franklin County/St. Louis County line, which lies halfway on the blocks between Elm and Neosho streets. St... Saint Clair, Missouri Saint Clair is a city in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,472 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Saint Clair is located at .... Sullivan, Missouri Sullivan is a city that straddles the border of Franklin County and Crawford County in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 6,351 at the 2000 census. Stephen Sullivan founded the city in the late 1850s and cleared brush, which facilitated the building of the railway depot there, and the... |
Union, Missouri Union is a city in and the county seat of Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,204 at the 2010 census making Union the fastest growing community in Franklin County, Missouri. It is located on the Bourbeuse River. The city was founded in 1827 and is named after the... Washington, Missouri Washington is a city on the Missouri River in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 13,243 at the 2000 census. It is the corn cob pipe capital of the world, with Missouri Meerschaum located in Washington.-Geography:... |
Villages
|
Oak Grove Village, Missouri Oak Grove Village is a village in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 382 at the 2000 census.There is also the city of Oak Grove in Jackson and Lafayette Counties.-Geography:Oak Grove is located at .... Parkway, Missouri Parkway is a village in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 280 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Parkway is located at .... |
Census-designated places
- Gray SummitGray Summit, MissouriGray Summit is a census-designated place in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,640 at the 2000 census. Also called Gray's Summit, it was founded by Daniel Gray of New York who built a hotel here in 1845. This community was the highest point on the Missouri Pacific...
- Villa RidgeVilla Ridge, MissouriVilla Ridge is a census-designated place in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2.417 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Villa Ridge is located at ....
Other places
|
Lonedell, Missouri Lonedell is an unincorporated community in eastern Franklin County, Missouri, United States. It is about eight miles east of St. Clair on Route 30, or about an hour southwest of Saint Louis.... Luebbering, Missouri Luebbering is an unincorporated community in eastern Franklin County, Missouri, United States. It is also known as "lametown" to its residents. It is about eight miles east of St... Moselle, Missouri Moselle is an unincorporated community in Franklin County, Missouri, United States, and is largely abandoned. It is located about five miles northeast of St. Clair... |
Robertsville, Missouri Robertsville is an unincorporated community in eastern Franklin County, Missouri, United States. It is located about six miles southwest of Pacific on Missouri Supplemental Route O. It is Home to the Robertsville State Park.... St. Albans, Missouri St. Albans is an unincorporated community in northeastern Franklin County, Missouri, United States. It lies less than a mile north of Route 100 about seven miles west of Wildwood. It is near the Missouri River and features high bluffs overlooking the river. The community is on the border of St.... Stanton, Missouri Stanton is an unincorporated community in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. It lies on Interstate 44 at the junction with Missouri Supplemental Route W. Prior to Interstate 44, it was an important town on U.S. Route 66 due to the nearby Meramec Caverns very prominently advertised up and... |
Local
Politics at the local level in Franklin County is predominantly controlled by the Republican PartyRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. In fact, all but three of Franklin County’s elected officials are Republicans.
| Office | Incumbent | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Assessor Assessor (property) An assessor is a specialist who calculates the value of property. The value calculated by the assessor is then used as the basis for determining the amounts to be paid or assessed for tax or insurance purposes.... |
Tom Copeland | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
| Auditor | Tammy Vemmer | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
| Commissioner – District 1 County commission A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals... |
Terry Wilson | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
| Commissioner – District 2 County commission A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals... |
Ann Schroeder | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Circuit Clerk | Bill D. Miller | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
| Clerk | Debbie Door | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
| Collector County collecting County collecting is keeping track of the counties and other major census divisions one has visited in the United States. Many county collectors try to go for blackout, to visit every county unit in the United States... |
Linda Emmons | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
| Presiding Commissioner County commission A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals... |
John Griesheimer | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
| Prosecuting Attorney | Robert E. Parks | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
| Public Administrator Public administration Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal..... |
Carol Eckelkamp | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
| Recorder Recorder of deeds Recorder of deeds is a government office tasked with maintaining public records and documents, especially records relating to real estate ownership that provide persons other than the owner of a property with real rights over that property.-Background:... |
Sharon L. Birkman | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
| Sheriff Sheriff A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country.... |
Gary F. Toelke | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
| Treasurer Treasurer A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:... |
Alvin "Squeaky" Marquart | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
State
| Year | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Third Parties Third party (United States) The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties . The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.The United States has had a... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Missouri gubernatorial election, 2008 -Polling:-Results:-See also:* U.S. gubernatorial elections, 2008* Missouri gubernatorial election, 2004* Missouri Lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2008-External links:* from the Missouri Secretary of State* at Project Vote Smart... |
46.82% 22,896 | 51.29% 25,082 | 1.89% 921 |
| 2004 Missouri gubernatorial election, 2004 The 2004 Missouri gubernatorial election took place on 2 November 2004 for the post of Governor of Missouri. Missouri Secretary of State Republican Matt Blunt defeated State Auditor Democrat Claire McCaskill... |
56.33% 25,557 | 42.31% 19,195 | 1.36% 617 |
| 2000 | 54.75% 21,336 | 41.61% 16,216 | 3.64% 1,418 |
| 1996 | 46.18% 15,540 | 50.44% 16,973 | 3.38% 1,137 |
Franklin County is divided into five legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives
Missouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
:
- District 98: State Representative Dave Hinson (R-St. Clair).
- District 105: State Representative Paul Curtman (R-Pacific).
- District 109: State Representative Scott Dieckhaus (R-Washington).
- District 110: State Representative Ben Harris (D-HillsboroHillsboro, MissouriHillsboro is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The estimated population as of 2008 is 2,062. The population was 1,675 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Jefferson County.- Origin of name :...
). In 2010, Harris won his first term, replacing his mother, Belinda Harris, who held the office from 2002-2010. - District 111: State Representative Dave Schatz (R-SullivanSullivan, MissouriSullivan is a city that straddles the border of Franklin County and Crawford County in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 6,351 at the 2000 census. Stephen Sullivan founded the city in the late 1850s and cleared brush, which facilitated the building of the railway depot there, and the...
).
Franklin County is also a part of Missouri’s 26th Senatorial District and is currently represented by State Senator
Missouri Senate
The Missouri State Senate is the upper chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 34 members, representing districts with an average population of 160,000...
Brian Nieves
Brian Nieves
Brian D. Nieves is a Republican member of the Missouri Senate and a former Majority Whip in the Missouri House of Representatives. Nieves represents the 26th district, which coversFranklin County, Warren County, and part of St.Louis County.-Personal life:...
(R-Washington
Washington, Missouri
Washington is a city on the Missouri River in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 13,243 at the 2000 census. It is the corn cob pipe capital of the world, with Missouri Meerschaum located in Washington.-Geography:...
). The 26th District includes all of Franklin and Warren
Warren County, Missouri
Warren County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Warren County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area and is located west of the city on the north side of the Missouri River. As of 2008, the population was estimated to be 31,214. Its county seat is Warrenton...
counties and well as the western portions of St. Louis County
St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
.
In Missouri's gubernatorial election of 2008
Missouri gubernatorial election, 2008
-Polling:-Results:-See also:* U.S. gubernatorial elections, 2008* Missouri gubernatorial election, 2004* Missouri Lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2008-External links:* from the Missouri Secretary of State* at Project Vote Smart...
, Democratic Governor Governor Jay Nixon
Jay Nixon
Jeremiah Wilson "Jay" Nixon, Sr. is the 55th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Missouri. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as Missouri's Attorney General before his election in 2008.-Political career:...
solidly defeated Republican U.S. Representative Kenny Hulshof
Kenny Hulshof
Kenneth C. "Kenny" Hulshof is a politician from the U.S. state of Missouri, and represented in the United States House of Representatives. He was the unsuccessful nominee of the Republican Party for Governor of Missouri in the 2008 election.- Biography :...
with 58.40 percent of the total statewide vote. Nixon performed extremely well and won many of the counties in the state, including Franklin County. Nixon received 51.29% of the vote in Franklin County to Hulshof's 46.82%.
Federal
In the U.S. House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, Franklin County is a part of Missouri's 9th Congressional District and is currently represented by Blaine Luetkemeyer
Blaine Luetkemeyer
Blaine Luetkemeyer is the U. S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district contains most of Northeastern Missouri. As a result of the 2010 Census Missouri will lose a Congressional district effective 2013...
(R-Columbia).
Political Culture
| Year | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Third Parties Third party (United States) The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties . The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.The United States has had a... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 55.31% 27,355 | 42.98% 21,256 | 1.71% 847 |
| 2004 | 58.32% 26,429 | 40.95% 18,556 | 0.73% 333 |
| 2000 | 55.78% 21,863 | 41.26% 16,172 | 2.96% 1,159 |
| 1996 | 40.66% 13,715 | 41.23% 13,908 | 18.12% 6,111 |
At the presidential level, Franklin County is fairly independent-leaning, but, like many exurban and mostly rural counties, its voters often favor Republican and conservative issues. While Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
did manage to narrowly carry the county both times in 1992 and 1996, George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
strongly carried Franklin County in 2000 and 2004 and like many of the rural counties in Missouri, Franklin County favored John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
over Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
in 2008.
Like most predominantly rural areas, voters in Franklin County generally strongly support socially and culturally conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
principles and therefore tend to be more amendable to voting Republican. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman
Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 (2004)
Constitutional Amendment 2 of 2004 is an amendment to the Missouri Constitution that prohibited same-sex marriages from being conducted or recognized in Missouri. The Amendment passed via public referendum on August 3, 2004 with 71% of voters supporting and 29% opposing. Every county voted in...
—it overwhelmingly passed Franklin County with 76.89 percent of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters as Missouri became the first state to ban same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
. In 2006, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state
Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 (2006)
Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 is a state constitutional amendment initiative that concerns stem cell research and human cloning in Missouri...
—it failed in Franklin County with 56.13 percent voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51 percent of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve embryonic stem cell research
Embryonic stem cell
Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, an early-stage embryo. Human embryos reach the blastocyst stage 4–5 days post fertilization, at which time they consist of 50–150 cells...
. Despite Franklin County’s longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
causes like increasing the minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
. In 2006, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition B) to increase the minimum wage in the state to $6.50 an hour—it passed Franklin County with 77.61 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 75.94 percent voting in favor as the minimum wage was increased to $6.50 an hour in the state. During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.
2008 Missouri Presidential Primary
RepublicanU.S. Senator John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
(R-Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
) won Franklin County with 35.68 percent of the vote. Former Governor
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
(R-Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
) came in a close second place with 30.51 percent while former Governor Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee
Michael "Mike" Dale Huckabee is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries, finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won . He won...
(R-Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
) finished third with 27.70 percent of the vote in Franklin County. Libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
-leaning U.S. Representative Ron Paul
Ron Paul
Ronald Ernest "Ron" Paul is an American physician, author and United States Congressman who is seeking to be the Republican Party candidate in the 2012 presidential election. Paul represents Texas's 14th congressional district, which covers an area south and southwest of Houston that includes...
(R-Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
) finished a distant fourth with 4.07 percent in Franklin County.
Huckabee slightly led Missouri throughout much of the evening until the precincts began reporting from St. Louis which McCain won and put him over the top of Huckabee. In the end, McCain received 32.95 percent of the vote to Huckabee’s 31.53 percent—a 1.42 percent difference. McCain received all of Missouri’s 58 delegates as the Republican Party utilizes the winner-take-all
Winner-take-all
Winner-take-all is a computational principle applied in computational models of neural networks by which neurons in a layer compete with each others for activation...
system.
Democratic
Then-U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
(D-New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
) carried Franklin County with 55.83 percent of the vote. Then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
(D-Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
) received 40.28 percent of the vote from Franklin County Democrats, one of his more impressive showings in a predominantly rural albeit exurban county. Although he withdrew from the race, former U.S. Senator John Edwards
John Edwards
Johnny Reid "John" Edwards is an American politician, who served as a U.S. Senator from North Carolina. He was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 2004, and was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 and 2008.He defeated incumbent Republican Lauch Faircloth in...
(D-North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
) still received 2.96 percent of the vote in Franklin County.
Clinton had a large initial lead in Missouri at the beginning of the evening as the rural precincts began to report, leading several news organizations to call the state for her; however, Obama rallied from behind as the heavily African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
precincts from St. Louis began to report and eventually put him over the top. In the end, Obama received 49.32 percent of the vote to Clinton’s 47.90 percent—a 1.42 percent difference. Both candidates split Missouri’s 72 delegates as the Democratic Party utilizes proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
.
- Hillary Rodham Clinton received more votes, a total of 7,177, than any candidate from either party in Franklin County during the 2008 presidential primary. Barack Obama received 5,179 in the Missouri Democratic Primary. Both Democratic candidates each received more votes than John McCain in the Republican Primary in Franklin County, who received 4,032 votes, quite telling for a Republican-leaning county.
See also
- List of counties in Missouri
- Missouri census statistical areasMissouri census statistical areasThe United States Census Bureau has defined 3 Combined Statistical Areas , 8 Metropolitan Statistical Areas , and 20 Micropolitan Statistical Areas in the State of Missouri...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Franklin County, Missouri
Further reading
Historical Review of Franklin County, Missouri, 1818-1968. (Melvin B. Roblee & Vera L. Osiek, editors) (1968). Union, Missouri: Franklin County Sesqui-centennial Corporation.External links
- Franklin County Government's Website
- Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Franklin County from University of MissouriUniversity of MissouriThe University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
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