Franklin County, Kansas

Franklin County, Kansas
County
Franklin County Courthouse in Ottawa (2009)
Franklin County Courthouse in Ottawa (2009)
Map of Kansas highlighting Franklin County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Coordinates: 38°35′00″N 95°17′00″W / 38.5833°N 95.2833°W / 38.5833; -95.2833
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedAugust 25, 1855
Named afterBenjamin Franklin
SeatOttawa
Largest cityOttawa
Area
 • Total
577 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Land572 sq mi (1,480 km2)
 • Water5.4 sq mi (14 km2)  0.9%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
25,996
 • Estimate 
(2025)
26,299 Increase
 • Density45.4/sq mi (17.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
66042, 66067, 66076, 66078, 66079, 66080, 66092, 66095
Area code785
Congressional district3rd
WebsiteFranklinCoKS.org

Franklin County is a county located in the eastern portion of the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Ottawa.[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 25,996.[1] The county was named for Benjamin Franklin, a founding father of the United States. Formerly it was considered part of the Kansas City metropolitan area, but was removed in 2013.

History

Early history

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

19th century

In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.

The area was included in a treaty ceding land to the Osage Nation in 1808, and ceded back to the federal government in 1825. After 1825 and prior to 1867, treaties with various Indian nations set off parts of what was later to become Franklin County for the use of Indian tribes removed from their ancestral lands. These tribes included: Ottawa, Chippewa, Sac and Fox, Peoria, and Potawatomi.[3][4]

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized under the provisions of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. In 1855, Franklin County was established as one of the 33 original Kansas Territory counties created by the first Territorial Legislature of 1855.[5] The county was named after Benjamin Franklin.[6] In 1861, Kansas became the 34th U.S. state.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 577 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 572 square miles (1,480 km2) is land and 5.4 square miles (14 km2) (0.9%) is water.[7]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18603,030—
187010,385242.7%
188016,79761.7%
189020,27920.7%
190021,3545.3%
191020,884−2.2%
192021,9465.1%
193022,0240.4%
194020,889−5.2%
195019,928−4.6%
196019,548−1.9%
197020,0072.3%
198022,06210.3%
199021,994−0.3%
200024,78412.7%
201025,9924.9%
202025,9960.0%
2025 (est.)26,299[8] Increase1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010-2020[1]

Franklin County comprises the Ottawa, KS Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS Combined Statistical Area.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 25,996. The median age was 40.2 years, with 23.3% of residents under the age of 18 and 18.1% aged 65 years or older.[13]

For every 100 females there were 99.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.8 males age 18 and over. 47.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 52.1% lived in rural areas.[13][14]

The racial makeup of the county was 89.2% White, 1.2% Black or African American, 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.5% from some other race, and 6.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.4% of the population.[15]

There were 10,233 households in the county, of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[13]

There were 11,149 housing units, of which 8.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.7% were owner-occupied and 30.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.4%.[13]

2000 census

As of the U.S. Census in 2000,[16] there were 24,784 people, 9,452 households, and 6,720 families residing in the county. The population density was 43 people per square mile (17 people/km2). There were 10,229 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (6.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.05% White, 1.21% Black or African American, 0.94% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.78% from other races, and 1.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.62% of the population.

There were 9,452 households, out of which 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.50% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,052, and the median income for a family was $45,197. Males had a median income of $31,223 versus $22,992 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,311. About 5.60% of families and 7.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.40% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Franklin County, Kansas[17][18][19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1888 2,422 50.47% 1,113 23.19% 1,264 26.34%
1892 2,209 46.06% 0 0.00% 2,587 53.94%
1896 2,609 44.91% 3,152 54.25% 49 0.84%
1900 2,872 51.55% 2,605 46.76% 94 1.69%
1904 2,855 62.84% 1,310 28.84% 378 8.32%
1908 2,658 52.74% 2,155 42.76% 227 4.50%
1912 672 13.75% 1,970 40.29% 2,247 45.96%
1916 3,885 45.17% 4,128 47.99% 588 6.84%
1920 5,216 65.16% 2,606 32.55% 183 2.29%
1924 6,008 67.05% 2,324 25.94% 628 7.01%
1928 7,346 78.40% 1,951 20.82% 73 0.78%
1932 4,887 50.16% 4,690 48.14% 165 1.69%
1936 6,007 57.00% 4,503 42.73% 28 0.27%
1940 6,393 63.80% 3,542 35.35% 85 0.85%
1944 5,375 64.68% 2,880 34.66% 55 0.66%
1948 5,145 58.24% 3,467 39.25% 222 2.51%
1952 6,983 72.86% 2,532 26.42% 69 0.72%
1956 6,557 71.42% 2,591 28.22% 33 0.36%
1960 6,158 68.20% 2,824 31.28% 47 0.52%
1964 3,725 45.31% 4,410 53.64% 86 1.05%
1968 4,875 59.17% 2,524 30.63% 840 10.20%
1972 6,011 72.71% 2,056 24.87% 200 2.42%
1976 4,760 55.49% 3,607 42.05% 211 2.46%
1980 5,525 62.73% 2,726 30.95% 557 6.32%
1984 6,284 70.61% 2,523 28.35% 92 1.03%
1988 4,777 56.43% 3,592 42.43% 96 1.13%
1992 3,699 37.43% 2,968 30.03% 3,216 32.54%
1996 5,007 50.91% 3,552 36.12% 1,276 12.97%
2000 5,925 61.35% 3,321 34.39% 412 4.27%
2004 7,391 64.40% 3,921 34.17% 164 1.43%
2008 7,079 60.04% 4,433 37.60% 279 2.37%
2012 6,984 63.55% 3,694 33.61% 312 2.84%
2016 7,185 65.53% 2,892 26.37% 888 8.10%
2020 8,479 67.96% 3,690 29.57% 308 2.47%
2024 8,773 69.04% 3,676 28.93% 259 2.04%
Voter Registration by County as of June 2026[20]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Democratic 3,209 16.61%
Libertarian 244 0.01%
Republican 10,472 54.21%
Others 5,391 27.91%
Total 19,316 100%

Government

At the federal level, Franklin County is represented in the United States Senate by Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall, both Republicans. It is represented in the United States House of Representatives as part of Kansas's 2nd congressional district by Republican Derek Schmidt. At the state level, Franklin County is in the Kansas Senate's 12th district, represented by Republican Caryn Tyson. It is largely in the Kansas House of Representatives's 59th district, represented by Republican Rebecca Schmoe, with a small portion lying in the 5th district, represented by Republican Courtney Sappington. Judicially, Franklin County is within the 4th district court district. It also has a board of county commissioners and several elected county officials.

Office Name Party
  Commissioner, District 1 Colton Waymire Republican
  Commissioner, District 2 Rod Harris Republican
  Commissioner, District 3 Sabrina Meador Republican
  Commissioner, District 4 Scott Hornbuckle Republican
  Commissioner, District 5 Donald Stottlemire Republican

Politics

Historically a Free-Stater stronghold with unionist sympathies (Franklin County was the site of the infamous Pottawatomie massacre)[21], Franklin County, like most of the state, voted strongly Republican throughout most of the 19th century. Suffering from severe drought and a national economic downturn in the late 19th century, the county began voting for populist candidates and was the home base of Peter Percival Elder, a Republican who later became a state house speaker under the Farmers' Alliance, which evolved into the Populist Party.[22] Franklin County continued to deliver strong majorities to populist candidates until the 1920s, when it, like the rest of the state, shifted heavily towards the Republican Party. Since then, Franklin County has been a Republican stronghold, being one of few Kansas counties to never vote for Franklin D. Roosevelt in any of his four runs. Aside from 1964, when the county was won by Lyndon B. Johnson amidst a national landslide, the county has voted continuously for Republicans since 1920, and Republicans have improved their margins in every election since 2008.

Transportation

Airport

The county contains one airport, Ottawa Municipal Airport. The airport is civilian use.

Major highways

Education

Unified school districts

School districts include:[23]

Colleges and universities

Communities

2005 map of Franklin County[24] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Franklin County.[24]

Cities

Unincorporated places

† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Ghost towns

Townships

Franklin County is divided into sixteen townships. The city of Ottawa is considered governmentally independent and is excluded from the census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size.

TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		 Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Appanoose020752934 (10)77 (30)0 (0)0.10%38°41′57″N 95°27′17″W / 38.69917°N 95.45472°W / 38.69917; -95.45472 (Appanoose Township)
Centropolis124759979 (25)105 (41)0 (0)0.34%38°41′7″N 95°21′29″W / 38.68528°N 95.35806°W / 38.68528; -95.35806 (Centropolis Township)
Cutler16900Rantoul8568 (20)111 (43)1 (0)0.68%38°31′33″N 95°6′56″W / 38.52583°N 95.11556°W / 38.52583; -95.11556 (Cutler Township)
Franklin24375Wellsville2,55228 (72)91 (35)0 (0)0.52%38°42′34″N 95°5′38″W / 38.70944°N 95.09389°W / 38.70944; -95.09389 (Franklin Township)
Greenwood287504295 (14)79 (30)0 (0)0.08%38°33′39″N 95°26′35″W / 38.56083°N 95.44306°W / 38.56083; -95.44306 (Greenwood Township)
Harrison303004456 (16)71 (27)1 (0)0.84%38°34′20″N 95°13′2″W / 38.57222°N 95.21722°W / 38.57222; -95.21722 (Harrison Township)
Hayes309253975 (13)77 (30)0 (0)0.36%38°42′17″N 95°13′51″W / 38.70472°N 95.23083°W / 38.70472; -95.23083 (Hayes Township)
Homewood330004936 (16)78 (30)0 (0)0.26%38°30′53″N 95°23′28″W / 38.51472°N 95.39111°W / 38.51472; -95.39111 (Homewood Township)
Lincoln4070079710 (26)78 (30)0 (0)0.31%38°34′8″N 95°18′33″W / 38.56889°N 95.30917°W / 38.56889; -95.30917 (Lincoln Township)
Ohio52350Princeton7837 (19)108 (42)1 (0)1.05%38°29′14″N 95°16′32″W / 38.48722°N 95.27556°W / 38.48722; -95.27556 (Ohio Township)
Ottawa535758688 (20)111 (43)0 (0)0.33%38°38′21″N 95°16′5″W / 38.63917°N 95.26806°W / 38.63917; -95.26806 (Ottawa Township)
Peoria554256267 (18)92 (36)0 (0)0.20%38°36′32″N 95°7′45″W / 38.60889°N 95.12917°W / 38.60889; -95.12917 (Peoria Township)
Pomona57025Pomona1,17422 (56)54 (21)0 (0)0.30%38°36′40″N 95°27′24″W / 38.61111°N 95.45667°W / 38.61111; -95.45667 (Pomona Township)
Pottawatomie57225Lane6697 (17)101 (39)0 (0)0.46%38°26′14″N 95°6′32″W / 38.43722°N 95.10889°W / 38.43722; -95.10889 (Pottawatomie Township)
Richmond59700Richmond8129 (23)91 (35)0 (0)0.50%38°24′19″N 95°15′22″W / 38.40528°N 95.25611°W / 38.40528; -95.25611 (Richmond Township)
Williamsburg79325Williamsburg6725 (12)145 (56)1 (1)0.95%38°27′33″N 95°27′43″W / 38.45917°N 95.46194°W / 38.45917; -95.46194 (Williamsburg Township)
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.

Notable people

See also

Community information for Kansas

References

  1. 1 2 3 "QuickFacts; Franklin County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ Tucker, Patrick. "When War Under Heaven Ended: Tracking Pontiac's and Atawang's Band of Odawa and Ojibwa in Ohio, Walpole Island (Canada), Kansas, and Oklahoma, 1764-1938".
  4. ↑ "A brief sketch of Indian tribes in Franklin County, Kansas in 1862-1906 - 23 - Kansas Memory".
  5. ↑ Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Standard Publishing Company. pp. 680.
  6. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 131.
  7. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  14. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  15. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  16. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  17. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  18. ↑ Kobach, Kris (November 8, 2016). "2016 General Election Presidential Results by County". Secretary of State of Kansas. Archived from the original on February 23, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  19. ↑ Schwab, Scott (November 5, 2024). "Election Results". Secretary of State of Kansas. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Voter Registration Statistics". Kansas Secretary of State. Retrieved August 9, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Pottawatomie Massacre". civilwaronthewesternborder.org. Retrieved August 9, 2026.
  22. ↑ listing for the Financial History in a populist pamphlets collection
  23. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Franklin County, KS" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 10, 2024. - Text list
  24. 1 2 "General Highway Map of Franklin County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). October 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 18, 2024.
Notes

Further reading

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38°35′N 95°17′W / 38.583°N 95.283°W / 38.583; -95.283

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