Franklin, New Hampshire

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Franklin, New Hampshire
City
Central Street
Central Street
Official seal of Franklin, New Hampshire
Seal
Motto(s): 
"The Three Rivers City"
Location within Merrimack County, and the state of New Hampshire.
Location within Merrimack County, and the state of New Hampshire.
Coordinates: 43°26′39″N 71°38′51″W / 43.44417°N 71.64750°W / 43.44417; -71.64750Coordinates: 43°26′39″N 71°38′51″W / 43.44417°N 71.64750°W / 43.44417; -71.64750
CountryUnited States
StateNew Hampshire
CountyMerrimack
Settled1764
Incorporated (Town)1828
Government
 • MayorOlivia Zink (interim)
 • City Council
Members
 • City ManagerJudie Milner
Area
[2]
 • Total29.17 sq mi (75.55 km2)
 • Land27.43 sq mi (71.05 km2)
 • Water1.74 sq mi (4.50 km2)  6.31%
Elevation
310 ft (94 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total8,477
 • Estimate 
(2019)[1]
8,686
 • Density316.63/sq mi (122.25/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code
03235
Area code(s)603
FIPS code33-27380
GNIS feature ID0873290
Websitewww.franklinnh.org

Franklin is a city in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. At the 2010 census, the population was 8,477,[3] the least of any of New Hampshire's 13 cities. As of 2018, the population was an estimated 8,712.[4] Franklin includes the village of West Franklin.

History[]

Situated at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers that form the Merrimack River, the town was settled by Anglo-European colonists in 1764 and originally known as Pemigewasset Village. It was taken from portions of Salisbury, Andover, Sanbornton and Northfield. The name Franklin was adopted in 1820 in honor of statesman and founding father Benjamin Franklin. Water power from the falls helped it develop as a mill town.[5] It would incorporate as a town in 1828, and then as a city in 1895.

Daniel Webster was born in a section of Franklin that was then part of Salisbury. There is a state historic site located off Route 127 that preserves the famous orator's childhood home. As an adult, Webster owned "The Elms", a farm near the Merrimack River along present-day Route 3.

In 1943, the Army Corps of Engineers created the Franklin Falls Reservoir above Franklin by constructing the Franklin Falls Dam for flood control on the Pemigewasset River.

Image gallery[]

  • Bird's eye view c. 1912

  • Merrimack River in 1905

  • Old High School in 1908

  • Central Street in 1909

  • Sulloway Mills c. 1910

  • Daniel Webster birthplace c. 1910

  • City Hall

  • The library

Geography[]

Franklin is located at

 WikiMiniAtlas
43°26′49″N 71°39′25″W / 43.44694°N 71.65694°W / 43.44694; -71.65694 (43.446956, -71.656966).[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 29.1 square miles (75.4 km2), of which 27.3 square miles (70.7 km2) is land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2) is water, comprising 6.31% of the town.[7] It is drained by the Winnipesaukee, Pemigewasset and Merrimack rivers. Webster Lake is in the north. The highest point in Franklin is an unnamed summit near the northwestern corner of the city limits, where the elevation reaches approximately 1,370 feet (420 m) above sea level. Franklin lies fully within the Merrimack River watershed.[8]

U.S. Route 3 and New Hampshire Route 11 form Central Street, the main street of Franklin. Heading east, the two routes lead to Tilton and Laconia, New Hampshire. US 3 leads south to Boscawen and Concord, while NH 11 goes west to Andover and New London. New Hampshire Route 127 also passes through downtown Franklin, leading southwest to Salisbury and Contoocook, and north into Sanbornton. New Hampshire Route 3A leads north from West Franklin to Bristol.

Adjacent municipalities[]

  • Sanbornton (northeast)
  • Tilton (east)
  • Northfield (southeast)
  • Boscawen (south)
  • Salisbury (southwest)
  • Andover (west)
  • Hill (northwest)

Demographics[]

Public Library c. 1915, a Carnegie library
Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18301,370—
18401,281−6.5%
18501,251−2.3%
18601,60027.9%
18702,30143.8%
18803,26541.9%
18904,08525.1%
19005,84643.1%
19106,1324.9%
19206,3183.0%
19306,5764.1%
19406,7492.6%
19506,552−2.9%
19606,7422.9%
19707,2928.2%
19807,9018.4%
19908,3045.1%
20008,4051.2%
20108,4770.9%
2019 (est.)8,686[1]2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

As of the census of 2010, there were 8,477 people, 3,407 households, and 2,179 families residing in the city. There were 3,938 housing units, of which 531, or 13.5%, were vacant. 193 of the vacant units were for seasonal or recreational use. The racial makeup of the town was 96.2% white, 0.5% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.02% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.3% some other race, and 1.7% from two or more races. 1.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[10]

Of the 3,407 households, 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were headed by married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43, and the average family size was 2.93.[10]

In the city, 22.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.0% were from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.[10]

For the period 2011–2015, the estimated median annual income for a household was $43,237, and the median income for a family was $52,390. Male full-time workers had a median income of $43,179 versus $34,708 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,318. 21.1% of the population and 16.6% of families were below the poverty line. 40.2% of the population under the age of 18 and 12.5% of those 65 or older were living in poverty.[11]

Education[]

Sites of interest[]

Notable people[]

  • Jedh Barker (1945–1967), marine; received the Medal of Honor
  • Vaughn Blanchard, Olympic track and field athlete
  • Cornelia James Cannon (1876-1969), feminist reformer
  • Walter Bradford Cannon (1871–1945), physiologist
  • Warren F. Daniell, industrialist and U.S. congressman
  • Ram Dass (1931–2019), US spiritual leader (occasional resident) [12]
  • John King Fairbank (1907–1991), historian (summer resident)
  • Robert Moller Gilbreth (1920-2007), New Hampshire state legislator, educator, and businessman
  • Robert M. Leach, U.S. congressman
  • G. W. Pierce (1872–1956), physicist
  • Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. (1917–2007), historian (summer resident)
  • Katherine Call Simonds (1865–?), musician, dramatic soprano, author, composer, social reformer
  • Daniel Webster (1782–1852), Secretary of State, U.S. senator and congressman

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  2. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  3. ^ United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census website, 2010 Census figures. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  4. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  5. ^ Coolidge, Austin J.; John B. Mansfield (1859). A History and Description of New England. Boston, Massachusetts. pp. 497–499.
  6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001) - Franklin city, New Hampshire". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
  8. ^ Foster, Debra H.; Batorfalvy, Tatianna N.; Medalie, Laura (1995). Water Use in New Hampshire: An Activities Guide for Teachers. U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Geological Survey.
  9. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (DP-1): Franklin city, New Hampshire". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  11. ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics: 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (DP03): Franklin city, New Hampshire". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  12. ^ Ram Dass Channel. "Ram Dass in Franklin New Hampshire 1969". YouTube. Retrieved 23 March 2017.

External links[]


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