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Franklin, Connecticut

Coordinates: 41°37′11″N 72°08′33″W / 41.61972°N 72.14250°W / 41.61972; -72.14250
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Town of Franklin
Franklin, Connecticut
Congregational Church
Congregational Church
Official seal of Town of Franklin
Map
Map
Map
Coordinates: 41°37′11″N 72°08′33″W / 41.61972°N 72.14250°W / 41.61972; -72.14250
Country United States
U.S. state Connecticut
CountyNew London
RegionSoutheastern CT
Incorporated1786
Government
 • TypeSelectman-town meeting
 • First selectmanAlden Miner
Area
 • Total
19.6 sq mi (50.8 km2)
 • Land19.5 sq mi (50.5 km2)
 • Water0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2)
Elevation
315 ft (96 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
1,863
 • Density95/sq mi (37/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code
06254
Area code(s)860/959
FIPS code09-29910
GNIS feature ID0213431
Websitewww.franklinct.com

Franklin is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region. The population was 1,863 at the 2020 census.[1] The town includes the village of North Franklin.

History

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Map of Franklin's pre-1861 borders.

Europeans first settled in what would become Franklin in 1663 as part of the larger division of the town of Norwich, Connecticut.[2] The residents of what would become Franklin first petitioned for an ecclesiastical society in 1710, but were denied. Six years later, their petition was granted and they formed the second ecclesiastical society of Norwich, also called the West Farms .[3][4]

During the First Great Awakening the society was shaken by controversy, partly over the location of the meetinghouse, but mostly fueled by conflict between the Old and New Lights in the society. The minister, Henry Willes, retired in 1749 as a result and in 1758 permission was granted to the eastern portion of the society to be formed as the Eighth, or Pautipaug, society of Norwich.The boundaries between the two societies would not be set until 1761. [5]

The West Farms and Pautipaug societies were incorporated together as the Town of Franklin in 1786.[6][7][8] The town is named after Benjamin Franklin.[8]

Until 1861 the town's borders extended east to the Shetucket River and included the early village of Baltic, Connecticut. That year, the town of Sprague, Connecticut, was incorporated from the towns of Franklin and Lisbon, Connecticut, which gave Franklin its present bounds.[9]

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 19.6 square miles (51 km2), of which 19.5 square miles (51 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2), or 0.36%, is water.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
17901,192
18001,2101.5%
18101,161−4.0%
18201,1610.0%
18301,1963.0%
18401,000−16.4%
1850895−10.5%
18602,358163.5%
1870731−69.0%
1880686−6.2%
1890585−14.7%
1900546−6.7%
1910527−3.5%
19205524.7%
193061110.7%
19406679.2%
19507279.0%
196097434.0%
19701,35639.2%
19801,59217.4%
19901,81013.7%
20001,8351.4%
20101,9224.7%
20201,863−3.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[10] [11]

At the 2020 census there were 1,863 people, 702 households, and 511 families living in the town. The population density was 93.47 inhabitants per square mile (36.09/km2). There were 729 housing units at an average density of 37.19 per square mile (14.36/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 85.9% White, 2.2% African American, 0.0% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 9.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.6%.[12]

Of the 702 households 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples living together. 23.1% of households were the householder living alone and 12.3% of that demographic were aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.06.

The age distribution was 23.4% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 18.9% from 25 to 44, 32.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% 65 or older. The median age was 44.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.6 males.

The median household income was $41,845 and the median family income was $91,875. The per capita income for the town was $25,477. About 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 31, 2023[13]
Party Active Voters Inactive Voters Total Voters Percentage
Democratic 347 23 370 24.31%
Republican 436 27 463 30.42%
Unaffiliated 615 42 657 43.17%
Minor Parties 31 1 32 2.10%
Total 1,429 93 1,522 100%
Presidential Election Results[14][15]
Year Democratic Republican Third Parties
2020 43.8% 553 53.4% 674 2.8% 34
2016 37.8% 413 56.1% 613 6.1% 67
2012 49.1% 519 48.9% 516 2.0% 20
2008 50.5% 538 47.3% 504 2.2% 22
2004 48.0% 513 50.5% 540 1.5% 15
2000 53.3% 534 41.9% 420 4.8% 48
1996 51.3% 493 34.0% 327 14.7% 141
1992 34.3% 386 35.6% 401 30.1% 339
1988 39.2% 396 59.1% 597 1.7% 16
1984 29.0% 302 70.1% 729 0.9% 8
1980 30.4% 272 59.3% 531 10.3% 92
1976 47.8% 380 51.9% 413 0.3% 2
1972 34.3% 252 65.2% 478 0.5% 3
1968 41.1% 249 51.9% 315 7.0% 42
1964 61.6% 328 38.4% 205 0.00% 0
1960 43.4% 239 56.6% 312 0.00% 0
1956 33.6% 165 66.4% 326 0.00% 0

Emergency services

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Police

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Due to the size of Franklin, there is no police department. Instead, the town has a partnership with the Connecticut State Police (Troop K) to provide coverage in case of an emergency.[16]

Fire Department

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Franklin's volunteer fire department is led by Chief David Wheeler. The all-volunteer department provides fire, rescue, and emergency services to the town.[17]

Notable locations

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Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Franklin town, New London County, Connecticut". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  2. ^ Woodward, Ashbel (1870). A Historical Address Delivered in Franklin, Connecticut, October 14, 1868, on the Two Hundreth Anniversary of the Settlement of the Town and the One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of its Ecclesiastical Organizations. New Haven, CT. Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor. p. 15
  3. ^ Woodward, Ashbel (1870). p. 25
  4. ^ Caulkins, Frances Manwaring (1866). History of Norwich, Connecticut: From its Poessession by the Indians, to the year 1866. Hartford, CT: Case, Lockwood & Brainard. p. 429
  5. ^ Woodward, Ashbel (1870). p. 36-38
  6. ^ Woodward, Ashbel (1870). p 40
  7. ^ Caulkins, Frances Manwaring (1866). p. 429-434
  8. ^ a b The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly. Connecticut Magazine Company. 1903. p. 332.
  9. ^ Caulkins, Frances Manwaring (1866). p. 446
  10. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ^ "Norwich January 14". Norwich Packet. John Trumbull. January 14, 1791. p. 3.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  13. ^ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 32, 2023" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  14. ^ "General Election Statements of Vote, 1922 – Current". CT Secretary of State. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  15. ^ "Election Night Reporting". CT Secretary of State. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  16. ^ Veronica Rose, Chief Analyst. "Connecticut Police Department Statistics". Cga.ct.gov. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  17. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 31, 2011. Retrieved April 13, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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