| Official Name: | Franklin, Kentucky |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Kentucky |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Simpson |
| Government Type: | City Commission |
| Leader Title1: | Mayor City Commission |
| Leader Name1: | Larry Dixon Dale McCreary Jamie Powell Wendell Stewart Herbert Williams |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Established Date: | November 2, 1820 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 14.86 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 14.75 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.11 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 10176 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 690.04 |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation Ft: | 709 |
| Coordinates: | 36.7225°N -86.5775°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP codes |
| Postal Code: | 42134-42135 |
| Area Code: | 270 & 364 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 21-28918 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 0492443 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2022 |
| Pop Est Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Est: | 10344 |
| Area Total Km2: | 38.48 |
| Area Land Km2: | 38.19 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.29 |
| Population Density Km2: | 266.43 |
Franklin is a home rule-class city[3] in and the county seat of Simpson County, Kentucky, United States.[4] The county is located on the south central border of the state, and its population was 10,176 at the 2020 census.
Kentucky Downs, formerly known as Dueling Grounds Racetrack (owned by Corey Johnsen & Ray Reid), is located in Franklin on the Kentucky–Tennessee border. Kentucky Downs hosts the Kentucky Cup Turf Festival, a full card of world-class horse racing featuring four major turf stakes. Kentucky Downs also hosts year-round simulcasts for the Kentucky-Tennessee market.
Franklin was formally incorporated by the state assembly on November 2, 1820,[5] on a 62acres tract of land. This tract was purchased from William Hudspeth and was named for Founding Father Benjamin Franklin.[6] The post office was established on September 29, 1822, with Robert W. Simpson as postmaster.[7]
On March 1, 1968, Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash were married at the Franklin First United Methodist church by Reverend Leslie Chapman.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Franklin has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[8]
Franklin is located at 36.7225°N -86.5775°W (36.722487, -86.577566).[9]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.4sqmi, all land.
As of the census[10] of 2020, there were 10,176 people residing in the city. The population density was 690sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 80.20% White, 13.00% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, and 6.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.00% of the population.
The median income for a household in the city was $54,784. The per capita income for the city was $23,835. About 16.8% of the population is below the poverty line.
Public education in Franklin is administered by Simpson County School District, which operates Franklin Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary School and Simpson Elementary School, Franklin-Simpson Middle School and Franklin-Simpson High School as well as an alternative school called Franklin-Simpson High School West Campus.[11]
Franklin Mennonite Elementary School and Faith Baptist Academy are private institutions.
Franklin has a public library, the Goodnight Memorial Library.[12]