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Franklin County, Maine

Coordinates: 44°59′N 70°26′W / 44.98°N 70.44°W / 44.98; -70.44
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Not to be confused with Franklin, Maine.

Franklin County
County
Franklin County Courthouse
Franklin County Courthouse
Map of Maine highlighting Franklin County
Location within the U.S. state of Maine
Map of the United States highlighting Maine
Maine's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°52′45″N 70°23′17″W / 44.879196°N 70.387917°W / 44.879196; -70.387917
Country United States
State Maine
FoundedMay 9, 1838
Named forBenjamin Franklin
SeatFarmington
Largest townFarmington
Area
 • Total
1,743 sq mi (4,510 km2)
 • Land1,697 sq mi (4,400 km2)
 • Water47 sq mi (120 km2)  2.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
29,456
 • Estimate 
(2023)
30,828 Increase
 • Density17/sq mi (6.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitefranklincountymaine.gov

Franklin County is a county located in the state of Maine, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 29,456,[1] making it the second-least populous county in Maine. Its county seat is Farmington.[2] The county was established on May 9, 1838, and named for Benjamin Franklin.[3]

History

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Franklin County was formed on May 9, 1838, from portions of Kennebec, Oxford and Somerset counties. Smaller adjustments were made during the following fourteen years.[4]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,743 square miles (4,510 km2), of which 1,697 square miles (4,400 km2) is land and 47 square miles (120 km2) (2.7%) is water.[5] The county is crossed by some of the northernmost parts of the Appalachian Mountain range, with the terrain also including several lakes and ponds, including Rangely Lake, the Chain of Ponds and part of Mooselookmegantic Lake. The county high point is Sugarloaf Mountain, the ski mountain in Carrabassett Valley whose elevation is 4,237 feet (1,291 m).

Adjacent counties and municipalities

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Major highways

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
184020,801—
185020,027−3.7%
186020,4031.9%
187018,807−7.8%
188018,180−3.3%
189017,053−6.2%
190018,4448.2%
191019,1193.7%
192019,8253.7%
193019,9410.6%
194019,896−0.2%
195020,6824.0%
196020,069−3.0%
197022,44411.8%
198027,09820.7%
199029,0087.0%
200029,4671.6%
201030,7684.4%
202029,456−4.3%
2023 (est.)30,828[6]4.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2016[11]

2015

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As of 2015 the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Franklin County, Maine are:[12]

Largest ancestries (2015) Percent
English England 22.4%
French or French Canadian France 19.1%
Irish Republic of Ireland 14.9%
"American" United States 8.5%
German Germany 6.1%
Scottish Scotland 5.0%
Italian Italy 4.2%
Scots-Irish Ulster 1.7%

2000 census

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As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 29,467 people, 11,806 households, and 7,744 families living in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile (6.6 people/km2). There were 19,159 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.96% White, 0.24% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. 0.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 26.3% were of English, 13.8% United States or American, 12.2% French, 9.2% Irish, 7.9% French Canadian, and 5.3% Scottish ancestry according to Census 2000. 95.7% spoke English and 2.9% French as their first language.

There were 11,806 households, out of which 29.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.40% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.50% under the age of 18, 11.10% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,459, and the median income for a family was $37,863. Males had a median income of $30,475 versus $20,442 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,796. About 10.70% of families and 14.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.90% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

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As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 30,768 people, 13,000 households, and 8,129 families living in the county.[14] The population density was 18.1 inhabitants per square mile (7.0/km2). There were 21,709 housing units at an average density of 12.8 per square mile (4.9/km2).[15] The racial makeup of the county was 97.3% white, 0.4% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population.[14] In terms of ancestry, 23.3% were English, 14.2% were Irish, 7.7% were French Canadian, 7.5% were German, 6.4% were Scottish, and 5.0% were American.[16]

Of the 13,000 households, 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.5% were non-families, and 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.76. The median age was 43.4 years.[14]

The median income for a household in the county was $39,831 and the median income for a family was $48,634. Males had a median income of $38,563 versus $30,024 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,838. About 10.2% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.2% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.[17]

Politics

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Historically, like much of Maine, Franklin County was strongly Republican. For over 100 years after the founding of the Republican Party in 1854, the county voted against the Republican nominee for President just once, in 1912 when Progressive Theodore Roosevelt (a former Republican) carried the county. It voted for Democratic nominee Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 as part of his major landslide victory. It would also go Democratic in 1968, an election in which Democratic nominee Hubert Humphrey chose Maine Senator Edmund Muskie as his running mate. The county snapped back to the Republicans for every election from 1972 to 1988, before voting Democratic for each election between 1992 and 2012. The county backed the statewide winner in every election from 1916 to 2012.

In 2016, the county deviated from the state as whole for the first time in over 100 years by voting for Republican Donald Trump even as the state was carried by Democrat Hillary Clinton. This trend continued in 2020, with the county again backing Trump even as the state voted for Joe Biden.[18]

Voter registration

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Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2024[19]
Republican 7,439 35.81%
Unenrolled 6,210 29.89%
Democratic 5,985 28.81%
Green Independent 924 4.45%
No Labels 166 0.8%
Libertarian 52 0.25%
Total 20,776 100%
United States presidential election results for Franklin County, Maine[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 9,459 53.03% 7,990 44.80% 387 2.17%
2020 8,754 50.34% 8,069 46.40% 567 3.26%
2016 7,918 48.02% 7,016 42.55% 1,554 9.43%
2012 6,369 39.12% 9,367 57.53% 546 3.35%
2008 6,627 38.58% 10,113 58.87% 438 2.55%
2004 7,378 42.74% 9,465 54.83% 418 2.42%
2000 6,459 41.81% 7,593 49.15% 1,396 9.04%
1996 3,757 25.74% 7,759 53.16% 3,080 21.10%
1992 4,608 27.89% 6,739 40.79% 5,176 31.33%
1988 7,180 54.16% 5,960 44.96% 116 0.88%
1984 8,330 62.40% 4,954 37.11% 65 0.49%
1980 5,680 46.83% 4,979 41.05% 1,469 12.11%
1976 5,799 50.94% 5,140 45.15% 445 3.91%
1972 5,958 66.50% 2,988 33.35% 14 0.16%
1968 4,127 48.01% 4,307 50.10% 162 1.88%
1964 2,887 33.29% 5,784 66.69% 2 0.02%
1960 6,136 65.00% 3,304 35.00% 0 0.00%
1956 6,307 78.97% 1,680 21.03% 0 0.00%
1952 5,885 73.23% 2,137 26.59% 14 0.17%
1948 3,741 63.19% 2,135 36.06% 44 0.74%
1944 4,127 60.90% 2,646 39.04% 4 0.06%
1940 4,548 58.47% 3,224 41.44% 7 0.09%
1936 4,957 62.53% 2,859 36.06% 112 1.41%
1932 4,521 58.46% 3,171 41.01% 41 0.53%
1928 4,923 76.54% 1,487 23.12% 22 0.34%
1924 3,389 72.40% 1,123 23.99% 169 3.61%
1920 3,820 69.13% 1,668 30.18% 38 0.69%
1916 1,988 49.89% 1,908 47.88% 89 2.23%
1912 668 17.57% 1,421 37.37% 1,714 45.07%
1908 2,173 68.40% 930 29.27% 74 2.33%
1904 2,135 72.25% 755 25.55% 65 2.20%
1900 2,235 65.99% 1,085 32.03% 67 1.98%
1896 2,578 72.60% 886 24.95% 87 2.45%
1892 1,964 55.50% 1,456 41.14% 119 3.36%
1888 2,485 60.95% 1,518 37.23% 74 1.82%
1884 2,387 57.80% 1,375 33.29% 368 8.91%
1880 2,390 51.49% 2,178 46.92% 74 1.59%
1876 2,116 57.58% 1,559 42.42% 0 0.00%
1872 2,187 70.30% 924 29.70% 0 0.00%
1868 2,429 63.32% 1,407 36.68% 0 0.00%
1864 2,248 55.67% 1,790 44.33% 0 0.00%
1856 2,529 64.71% 1,358 34.75% 21 0.54%
1852 997 34.34% 1,310 45.13% 596 20.53%
1848 886 28.33% 1,431 45.76% 810 25.90%
1844 1,132 36.13% 1,609 51.36% 392 12.51%
1840 1,848 47.05% 2,058 52.39% 22 0.56%

Government

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Franklin County is governed by a three-member county commission. Commissioners meet at 10am on the first and third Monday of each month and are elected in the November general election, serving four year terms. Currently, the three commissioners are:[21]

District One: Gary McGrane (Jay, Wilton, Temple, Carthage)

District Two: Charles Webster (Farmington, Chesterville, New Sharon)

District Three: Clyde Barker (Avon, Carrabassett Valley, Coplin Plantation, Dallas Plantation, Eustis, Industry, Kingfield, New Vineyard, Phillips, Rangeley Plantation, Rangeley, Sandy River Plantation, Strong, Weld, and unorganized territories of East Central Franklin, North Franklin, South Franklin, West Central Franklin and Wyman)

Commissioner Charles Webster was appointed by Governor Paul LePage in 2015 to serve out the rest of Fred Hardy's term, who died on July 4.[22] Webster and Barker are members of the Republican Party, while McGrane belongs to the Democratic Party.

Franklin County belongs to Maine Prosecutorial District Three, which is composed of Franklin, Oxford and Androscoggin Counties. The current district attorney is Andrew S. Robinson, of Farmington who was elected to his first term in 2014. The deputy district attorney is James A. Andrews, who was appointed to that post by Robinson in 2015.[23]

The current county treasurer is Pamela Prodan. She was elected to that position in 2014 and will serve a four term through December 2018. Prodan succeeded Mary Frank, who decided to retire instead of running for a second term. The duties of county treasurer include: overseeing fiscal accounting matters, including paying bills, collecting amounts owed the county, reserve/investment accounts, maintaining the county's financial records and other matters related to the county's finances.[24]

Law enforcement

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Only five municipalities in Franklin County have their own police department (Carrabassett Valley, Farmington, Jay, Rangeley, and Wilton). The Franklin County Sheriff's Department is responsible for patrol and emergency calls in the remaining communities in the county without their own agency. The current sheriff is Scott Nichols, of New Sharon. Nichols was elected to that post in November 2012, defeating incumbent sheriff, Dennis Pike. Pike had spent 46 years in Franklin County law enforcement prior to being defeated by Nichols.[25]

The status of the Franklin County Jail has been contentiously debated issue within the county and state for several years. In 2008, Governor John Baldacci signed into law a bill which consolidated county jails in an effort to reduce costs. As a result, the Franklin County jail was designated a 72-hour holding facility. Any inmates who needed to be held longer than the three-day maximum had to be transported to the Somerset County Jail in East Madison, which county jail officials said was a waste of department time and money. Jail consolidation has also led to jail overcrowding statewide.[26] When the Somerset Jail reached its maximum capacity, inmates were forced to be transported to another jail within the state, sometimes hours away which Franklin County officials again said wasted time and money.

In 2012, the Somerset County Commissioners voted not to accept any more inmates from outside the county as the state Board of Corrections withheld its third quarter payment. While the vote allowed current inmates to stay at the jail, it required all future inmates to be sent to Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset. In 2013, the Maine Legislature's Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee voted 11–0 to allow the Franklin County jail to return to full service status.[27]

In 2014, the Franklin County Commissioners voted to withhold all payments to the state for jail inmates. Public outrage over the jail issue also pressured the state to give the county full service rights. In 2014 an 800-member Facebook group was created and several protests were staged in front of the county courthouse. In 2015, the State Board of Corrections voted to grant the county a fully operational jail, officially ending the seven year conflict between the county and the state.[28]

Communities

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Smalls Falls Rest Area on Route 4 just south of Rangeley, Maine

Towns

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Plantations

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Census-designated places

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Unorganized territories

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Unincorporated communities

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Franklin County, Maine". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 131.
  4. ^ Maine – An Encyclopedia: Franklin County. Accessed February 20, 2023.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 9, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  10. ^ "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 September 7, 2014.
  11. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  12. ^ "American FactFinder - Results". factfinder.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  15. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  16. ^ "DP02 Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  17. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  18. ^ "Pivot Counties in Maine", ballotpedia.org, retrieved September 20, 2024
  19. ^ Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions (March 29, 2024). "Registered & Enrolled Voters Statewide" (PDF). Maine SOS. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  20. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  21. ^ "franklincountyme-gov". franklincountyme-gov. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  22. ^ Perry, Donna M.; Journal, Sun (August 10, 2015). "LePage appoints Charlie Webster as Franklin County commissioner". The Bangor Daily News. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  23. ^ "franklincountyme-gov". franklincountyme-gov. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  24. ^ "franklincountyme-gov". franklincountyme-gov. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  25. ^ Schroeder, Karen (December 30, 2012). "After 46 years, Franklin County Sheriff Dennis Pike hits the road". Central Maine. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  26. ^ "Overcrowding intensifies problems at Maine's county jails - The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram". The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram. January 19, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  27. ^ "Bill to return local jail to full service fails; Somerset County refuses Franklin County's detainees | Daily Bulldog". www.dailybulldog.com. April 2, 2013. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  28. ^ Schroeder, Kaitlin (January 13, 2015). "Franklin County jail to return to full-time lockup status". Central Maine. Retrieved May 26, 2016.

Further reading

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  • George J. Varney (1881), "Franklin County", Gazetteer of the State of Maine, Boston: B.B. Russell – via Internet Archive
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44°59′N 70°26′W / 44.98°N 70.44°W / 44.98; -70.44

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