Franklin_County,_Missouri

Franklin County, Missouri

Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri on the south side of the Missouri River. Franklin County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area. As of 2006, the population was 100,067. Its county seat is Union. The county was organized in 1818 and is named for Founding Father Benjamin Franklin. It includes wineries included in the Hermann American Viticultural Area and is part of the area known as the Missouri Rhineland.

History

The region was settled during the rule of the Spanish Empire. Washington was the location of the Spanish log fort San Juan del Misuri (1796-1803). Family and followers of Daniel Boone settled the area starting in 1799.

In 1833 substantial numbers of anti-slavery German families started moving to the area, and they soon overwhelmed the existing population of slaveowners. Residents of German descent became strong supporters of the Union during the American Civil War; the area was ransacked by Confederate General Sterling Price's troops during the war.

The county became a railroad and steamboat transportation center, and its manufacturing industry has remained strong from the end of the civil war until today.

Bias Vineyard near the small city of Berger is located within the Hermann American Viticultural Area (AVA), designated in 1983. Röbller Vineyard and Winery near New Haven is also in the Hermann AVA. Wineries in this area along both sides of the Missouri River are part of the Missouri Rhineland, whose vineyards were started by German immigrants in the mid-19th century. The state's wine industry had to be completely rebuilt after Prohibition years, but the vineyards have produced award-winning wines in recent decades.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 931 square miles (2,411 km²), of which, 923 square miles (2,391 km²) of it is land and 8 square miles (20 km²) of it (0.84%) is water.

The center of the Missouri River forms the nominal northern border of the county, although the river has changed its course since boundaries were first established: a portion of Saint Charles County near St. Albans is now south of the river, while a portion of Franklin County near Augusta is north of the river.

The Bourbeuse River runs for 107 miles in the county. It cuts a deep, narrow valley, and is very crooked. It empties into the Meramec River near Union. This river is mostly undeveloped, with limited access and few bridges over it. During low water, a number of fords allow crossing.

The county is in the Ozarks region, with steep hills and deep valleys, and caves, springs, and sinkholes charactersitic of karst areas. The underlying rock is typically carbonate, including limestone and dolomite. Mining activity in the county included ores of lead, copper, and zinc, and deposits of refractory clay. The soils in most of the county tend to be thin, rocky red clay, and is poor for most agriculture, while the soil near the Missouri River is dark, rich, and thick, and used primarily for rowcrops such as corn, wheat, and soybean. Much of the county is covered with thick forests, reestablished since in the 1920s.

Urbanization is increasing in the county, especially surrounding Washington and Union, and along Interstate 44. St. Albans is now a continuation of the suburban region of St. Louis County. The majority of the county retains a rural character, and includes extensive wilderness areas. Washington is the biggest town in Franklin County.

Adjacent counties

Warren County (north)
St. Charles County & St. Louis County (northeast)
Jefferson County (east)
Washington County (southeast)
Crawford County (southwest)
Gasconade County (west)

Major highways

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 93,807 people, 34,945 households, and 25,684 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile (39/km²). There were 38,295 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile (16/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.47% White, 0.94% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 0.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 44.9% were of German, 13.0% American, 10.7% Irish and 7.7% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 34,945 households out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.50% were non-families. 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.40% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 30.00% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,474, and the median income for a family was $50,122. Males had a median income of $35,849 versus $23,344 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,705. About 4.50% of families and 7.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.90% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.