Franklin

Formed February 24, 1843 (40^th parish)

Franklin Parish (19,774), Winnsboro (4,860)

A red brick building is the Modern 1950 Franklin Parish courthouse.  The structure is located on Main Street at Pine Street.  Louisiana State Highway 4 is Main Street passing through the city.  The courthouse was enlarged in 1980.  John W. Baker and Neild-Somdal-Associates are the architects.  An 1844 courthouse was first built in Winnsboro followed by a 1903 courthouse.  On February 24, 1843 the parish was formed from parts of Ouachita, Catahoula, and Madison parishes as the 40^th parish with Boueff Prairie was the first parish seat.  Lawyer Walter Winn is the source for the parish seat’s name.  The parish was named after American statesman Benjamin Franklin.  His is also the namesake for the seats of Saint Mary and Washington parishes.  The parish borders are Bayou Macon, east, and Bayou Lafourche, part of the west. 

Franklin Parish government consists of a President, a sheriff, a clerk, a treasurer, and a coroner (executive).  It has 7 Police Jury Members (legislative.)  Three District Court Judges serve Franklin, Richland and West Carroll parishes and Seven Justice Court Judges serve Franklin Parish (judicial.) The parish is located in the northeast part of Louisiana.  Monroe, Louisiana is northwest and Vicksburg, Mississippi is northeast.  The parish center is 11.3 miles Southeast of Winnsboro nearer Gilbert.  The parish is surrounded clockwise by Madison, Tensas, Catahoula, Caldwell, and Richland parishes. 

The area of the parish is 636 square miles.  It is 41 out of 64 in the state.  It ranks 47 out of 64 in population in the state.  It has a density of 31.1 persons per square mile making it 42 out of 64 in the state.  Franklin Parish has 31.8% of its population in its incorporated areas.  There are no Interstates or United States Highways in the parish.  The parish is a C but the border wanders with the shape of the bayous.  Winnsboro is near to the center in the parish.  Winnsboro is the parish seat and the largest city.  It is 24.6% of the parish population.

Wisner