Franklin

Formed March 1, 1875 (170^th county)

Franklin County (10,357), Mount Vernon (2,492)

The Classical Revival 1912 courthouse of Franklin County sits off Texas State Highway 37 between Dallas and Jackson streets.  United States Highway 67 is one block south.  The white brick and limestone building’s designer was L. L. Thurman and Company.  The county was organized on March 1, 1875 and both courthouses serving the county have been in Mount Vernon (the last being an 1875 version.)  Franklin County was cut from Titus County as the 170^th county.  The county was named for Benjamin Cromwell Franklin, the first judge of the Republic of Texas.  It may or may not have the same origin as the county seat of Robertson County.  Mount Vernon got its name from George Washington’s home in Virginia.  It is also the namesake of Wilbarger County seat. 

Franklin County government consists of a sheriff, a County Judge, and 4 Commissioners.  One District Court Judge serves Franklin, Delta, Hopkins, and Rains counties, One District Court Judge serves Franklin, Delta, Hopkins, and Lamar counties, and One County Court Judge serves Franklin County.  The county is in northeast Texas between Dallas, Texas, to its west, and Texarkana, Texas, to its east.  The Sulphur River forms its northern border with Red River County.  The county center is 2.6 miles East-Northeast of Mount Vernon.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Red River, Titus, Camp, Wood, Hopkins, and Delta counties. 

The area of the county is 286 square miles.  It is 246 out of 254 in the state.  It ranks 160 out of 254 in population in the state.  It has a density of 36.2 persons per square mile making it 97 out of 254 in the state.  Franklin County has 31.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 30 crosses east to west, Titus County to Hopkins County.  United States Highway 67 parallels Interstate Highway 30 from Titus County to Hopkins County.  United States Highway 271 clips the northeast corner from Red River, north, to Titus County, east.  The county is basically a tall rectangle.  It is one of the smallest counties in the state.  Mount Vernon is at the county’s center.  Mount Vernon is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 24.1% of the county population.