Franklin Parish, Louisiana



Franklin Parish (Paroisse de Franklin, Parroquia de Franklin) is a parish located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020, its population was 19,774. The parish seat and the most populous municipality is Winnsboro. The parish was founded in 1843 and named for Benjamin Franklin.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 635 sqmi, of which 625 sqmi is land and 11 sqmi (1.7%) is water.

Major highways

 * [[Image:US 425.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 425
 * [[Image:Louisiana 4 (2008).svg|25px]] Louisiana Highway 4
 * [[Image:Louisiana 15 (2008).svg|25px]] Louisiana Highway 15
 * [[Image:Louisiana 17 (2008).svg|25px]] Louisiana Highway 17

Adjacent parishes

 * Richland Parish (north)
 * Madison Parish (northeast)
 * Tensas Parish (southeast)
 * Catahoula Parish (south)
 * Caldwell Parish (west)

National protected area

 * Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Towns

 * Winnsboro (parish seat and largest municipality)
 * Wisner

Villages

 * Baskin
 * Gilbert

Unincorporated communities

 * Chase
 * Crowville
 * Extension
 * Fort Necessity
 * Jigger

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 19,774 people, 7,423 households, and 5,130 families residing in the parish.

Education
Franklin Parish School Board operates local public schools. Franklin Parish High School is the sole public high school in the parish.

The parish also hosts two private schools. One of them, Franklin Academy in Winnsboro, was opened as a segregation academy on September 14, 1970, three weeks after parish schools were ordered by a federal judge to desegregate. Franklin Academy's student body is 97% white, while Franklin Parish High School's is majority Black.

Culture
Franklin Parish hosts the annual Franklin Parish Catfish Festival with music, attractions and hundreds of vendors. The 2018 festival was attended by over 10,000 people in bad weather but usually the draw is between 15,000 and 20,000. People from across the region are attracted by the relatively high vendor count and this has an important economic contribution for local businesses. In past years the festival has included an antique car show, a zoo exhibit for children and an exhibit about Louisiana's contributions during World War II, along with performances from Grammy-winning artists Jo-El Sonnier and Jason Crabb.

Notable people

 * Ralph E. King, Winnsboro physician who represented Catahoula, Franklin, and Richland parishes in the Louisiana State Senate from 1944 to 1952 and again from 1956 to 1960
 * Anthony "Booger" McFarland, Winnsboro native; All-American football player at Louisiana State University; played in National Football League for Tampa Bay Buccaneers