Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 51,541, making it the 2nd least populous capital county in the United States after Hughes County, South Dakota.^[2] Its county seat is Frankfort,^[3] the state capital. The county was formed in 1795 from parts of Woodford, Mercer and Shelby counties, and was named after the American inventor and statesman Benjamin Franklin.^[4] Franklin County is part of the Frankfort, Kentucky Micropolitan Statistical Area. It shares a name with Franklin County in Ohio, where Columbus is located. This makes it one of two pairs of capital cities in counties of the same name, along with Marion Counties in Oregon and Indiana.

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Franklin County
County
Franklin County courthouse in Frankfort
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Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°14′N 84°53′W
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
Founded	May 10, 1795[1]
Named for	Benjamin Franklin
Seat	Frankfort
Largest city	Frankfort
Area
• Total	212 sq mi (550 km2)
• Land	208 sq mi (540 km2)
• Water	4.3 sq mi (11 km2)  2.0%
Population  (2020)
• Total	51,541
• Estimate  (2023)	51,644
• Density	240/sq mi (94/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	franklincounty.ky.gov

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The three original counties of Kentucky (Jefferson, Fayette and Lincoln counties) intersected in what is today Franklin County. Franklin County was established in 1795 from land given by Mercer, Shelby, and Woodford counties.^[5] Franklin was the 18th Kentucky county in order of formation.^[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 212 square miles (550 km²), of which 208 square miles (540 km²) is land and 4.3 square miles (11 km²) (2.0%) is water.^[7]

In recent presidential elections the county has supported both Democrats and Republicans. In 2000 Democrat Al Gore won 50% of the vote to Republican George W. Bush's 47%. In 2004, Bush won 50% of the vote to Democrat John Kerry's 48%. In 2008 Republican John McCain defeated Democrat Barack Obama 49.47% to 48.87%, a difference of only 144 votes, only for Obama to narrowly edge out Mitt Romney in 2012. However, Donald Trump won the county in 2016. He won it again in 2020, but only by a slim margin of 248 votes. In 2023, incumbent-Democratic governor Andy Beshear won it by a large margin over Republican attorney general Daniel Cameron, getting 68% of the vote.

As of the census^[14] of 2000, there were 47,687 people, 19,907 households, and 12,840 families residing in the county. The population density was 227 per square mile (88/km²). There were 21,409 housing units at an average density of 102 per square mile (39/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.98% White, 9.36% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. 1.11% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 19,907 households, out of which 29.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.70% were married couples living together, 12.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.50% were non-families. 30.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.86.

22.60% of the population was under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,011, and the median income for a family was $51,052. Males had a median income of $32,826 versus $26,201 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,229. About 6.90% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.80% of those under age 18 and 12.20% of those age 65 or over.

The county is served by two public school districts: Franklin County Public Schools and Frankfort Independent Schools.^[15]

• Capitol View Park
• Cove Spring Park and Nature Preserve
• Dolly Graham Park
• East Frankfort Park
• Josephine Sculpture Park
• Juniper Hill Park and Golf Course
• Lakeview Park and Golf Course
• Leslie Morris Park on Fort Hill: 120 acres (0.49 km²) of woodland overlooking downtown Frankfort. It contains trails that guide visitors through the remains of earthwork forts that were the main defensive position for Union troops protecting the city during an 1864 Civil War skirmish.
• Riverview Park and riverside walk
• Todd Park

• Bridgeport
• Forks of Elkhorn
• Frankfort (county seat)
• Jett
• Switzer
• Peaks Mill
• Bald Knob

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Franklin County, Kentucky