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Franklin County History and Information |
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Franklin County, the eighteenth in order of
formation, is located in central Kentucky in the Bluegrass
region. The county has an area of
212 square miles. Franklin County was formed from portions
of Woodford, Mercer and Shelby counties on December 7,
1794, and FRANKFORT, the state capital, is its seat of
government. The county was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin,
signer of the Declaration of Independence.
The County is bordered by Owen County (north), Scott County (east), Woodford County (southeast), Anderson County (south), Shelby County (west), Henry County (northwest). Cities, Towns and Communities include Frankfort
The topography of Franklin County is somewhat rolling
to hilly. The soil is rich and deep in most portions, and
tobacco, corn, hay, and vegetables are raised in abundance.
The principal streams are the Kentucky River, the Elkhorn
Creek and its north and south branches, and the Big and
Little Benson and Flat creeks.
Indians hunted game in the forests of Franklin County
and had settlements in the area; many Indian artifacts
have been discovered in the Lower Benson and Flat creeks
sections. Arrowheads, pottery shards, shell beads, and
tomahawks, along with the skeletal remains of Native Americans,
were uncovered in the Jett area near Frankfort. One of
the Indian trails through Franklin County, the Alanant-O-Wamiowee,
was originally an animal trace followed by large herds
of buffalo and elk. This trail crossed the Kentucky River
at Leestown and in some places was trampled one hundred
feet wide by animals traveling toward salt licks.
Among the first explorers in the Franklin County region
was Christopher Gist, who in 1751 was employed by the Ohio
Land Company of Virginia. In the mid-1770s, explorers and
hunters were joined by settlers such as Hancock Lee, who
established the first settlement in 1775 in Leestown, on
the Kentucky River one mile below the present site of Frankfort.
In 1780 Indians attacked a group of men from Bryan's Station
near Lexington on their way to Mann's Salt Lick in Jefferson
County. One member of the group, Stephen Frank, was killed
at a site that was afterward called Frank's Ford (present-day
Frankfort). Near the Kentucky River, Haydon's Station was
founded in 1783, followed by Arnold's Station in 1784.
Hamilton's Station was founded on trail to the Falls of
the Ohio in 1785, and a number of Elkhorn Creek settlements
were established, including John Major's Station (1783),
Dry Run (ca. 1784), Goar's Station (ca. 1785), Cook's Station
(1792), and Harry Innes's Station (1792). In 1788 John
Major assembled a group of settlers and founded the Forks
of Elkhorn Baptist Church near his settlement. The congregation
was the first organized in the county and spurred the growth
of the community that came to be known as Forks of Elkhorn.
The Marquis de Lafayette visited Frankfort on May 14, 1825,
during his triumphal tour of the United States.
During the 1830s and 1840s, steamboats such as the Argo,
the Eagle, the Frankfort, and the John Armstrong were constructed
especially for the Kentucky River trade. Agricultural goods
from Franklin County farms and plantations went to market
down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers on these vessels.
In the 1830s Franklin County manufacturers produced candles,
stovepipes, and coaches. In 1833, E.H. and S. Steadman
operated a paper mill about three miles from Frankfort
on Elkhorn Creek. A horse-drawn railroad opened in Franklin
County on October 23, 1831. By January 1, 1835, the railroad
was locomotive-powered and operated between Frankfort and
Lexington.
In 1833 an outbreak of Asiatic cholera struck Franklin
County, causing the deaths of at least 150 people. Later,
a smallpox epidemic was the cause of several deaths.
The location of the state capital made the county a target
during the Civil War. Confederate troops commanded by Gen.
Edmund Kirby-Smith occupied Frankfort from September 3,
1862, until October 7, 1862, when Union cavalry skirmished
with a retreating Confederate rear guard. On June 10, 1864,
a portion of Gen. John Hunt Morgan's Confederate cavalry
unsuccessfully attacked Frankfort's Fort Hill, which was
defended by the Peak's Mill militia. In late August 1864,
guerrillas terrorized citizens in the Steadmantown vicinity.
In January 1865 a guerrilla band robbed stores in the Bridgeport
and Farmdale communities west of Frankfort. After the war,
Ku Klux Klan violence focused on a small black community
in the Bald Knob area.
The Civil War disrupted the Franklin County economy. Agricultural
prices and production levels in 1870 were lower than those
of 1850. The emancipation of slaves left Franklin County
suffering a severe labor shortage. Between 1870 and 1880,
the local economy improved as tobacco replaced hemp as
the leading cash crop and the livestock industry prospered.
Livestock and the distillery industry were markets for
corn. By 1874 farmers organized to further their interests,
and the Grange movement was popular.
Between 1900 and 1920, most of Franklin County's rural
communities lost population as some moved to Frankfort
and others left to seek industrial jobs. In 1919 prohibition
effectively shut down the county's largest industry, forced
the development of other industries, and resulted in significant
gains in retail trade and tourism. The growth of state
government helped to reverse the county's population drop.
Population grew at established communities such as Forks
of Elkhorn and Bridgeport and at newer places such as Swallowfield
and Elmville. In other rural precincts, such as Bald Knob
and Peaks Mill, population declined.
By 1935, after the repeal of prohibition, five distilleries
had reopened or started up in the county: the George Stagg
Company in Leestown, Old Crow and Old Taylor in Glen's
Creek, Kennebec (later Ezra Brooks) in Benson Valley, and
K. Taylor (later Old Grand Dad) at Forks of Elkhorn. In
the years following World War II, the continued growth
of state government promoted the growth of suburbs in the
area surrounding Frankfort. Urbanization and scattered
residential development contributed to the loss of nearly
14,000 acres of crop and grazing land between 1940 and
1970 in Franklin County. Although many farmers also had
full-time employment in state government, farms in 1987
occupied 72 percent of the county area. Major employers
outside Frankfort's city limits in 1990 were Union Underwear
Company and National Distillers Products Company.
The population of Franklin County was 34,481 in 1970;
41,830 in 1980; and 43,781 in 1990. The Official County Website is located at http://www.visitfrankfort.com/ .
See Extended History for More information.
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See Also Kentucky Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records
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PLEASE READ!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information. |
Franklin County Clerk has Marriage
Records from 1795 and Land Records from 1794 and is located at PO
Box 338, Frankfort, KY
40602-0338; Phone: (502)
875-8702, FAX: (502)
875-8718, [EMAIL] .
The duties of the county clerk are numerous and varied, falling into the general categories of clerical duties of the fiscal court, issuing and registering, recording and keeping records of various legal instruments, election duties, tax duties, transfers, and titling, and issuance of marriage licenses and much more. One of the most important responsibilities of the County Clerk's office is the recording of land records. The most common documents recorded are deeds, mortgages, and assignments and mortgage releases. The other is Marriage Liscenses
Franklin County Clerk of the Circuit Court has Probate Records from 1795 and Court Records from 1795 and is located at 218 St.
Clair St.,
Frankfort, KY 40601 [
Mailing Address: P. O. Box 678,
Frankfort, KY 40602;
Phone Number(s): (502) 564-7013
and (502) 564-8380,
FAX: (502) 564-8188 .
The Circuit Clerk's office is responsible for maintaining the records of the circuit court. Divorces, civil litigation, criminal crimes, probate, wills , estates and various other functions.
Below is a list of online resources for Franklin County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Franklin County Court Records by clicking the link below:
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See Also Vital Records in Kentucky
Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. Birth, Marriage, Divorce & Death Certificates Signed. Sealed. Delivered. Often in as few as three business days!
Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics is located at State
Dept of Human Resources, 275 E. Main St. 1EA, Frankfort, KY 40621; (502) 564-4212. They have the following records:
- Birth & Death Certificates:
The Vital Statistics Law of Kentucky, providing for and legalizing the registration of births and deaths, was enacted by the General Assembly of 1910 and became effective Jan. 1, 1911.
The Office of Vital Statistics has no records of births and deaths occurring prior to the above date except delayed records of births for those born before 1911, which have been established by affidavits and documentary evidence.Fees are listed below. You can download an application online for Birth Certificates or Death Certificates . You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates much quicker by ordering HERE
- Marriage & Divorce Certificates: Central registration of marriages and divorces began in Kentucky in June 1958. The Office of Vital Statistics has no records of marriages and divorces prior to that date. Copies of marriage certificates prior to June 1958 may be obtained from the county clerk in the county where the license was issued. Records of divorce proceedings are available from the Franklin County clerk of the circuit court that granted the decree.You can download an application online for Marriage Certificates or Divorce Certificates . You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates much quicker by ordering HERE
Cost of certificates: Birth: $10 per certificate;
Death, Marriage and Divorce are $6 per certificate
In Person: You can stop in the office at 275 E. Main St. in Frankfort and obtain a certified copy of a birth, death, marriage or divorce certificate by completing an application form between the hours of 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. EST, Monday-Friday. There is approximately a one-hour wait to receive the certificate.
Directions to Vital Statistics Office
By Mail: Mail a check or money order (no cash) payable to the "Kentucky State Treasurer" along with the necessary information to the following address: Office of Vital Statistics, 275 E. Main St. 1E-A, Frankfort, KY 40621. Please include return address on envelope and application form.
Processing Time: Please allow up to approximately 30 working days for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail.
Birth Records: Expect longer delays during peak request periods from May through September. You should request certified copies of your birth certificate early enough to avoid delays if you are planning retirement, sporting events for the children, travel/passports, children entering school for the first time, etc.
Death Records: There may be delays in issuing new certified death certificates if the original certificate is not promptly filed in Frankfort by the funeral homes. Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE
Phone, Fax, On-Line, or Credit Card: To obtain a certified copy of a vital record by phone, fax, on-line or purchase with a credit card, please link to VitalChek. There is an additional $10.50 fee for all credit card purchases. Discover, Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted. If faster delivery is required, you may wish to have the certified copy sent by Federal Express. Please state this when placing the order for the copy. There is an additional fee for this service.
Below is a list of online resources for Franklin County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Franklin County Vital Records by clicking the link below:
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See Also Research In Census Records
Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Franklin County, Kentucky are 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Earlier U.S. censuses for Kentucky were destroyed, but published tax lists serve as a replacements for the lost 1790 and 1800 censuses. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in Franklin County, Kentucky are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Union Veterans Schedules were conducted in 1890 but only returns for sixty-five Kentucky counties remain of the 1890 Union veterans and widows schedule of the federal census of Kentucky.
Statewide Records that exist for Kentucky are 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Earlier U.S. censuses for Kentucky were destroyed, but published tax lists serve as a replacements for the lost 1790 and 1800 censuses. Extracts and indexes for many of Kentucky's censuses have been compiled and published. Original or microfilm copies of the federal census returns are available at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Several Kentucky indexes to censuses predate those published by AISI.
State School Census for Kentucky infrequently enumerated public school students beginning in 1888. Scattered records are at the office of the respective county Board of Health or Board of Education. Some are maintained by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives and the Kentucky Historical Society.
See Also Statewide Records that exist for Kentucky
Below is a list of online resources for Franklin County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Franklin County Census Records by clicking the link below:
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Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Kentucky and other states.
You can view rotating animated maps for Kentucky showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps
You can view rotating animated maps for Kentucky showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries . You can view a list of maps for other states and State Department of Transportation Maps at County Maps. The Kentucky Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches, cemeteries, roads, ect...
Below is a list of online resources for Franklin County Maps. Email us with websites containing Franklin County Maps by clicking the link below:
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See Also Military Records in Kentucky
The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design. A list of Wars fought on American.
Below is a list of online resources for Franklin County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Franklin County Military Records by clicking the link below:
- Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
- Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
- Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, from NARA publication M804.
- Southern Claims Commission from the State of Kentucky (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents In the 1870s, southerners claimed compensation from the U.S. government for items used by the Union Army, ranging from corn and horses, to trees and church buildings.
- Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900 from the State of Kentucky (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Pension applications for service in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917, grouped according to the units in which the veterans served.
- Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the CSA (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Compiled service records of Confederate soldiers from southern units, labeled with each soldier's name, rank, and unit, with links to revealing documents about each soldier.
- Kentucky Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, 323 High Str, Paris, Ky, 40361;(859) 987- 1788
- National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution,
- Kentucky Society of Sons of the American Revolution,
- National Society of Sons of the American Revolution, 1000 South Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40203; (502) 589-1776
- Franklin County, Kentucky Military Books at Amazon.com
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See Also Research In Tax Records
One of the most valuable sources for early Kentucky until 1892 is its tax records. Most counties have yearly tax records from the date of organization. Some early tax schedules list watercourse, value and acreage of real estate, men over twenty-one, young men between sixteen and twenty-one, slaves, and horses. Extant county tax schedules from the date of organization of the county through 1892 have been microfilmed for most counties and are available from the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives and the FHL.
Numerous original tax records from 1892 are available at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. The Kentucky Historical Society has tax records to 1875.
Kentucky tax lists are arranged by county and date. Within the counties, residents within its districts are grouped together and names usually arranged under the beginning letter of the surname, although these are not in strict alphabetical order. Some early tax records have been published and are available in research libraries.
Below is a list of online resources for Franklin County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Franklin County Tax Records by clicking the link below:
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See Also Other Kentucky Genealogical Addresses
The Repositories
in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical
and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical
Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly,
quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies
should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are
usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived
materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be
more generalized and over look the smaller details that local
societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to
look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy
section and may have some resources that are not located at
archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums
in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years
gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All
these places are vitally important to the family genealogist
and must not be passed over.
Below is a list of online resources for Franklin County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Franklin County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:
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- Local Kentucky Researchers, Find a local researcher or become a local researcher.
- The Kentucky Historical Society, 100 W. Broadway, Frankfort, KY 40601; 877-444-7867,[EMAIL]
- The Kentucky Genealogical Society, PO Box 153, Frankfort, KY 40602-0153 [EMAIL]
- Kentucky Newspapers & Periodicals Records - Newspapers and periodicals are the diaries of local communities. They are excellent sources of family history details - often recorded nowhere else. Look for obituaries, marriages, legal notices, and more found in our Historical Newspaper Archives.
- Kentucky Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
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See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Kentucky
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Click Here to Search Kentucky Obituary Records! - This database is a compilation of obituaries published in U.S. newspapers, collected from various online sources. Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships. |
There are many churches and cemeteries in Franklin County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Franklin County Tombstone Transcription Project.
Church membership of early Kentuckians include Baptist, Church of Christ, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic. Some church records were published, others were microfilmed, some are housed in church repositories, but many remain in the local church. Church records and histories may be found in periodicals pertaining to Kentucky. Repositories include the DAR Library, the FHL, Kentucky Historical Society, University of Kentucky Library, and Filson Club Library.
Many
collections of cemetery records are available for Kentucky.
In 1977 the Kentucky Historical Society began computerizing
extant cemetery records for the state. Cemetery tombstone transcriptions
are included in the Ardery collection.
Kentucky regional libraries and some other large genealogical
libraries outside the state have collections of Kentucky cemetery
transcriptions. In addition, publications pertaining to Kentucky
and Kentuckians frequently contain cemetery records for the
state.
Below is a list of online resources for Franklin County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Franklin County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:
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When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Franklin County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information . Email us with websites containing Franklin County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:
- Search 60 Years Of Everton Data: For the first time ever you can get access to more than 150,000 pedigree files and family group sheets from Evertons. Learn More
- Search the Family Tree DNA Project- Use DNA testing to break through your genealogical barriers!
- Sites on USGenweb: [ Franklin County ] [ Kentucky ] [ Main Page ]
- [GenForum Message Boards] [Rootsweb Message Boards]
- Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
- Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
- Meet your ancestors. Learn their stories. Start your FREE family tree.
- Kentucky Family & Local History Records - The Family & Local Histories Collection lets you read journals, memoirs, and other first-hand historical narratives right on your computer. Gathered from some of the world's finest libraries, these materials may provide hard-to-find town, county, and state information; tax records and wills; military, church, and court records; as well as photographs, stories, and maps.
- Franklin County, Kentucky Family Books at Amazon.com
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