Ben Franklin would have been SO flattered. The City of Franklin was founded October 26, 1799 and was named after Benjamin Franklin, a close friend of Dr. Hugh Williamson, a member of the Continental Congress for whom Williamson County was named.

For most of its first 180 years, Franklin was a tranquil, small county seat. In the years prior to the Civil War, Williamson County was one of the wealthiest counties in Tennessee and Franklin the center of plantation economy. Two Presidents made visits to Franklin and three Secretaries of War were from the immediate area. However, the Civil War devastated the economy.

For more than a century, Franklin seemed remote not only from Nashville, but from the rest of the world as well. Today, Franklin is one of the wealthiest cities in one of the wealthiest counties in the United States. The 2000 Census lists the City's population at just under 42,000. Our recently completed 2004 Special Census lists the City's population at just over 46,000. This makes us the 10th largest city in Tennessee and the fastest growing.

Franklin is a unique blend of history and progress. You'll find the best of both worlds here: small-town charm and big-city sophistication. Franklin has grown from a very small, agricultural community into a strong blend of residential, commercial and corporate citizens.