Franklin County

History

Occupied by succeeding cultures of indigenous peoples, this area was populated by the historic Osage tribe at the time of European encounter. The region was first settled by Europeans during the rule of the Spanish Empire. The Spanish log fort San Juan del Misuri (1796–1803) was built in present-day Washington. After the American Revolutionary War, migrants from the new United States started moving West. Among them were the family and followers of Daniel Boone, an explorer from Kentucky who settled the area starting in 1799. For the next two decades, most settlers came from the Upper South, especially Kentucky and Virginia, bringing their slaves with them to work the land.

In 1833 substantial numbers of German immigrant families began settling in the area, and soon they outnumbered the slave owners in the county. The German newcomers were opposed to slavery, and their sons would become Union supporters during the U.S. Civil War. Former governor and then Confederate General Sterling Price led his cavalry through the county during his Missouri raid of 1864.

Before the war Franklin County had been served by steamboats that moved freight and passenger traffic on the Missouri River. Afterwards, it became a railroad transportation center. Manufacturing industries were established at the end of the Civil War and successive ones have continued.

Bias Vineyard, near the small city of Berger, is located within the Hermann American Viticultural Area (AVA), designated in 1983. Röbller Vineyard and Winery near New Haven is also in the Hermann AVA. Wineries along both sides of the Missouri River are part of the Missouri Rhineland, whose vineyards were started by German immigrants in the mid-19th century. Before Prohibition, Missouri was the second-largest wine-producing state in the nation. Everything was closed down except for limited production of wine allowed for religious purposes. The state's wine industry had to be completely rebuilt, which has been taking place since the 1960s.

The rural county has had severe problems with local production, distribution and consumption of methamphetamine. The struggles of the county with adverse effects of the drug, was explored in a 2005 A&E documentary entitled Meth: A County in Crisis.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 931 square miles (2,410 km2), of which 923 square miles (2,390 km2) is land and 8.0 square miles (21 km2) (0.9%) is water. It is the fourth-largest county in Missouri by land area and third-largest by total area.

The center of the Missouri River forms the nominal northern border of the county, although the river has changed its course since boundaries were first established: a portion of St. Charles County near St. Albans is now south of the river, while a portion of Franklin County near Augusta is north of the river.

The Bourbeuse River flows for 107 miles through the county. It cuts a deep, narrow valley and is very crooked. It empties into the Meramec River near Union. This river is mostly undeveloped, with limited access and few bridges over it. During low water, a number of fords allow crossing.

The county is located in the Ozarks region, with steep hills and deep valleys, caves, springs, and sinkholes characteristic of karst areas. The underlying rock is typically carbonate, including limestone and dolomite. Mining activity in the county included ores of lead, copper, zinc, and deposits of refractory clay. The soils in most of the county tend to be thin, rocky red clay, and are poor for most agriculture, while the soil near the Missouri River is dark, rich, and thick, and used primarily for row crops such as corn, wheat, and soybeans. Much of the county is covered with thick forests, reestablished since the 1920s.

Urbanization is increasing in the county, especially surrounding Washington and Union, and along Interstate 44. St. Albans is now a continuation of the suburban region of St. Louis County while the majority of the county retains a rural character and includes extensive wilderness areas, typical of exurban areas.

Adjacent counties

Warren County (north)

St. Charles County (northeast)

St. Louis County (northeast)

Jefferson County (east)

Washington County (southeast)

Crawford County (southwest)

Gasconade County (west)

Major highways

I-44

I-44 BL (Pacific)

US 50

Route 30

Route 47

Route 100

Route 185

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 104,682. The median age was 41.7 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.0 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 92.1% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 5.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.1% of the population.

45.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 55.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 41,476 households in the county, of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 45,275 housing units, of which 8.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.6% were owner-occupied and 26.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.6%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 93,807 people, 34,945 households, and 25,684 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 inhabitants per square mile (39/km2). There were 38,295 housing units at an average density of 42 units per square mile (16/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.47% White, 0.94% Black or African American, 0.27% Asian, 0.24% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. Approximately 0.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 44.9% were of German, 13.0% American, 10.7% Irish and 7.7% English ancestry.

There were 34,945 households, out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.50% were non-families. 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.40% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 30.00% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $54,392, and the median income for a family was $62,969. Males had a median income of $35,849 versus $23,344 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,529. About 4.50% of families and 7.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.90% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The unemployment rate in Franklin County is 2.9% as of December 2018, below state and national averages.

Manufacturing accounts for the most (23.8%) employment in Franklin County, primarily in the cities of Washington and Union, followed by trade, transportation and utilities (18.8%), education and health care (17.7%), and construction (11.3%).

The biggest employers in Franklin County are the manufacturing firms of Magnet LLC, Cardinal Brands Hazel Division, GDX Automotive, Sporlan Valve Company, Esselte, Silgan, Buddeez, and Meramec Group Inc. as well as the Meramec Valley R-III School District in the public education sector and Schatz Underground Cable Inc. in the construction industry. Small farms and wineries also greatly contribute to the economy in Franklin County.

Education

The highest educational attainment in Franklin County consists of the following:

High School Graduates: 59.1%

Associate Degree: 10.6%

Bachelor's Degree: 10.9%

Graduate Degree: 7.5%

School districts

School districts in the county:

K-12

Elementary:

Public schools

New Haven Public School District - New Haven

New Haven Elementary School (K–6)

New Haven Middle School (7–8)

New Haven High School (9–12)

Meramec Valley School District – Pacific

Meramec Valley Community School (Pre-K) – Pacific

Meramec Valley Early Childhood Center (Pre-K) – Pacific

Truman Elementary School (K–5) – Pacific

Robertsville Elementary School (K–5) – Robertsville

Zitzman Elementary School (K–5) – Pacific

Nike Elementary School (K–5) – Catawissa

Coleman Elementary School (K–5) – Villa Ridge

Riverbend School (8) – Pacific

Meramec Valley Middle School (6–7) – Pacific

Pacific High School (9–12) – Pacific

St. Clair R-XIII School District – St. Clair

St. Clair Elementary School (K–2)

Edgar Murray Elementary School (3–5)

St. Clair Jr. High School (6–8)

St. Clair High School (9–12)

Private schools

Cornerstone Christian Academy – St. Clair – (1–12) – Other Affiliation

Crosspoint Christian School – Villa Ridge – (K–12) – Nondenominational Christianity

Immanuel Lutheran School – Washington – (K–8) – Lutheran

St. Francis Borgia High School – Washington – (9–12) – Roman Catholic

St. John the Baptist School – Villa Ridge – (Pre-K–8) – Roman Catholic

St. Gertrude School – Kraków – (K–8) – Roman Catholic

St. Francis Borgia Grade School – Washington – (Pre-K–8) – Roman Catholic

Our Lady of Lourdes – Washington – (Pre-K–8) – Roman Catholic

St. Clare Catholic Grade School – St. Clair – (Pre-K–8) – Roman Catholic

St. Bridget of Kildare School – Pacific – (Pre-K–8) – Roman Catholic

Alternative schools

Autumn Hill State School (K–12) – Union – Handicapped/Special needs

Franklin County Special Education Cooperative (Pre-K–12) – St. Clair – Special Education

Four Rivers Career Center (9–12) – Washington – Vocational/Technical

Colleges/universities

East Central College – Union

Public libraries

Gerald Area Library

Scenic Regional Library

Sullivan Public Library

Washington Public Library

Crime

Rural Franklin County has had problems with the local production and consumption of methamphetamine and was featured in an A&E documentary entitled Meth: A County in Crisis (2005).

Politics

As of July 2022, according to the new congressional map based on the 2020 U.S. Census passed by the Missouri General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Mike Parson, all of Franklin County will be moved from Missouri's 3rd Congressional District to Missouri's 2nd Congressional District, with the new district boundaries taking effect on January 3, 2023, from the results of the November 2022 general elections.

Local

The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Franklin County. Republicans currently hold all but one of the elected positions in the county.

State

Franklin County is divided into four legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, all of which are held by Republicans.

District 61 — Aaron Griesheimer (R-Washington). Consists of Berger, Gerald, Leslie, New Haven, and part of Washington.

District 109 — John Simmons (R-Washington). Consists of Gray Summit, Union, Villa Ridge, and part of Washington.

District 110 — Dottie Bailey (R-Eureka). Consists of the city of Pacific.

District 119 — Nate Tate (R-St. Clair). Consists of Oak Grove Village, Parkway, St. Clair, and Sullivan.

All of Franklin County is a part of Missouri's 26th District in the Missouri Senate and is represented by Dave Schatz (R-Sullivan).

Federal

All of Franklin is included in the 3rd Congressional District, represented by Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

At the presidential level, Franklin County is fairly independent-leaning, but, like many exurban and mostly rural counties, its voters often favor Republican and conservative issues. While southerner Bill Clinton narrowly carried the county both times in 1992 and 1996, George W. Bush strongly carried Franklin County in 2000 and 2004. Like many of the rural counties in Missouri, Franklin County favored John McCain over Barack Obama in 2008.

Like most predominantly rural areas, voters in Franklin County generally strongly support socially and culturally conservative principles and therefore tend to support Republican candidates. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman; the measure overwhelmingly passed Franklin County with 76.89 percent of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters as Missouri became the first state to ban same-sex marriage.

In 2006, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state; it failed in Franklin County with 56.13 percent voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51 percent of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve embryonic stem cell research.

Despite Franklin County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters have advanced some populist causes such as increasing the minimum wage. In 2006, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition B) to increase the minimum wage in the state to $6.50 an hour; it passed Franklin County with 77.61 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 75.94 percent voting in favor as the minimum wage was increased to $6.50 an hour in the state. During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.

2020 Missouri Presidential primary

Republican

Communities

Villages

Charmwood

Leslie

Miramiguoa Park

Oak Grove Village

Parkway

Census-designated places

Gray Summit

Lake St. Clair

Stanton

Villa Ridge

Townships

Boeuf Township

Boles Township

Boone Township

Calvey Township

Central Township

Lyon Township

Meramec Township

New Haven Township

Prairie Township

St. Johns Township

Union Township

Washington Township