8 Things You Didn’t Know About Franklin, TN
This quaint town located right outside of Nashville was named after Benjamin Franklin and is now home to major employers, a thriving downtown and some of the best schools in the state.
Located just south of Nashville is Franklin, home to major corporate headquarters, historical attractions, a lively music scene, an abundance of shopping and plenty of parks. Here are eight things you probably didn’t know about this quaint Tennessee town:
In This Article
1. Growth Spurt
The population of Franklin has grown more than 500 percent – yes, 500 percent – ever since 1980 when the city began a commercial and residential boom. The population in 1980 was 12,407, and the population today is estimated at about 73,000 and still growing. Franklin now has five zip codes.
2. Named for Ben
The small town of Franklin in 1799 was established and named for Benjamin Franklin, who was best friends with Dr. Hugh Williamson, a member of the Continental Congress. Williamson County was then named for Dr. Williamson.
3. One of the Bloodiest
On Nov. 30, 1864, the Battle of Franklin went down in history as one of the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War. More than 10,000 Union and Confederate soldiers were either killed, wounded or went missing, and 44 area buildings were converted into field hospitals. Carnton Plantation, one of the field hospitals, still stands today with visible bloodstains embedded into the floorboards. Carnton, which is open to the public, has a cemetery with several graves and markers denoting the deceased soldiers.
4. Nice Place to Live
Franklin is known for its good quality of life, with the median income for households at a respectable $85,671. Houses are a bit pricey at an average of $321,400.
5. Healthcare Haven
The city is home to many healthcare-related companies, including Community Health Systems, Healthways, Home Instead Senior Care, MedSolutions and Renal Advantage. Also in Franklin are a highly regarded Williamson Medical Center and several Vanderbilt University medical facilities.
6. That’s Cool
Ever since it opened in 1991, CoolSprings Galleria serves as the largest employer in Franklin, today with 3,500 workers. The 1.1 million-square-foot regional enclosed mall has 165 stores on two floors, including anchor tenants Belk, Dillard’s, JC Penney and Macy’s. Also on site is a 500-seat Oasis Food Court.
7. In the Know
One of the biggest reasons why people move to Franklin is the excellent schools for their children. Serving the community are the Williamson County School District and Franklin Special School District, and top private schools include Battle Ground Academy, Benton Hall School, Franklin Christian Academy and Montessori School of Franklin. In addition, the city hosts six college and university campuses.
8. Beautiful Downtown
One of the top tourism attractions throughout the Nashville metro area is a visit to Downtown Franklin, which features interesting architecture along with one-of-a-kind stores, restaurants and entertainment choices. The downtown district is well known for its annual festivals and parades, including Main Street Festival in spring, Fourth of July in summer, PumpkinFest in October, a Veterans Day Parade in November and Dickens of a Christmas in December.
