Franklin, Massachusetts

Franklin, Massachusetts
Town
Location in Norfolk County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°5′N 71°24′W Fatal error: The format of the coordinate could not be determined. Parsing failed.
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Norfolk
Settled	1660
Incorporated	1778
Area
• Total	27.1 sq mi (70.2 km2)
• Land	26.9 sq mi (69.6 km2)
• Water	0.2 sq mi (0.6 km2)
Elevation	299 ft (91 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	33,092
• Density	1,200/sq mi (470/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	02038
Area code(s)	508 / 774
FIPS code	25-25100
GNIS feature ID	0618310
Website	www.franklinma.gov

Franklin is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 33,092 at the 2020 census. Franklin is home to the country's first public library, with its first books donated by Benjamin Franklin, and the birthplace of Horace Mann, a notable education reformer.

History

Franklin was first settled by Europeans in 1660 and was officially incorporated in 1778. The town was originally known as Exeter, but it was renamed to honor Benjamin Franklin, who donated 116 books to the town. These books became the foundation of the first public library in the United States, known today as the Franklin Public Library.

Geography

Franklin is located at 42°5′N 71°24′W

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. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 27.1 square miles (70.2 km²), of which 26.9 square miles (69.6 km²) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) is water.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, there were 33,092 people, 11,456 households, and 8,787 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,230.1 people per square mile (474.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.8% White, 1.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 3.8% Asian, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.

Education

Franklin is served by the Franklin Public Schools district, which includes several elementary schools, middle schools, and Franklin High School. The town is also home to the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School and the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School.

Points of Interest

• Franklin Public Library: The first public library in the United States.
• Horace Mann: The birthplace of the education reformer.
• Dean College: A private college located in Franklin.

Notable People

• Horace Mann: Education reformer and politician.
• Benjamin Franklin: Founding Father of the United States, after whom the town is named.

External links

• Official website of Franklin, Massachusetts