History

Organized in 1855. County Seat, Ottawa. Named in honor of the illustrious Benjamin Franklin.   Map and text from History of Kansas, Noble Prentis, (Winfield: E.P. Greer. 1899)

Cities, Towns, & Villages of Franklin County

                           2000
    Town                Population  ZIP         Year  Elevation
    =================   ==========  =========   ====  =========
    Centropolis                                          971
    Homewood                                            1060
    Imes                                                 877
    Lane                       256  66042                910
    Le Loup                                              952
    Norwood                                              948
    Ottawa                  11,921  66067       1864     901
    Peoria                                               950
    Pomona                     923  66076       1870     923
    Princeton                  317  66078                966
    Ransomville                                         1030
    Rantoul                    241  66079                892
    Richmond                   510  66080               1010
    Richter                                              930
    Silkville                                           1160
    Wellsville                1606  66092               1039
    Williamsburg               351  66095               1138

Special Places in Franklin County

• The county has a rail converted to trail for hiking and bicycling, called the Praire Spirit Trail that currently runs 33 miles, from Ottawa south to Welda (in Anderson County).
• The campus of Ottawa University in Ottawa has some fine old stone buildings.

Special Events in Franklin County

• The Franklin County Fair is held every July at the fairgrounds in Ottawa.
• Chautauqua Days are held July 4 in Forest Park in Ottawa

Franklin County School Systems

• USD 287 West Franklin   (785) 566-3396 Pomona, Williamsburg
• USD 288 Central Heights   (785) 869-3455 Richmond
• USD 289 Wellsville   (785) 883-2388 Wellsville
• USD 290 Ottawa   (785) 229-8010 Ottawa

Colleges & Universities

• Neosho County Community College   (785) 242-2067
  226 Beech, Ottawa, KS 66067
• Ottawa University   (785) 242-5200 · (800) 755-5200
  1001 South Cedar, Ottawa, KS 66067-3399

Libraries

• Myers Library   (785) 242-5200
  Ottawa University / 1001 S. Cedar, Ottawa, KS 66067
• Ottawa Library   (785) 242-3080
  105 S. Hickory St., Ottawa, KS 66067
• Richmond Public Library
  107 E. Central Avenue, Richmond, KS 66080
• Wellsville City Library
  115 W. 6th St. / P. O. Box 517, Wellsville, KS 66092

Museums

• Old Depot Museum
  135 Tecumseh, Ottawa, KS 66067
   
  
• Dietrich Cabin - located in the city park.
  Sat & Sun 1-5 May-Sept
  5th and Washington, Ottawa, KS 66067

Newspapers

• Ottawa Herald   (785) 242-4700
  104 S. Cedar, Ottawa, KS 66067
• Ottawa Times   (785) 242-9200
  104 S. Cedar, Ottawa, KS 66067

Hospitals

• Ransom Memorial Hospital  (785) 242-3344
  1301 S. Main St., Ottawa, KS 66067

More Data About Franklin County

Genealogy

• Franklin County KSGenWeb

Franklin County Offices

• Franklin County   (785) 229-3410
  3rd. & Main, Ottawa, KS 66067
• District Court   (785) 242-6000
  301 S. Main Street, P.O. Box 637, Ottawa, KS 66067
• Extension Service (785) 229-3520
  1418 S Main, Suite 2, Ottawa, KS 66067-3543

For more about Franklin County contact:

• Franklin County Convention Visitor's Bureau  (785) 242-1411
  PO Box 580, Ottawa, KS 66067
• Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce  (785) 242-1000
  Box 580, Ottawa, KS 66067

References

• WPA The WPA Guide to 1930s Kansas ( Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. 1984 ) See pages 266-269.