History of Franklin County

Franklin County is the eighth smallest county of the 254 counties in the State of Texas. The county was first part of Red River County, one of the 16 original counties in the Republic of  Texas. In 1846, Titus County was formed out of Red River, including present day Morris, Titus, Franklin, and part of Camp County. In 1875, Franklin County was carved out of Titus County. Mount Vernon, organized in 1848, was named county seat. By 1850 there were perhaps 2,000 people in the county and that number had doubled by 1860; all families suffered during the Civil War and half the resident adult male population died or was killed in the hardships of that time. A migration after the war saw the county population double and by 1900 the U.S. Census reported 7,000 people in Franklin County. the 2000 census placed the population at 9,458.

The earliest home still standing in Mount Vernon dates from 1870; there are three antebellum plantation homes in the county.

A more detailed history of the Franklin County can be obtained from the Franklin County Historical Association’s website at www.fcha-online.org.