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Franklin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania

Coordinates: 39°46′14″N 75°49′31″W / 39.77056°N 75.82528°W / 39.77056; -75.82528
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Franklin Township
House in Kemblesville
House in Kemblesville
Location of Franklin Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania (upper left) and of Chester County in Pennsylvania (lower right)
Location of Franklin Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania (upper left) and of Chester County in Pennsylvania (lower right)
Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
Coordinates: 39°46′14″N 75°49′31″W / 39.77056°N 75.82528°W / 39.77056; -75.82528
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyChester
Chartered1723 (as New London Township)
Founded1852
Area
 • Total13.14 sq mi (34.04 km2)
 • Land13.06 sq mi (33.82 km2)
 • Water0.08 sq mi (0.21 km2)
Elevation
302 ft (92 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total4,433
 • Density345.82/sq mi (133.52/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code(s)610
FIPS code42-029-27376
Websitewww.franklintownship.us

Franklin Township is a second-class township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,433 at the 2020 census.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 13.2 square miles (34 km2), all land.

The mailing addresses for the township include Landenberg, Lincoln University, and Kemblesville. The township abuts Maryland on its southern border, near the Fair Hill equestrian trails and grounds.

History

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The southernmost part of the township was originally disputed territory between Pennsylvania and Maryland, resolved eventually by the Mason–Dixon line. The southernmost section of the township formed the northern section of New Munster, a large settlement tract established by Maryland and named after the southern province of Munster in Ireland.[2] New Munster acted as an early genesis point and catalyst for large Scotch-Irish settlement and expansion into Chester County and points west in Pennsylvania.[2][3] The Wooleston Grist Mill, also known as Tweed's Mill or Mackey's Mill, formed part of the New Munster tract and settlement.[4]

Part of the township was in the London Tract, land owned by a business association known as the "London Company" from a land grant by William Penn in 1699. In 1723, the area was part of the newly established New London township, out of which Franklin Township was created in 1852. The township was so named in honor of Benjamin Franklin, who had owned land in the area.[5]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1930620
19406555.6%
19506661.7%
196081722.7%
19701,04327.7%
19801,92084.1%
19902,77944.7%
20003,85038.5%
20104,35213.0%
20204,4331.9%
[6]

At the 2010 census, the township was 92.3% non-Hispanic White, 1.9% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.1% Asian, and 1.6% were two or more races. 6.4% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.[7]

At the 2000 census,[8] there were 3,850 people, 1,210 households and 1,038 families living in the township. The population density was 290.7 inhabitants per square mile (112.2/km2). There were 1,237 housing units at an average density of 93.4 per square mile (36.1/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 96.73% White, 1.12% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.49% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.27% of the population.

There were 1,210 households, of which 53.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.6% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.2% were non-families. 10.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.18 and the average family size was 3.45.

34.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 5.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.

The median household income was $81,085 and the median family income was $89,718. Males had a median income of $55,208 and females $36,250. The per capita income was $28,057. About 0.6% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.8% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

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United States presidential election results for Franklin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania[9][10]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 1,414 48.00% 1,489 50.54% 43 1.46%
2016 1303 50.04% 1127 43.28% 174 6.68%
2012 1353 56.92% 979 41.19% 45 1.89%
2008 1234 51.74% 1135 47.59% 16 0.67%
2004 1195 56.31% 912 42.98% 15 0.71%
2000 957 56.43% 693 40.86% 46 2.71%
1996 615 51.42% 424 35.45% 157 13.13%
1992 226 51.36% 155 35.23% 59 13.41%
1988 628 67.31% 302 32.37% 3 0.32%
1984 578 73.07% 211 26.68% 2 0.25%
1980 472 65.37% 189 26.18% 61 8.45%
1976 323 57.99% 222 39.86% 12 2.15%
1972 332 69.89% 135 28.42% 8 1.68%
1968 208 57.46% 92 25.41% 62 17.13%
1964 196 51.31% 186 48.69% 0 0.00%
1960 236 66.67% 117 33.05% 1 0.28%
1956 188 62.88% 110 36.79% 1 0.33%
1952 163 56.40% 123 42.56% 3 1.04%
1948 125 44.17% 155 54.77% 3 1.06%
1944 133 53.20% 116 46.40% 1 0.40%
1940 156 52.17% 143 47.83% 0 0.00%
1936 191 58.05% 137 41.64% 1 0.30%
1932 120 51.28% 103 44.02% 11 4.70%
1928 183 83.56% 33 15.07% 3 1.37%

Franklin Township is administered by a five-member Board of Supervisors, each of whom serve overlapping six-year terms.[11]

As of April 12, 2024:

Official Party Position First elected Seat up
David Gerstenhaber Democratic Chair 2019 2025
Donna Dea Republican Vice Chair 2009 2027
Jim Johnston Republican 2015 2027
Dawn Dowling Democratic 2023 2029
Betsy Odgers Democratic 2023 2025

Like most of Chester County, Franklin Township was a Republican Party stronghold throughout the 20th century but has trended Democratic in recent years. In 2019, it elected a Democratic-majority Board of Supervisors for the first time in several decades.[12] At the 2020 United States Presidential Election, it voted for a Democratic nominee for president for the first time since 1948.

Transportation

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PA 841 northbound in Franklin Township

As of 2020, there were 54.86 miles (88.29 km) of public roads in Franklin Township, of which 16.89 miles (27.18 km) were maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and 37.97 miles (61.11 km) were maintained by the township.[13]

Pennsylvania Route 841 and Pennsylvania Route 896 are the numbered highways serving Franklin Township. PA 841 follows Chesterville Road and Wickerton Road along a southwest-northeast alignment through western, central and northern parts of the township. PA 896 follows New London Road along a northwest-southeast alignment through central portions of the township.

References

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  1. ^ "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Johnston, G. (2009). History of Cecil County, Maryland. Genealogical Publishing Company. p. 135. ISBN 9780806379883. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  3. ^ "Pennsylvania: Scotch-Irish Centre". libraryireland.com. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
    - Ford, H.J. (1915). The Scotch-Irish in America. Princeton University Press. p. 263. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  4. ^ "Mill List". millpictures.com. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
    - Johnston, G. (2009). History of Cecil County, Maryland. Genealogical Publishing Company. p. 134. ISBN 9780806379883. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  5. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 10, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ "Census 2020".
  7. ^ "Census 2010: Pennsylvania". Usatoday.Com. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  8. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  9. ^ "Archived Election Results | Chester County, PA - Official Website". www.chesco.org. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  10. ^ "RG2340.001 Certificate of Results". portal.laserfiche.com. Chester County Archives. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  11. ^ "Township Administration | Franklin Township, PA". www.franklintownship.us. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  12. ^ "In Franklin Township, newly elected supervisors look toward the future". www.chestercounty.com. Chester County Press. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  13. ^ "Franklin Township map" (PDF). PennDOT. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
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