Franklin is located in Franklin County (of which it is the county seat), between Red Cloud and Republican City along US Hwy 136, near the Republican River, Harlan County Lake and the Kansas State line. The population estimate for July 1, 1998 was 1,062, a decrease of 50 since 1990.
At one time the Republican Valley was rich with wild game and attracted many Native American hunting parties. Even today, you can visit buffalo wallows or "lookout mountain" in search of Indian arrowheads. You might even find a small pioneer family cemetery in the middle of a pasture.
Franklin was established April 1, 1871.
Today, Franklin's economic activities in include farming, manufacturing, cattle and hog feeding, as well as retail sales.
