History of Franklin
Founded in 1808 as Carlin’s
Settlement,
Franklin (named for Benjamin
Franklin) became the parish seat in 1811
and the first incorporated town in 1820. Though early
settlers included French, Acadian, German, Danish and Irish,
the town’s culture and architecture is heavily influenced by
the unusually large numbers of English that chose to
settle there after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Numerous
large sugar
plantations arose in the
area, and with the development of steamboating, Franklin
became an interior sugar port. By the 1830s, Bayou Teche was
the main street of Acadiana, with one plantation after
another.
The area’s sugar cane planters were among the South’s
wealthiest agriculturists. This is reflected in the
grand plantation homes and
mansions they built in Franklin and the surrounding
countryside. Most of these
magnificent structures are still standing and well
preserved,
giving
Franklin its unique architectural flavor.
Franklin’s Historic District
is listed in the National Register of Historic Places
and encompasses over 420 noteworthy structures. Many of the
spectacular Greek Revival antebellum homes are along the
live oak arcade on the East Main boulevard. East Main Street
retains its distinctive
turn-of-the-century iron
street light standards,
which have become a symbol of the picturesque town.
Though a small town, Franklin has produced more than its
share of
statesmen, including five
governors of Louisiana, four United States senators, a Chief
Justice and a Lieutenant Governor.
Franklin was also the boyhood
home of Jefferson Davis,
president of the Confederacy.
During the Civil War, the Battle of Irish Bend was fought
near Franklin on April 14, 1863. Though eventually forced to
retreat, the badly outnumbered Confederate forces cost the
Union troops significant losses. Four hundred men were
killed or wounded in the confrontation, which proved to be
an important point in stopping the Union drive to invade
Texas.
Today Franklin is a modern town with a population of about
9,000. The area produces oil, gas, carbon black, salt,
seafood and, of course, sugar.
Source: Cajun Coast Visitors and
Convention Bureau |
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