Franklin County

General

Population: 2,889
Land area (sq. mi.): 575.82
Population per square mile: 5.0

Race & Age

Race

White: 94.9%
African American: 0.2%
American Indian: 0.1%
Asian: 0.5%
Hispanic: 2.8%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.0%
Two or More Races: 1.3%

Age

0-17: 21.3%
18-64: 51.0%
65+: 27.7%

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita: $68,092
% of Population in Poverty: 10.4%
# of Housing Units: 1,527
Owner-occupied rate: 81.0%
Median home price: $91,070

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem): 66.4%

Sources: National Association of Realtors, Nebraska Library Commission, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Census Bureau

Employment, Schools, and Child Care

Unemployment rate: 2.1% (as of September 2022)

County Employment Website: https://co.franklin.ne.us/webpages/links/public_notices.html

High school graduate or higher: 93.1%

School Districts: Alma Public Schools, Franklin Public Schools, Minden Public Schools, Red Cloud Community Schools, Silver Lake Public Schools, Wilcox-Hildreth Public Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher: 18.3%

Community College Service Area: Central Community College

Countywide child care capacity: 2 providers; 37 children

Find child care: For a list of child care providers in your zip code, visit Nebraska DHHS or the Nebraska Resource and Referral System.

Franklin County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (2020): $105,188,000

Cattle Producers: 133

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.): $36/acre/yr

Crop Producers: 148

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.): $100/acre/yr

Grain Co-ops and Purchasers: Aurora Cooperative, CPI

Local Grain Market: Click for today's grain prices in Franklin County

Oil Wells Producing (barrels of oil/yr.): 13 wells (30,458 barrels)

Electricity Providers: City of Campbell, City of Franklin, Southern PPD, Village of Campbell, Village of Hildreth

Wind Turbines Operating (MW): 15 turbines (32,500 MW total)

Rail-served Communities: Bloomington, Franklin, Naponee

Well Locations (Irrigation/Livestock), Soils, Groundwater & Surface Water

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells: 1,286

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation): 107

Sources: National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA), Nebraska Cooperative Council, Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, Nebraska Department of Transportation, Nebraska Office of the CIO, Nebraska Power Review Board, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau

2022 Levies and Valuation

County levy rate: $0.3100 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied: $3,053,824

Total local government property taxes levied: $14,420,527

Total countywide taxable valuation: $985,061,448

Federal PILT payment to Franklin County (FY2022): $3,972 regarding 1,352 federally-owned acres

Click here for all levy rates in Franklin County

County Levy and Taxation Laws

Levy limits

Since 1996, counties and other political subdivisions have been subject to the levy limits listed in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-3442 and Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-3443.

Statutes and regulations

Nebraska Revised Statutes (Chapter 77)

Nebraska Administrative Code (Title 350)

Local tax reductions, exemptions, and credits:

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-902(5)(a) (Deed "stamp tax" exemption): "The [stamp tax] shall not apply to: ... (5)(a) Deeds between spouses, between ex-spouses for the purpose of conveying any rights to property acquired or held during the marriage, or between parent and child, without actual consideration therefor."

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-201(2) (Valuation of agricultural land and horticultural land): "Agricultural land and horticultural land as defined in section 77-1359 shall constitute a separate and distinct class of property for purposes of property taxation, shall be subject to taxation, unless expressly exempt from taxation, and shall be valued at seventy-five percent of its actual value, except that for school district taxes levied to pay the principal and interest on bonds that are approved by a vote of the people on or after January 1, 2022, such land shall be valued at fifty percent of its actual value."

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-6703(1) (Tax credit for school district taxes paid): "(1) For taxable years beginning or deemed to begin on or after January 1, 2020, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, there shall be allowed to each eligible taxpayer a refundable credit against the income tax imposed by the Nebraska Revenue Act of 1967 or against the franchise tax imposed by sections 77-3801 to 77-3807. The credit shall be equal to the credit percentage for the taxable year, as set by the department under subsection (2) of this section, multiplied by the amount of school district taxes paid by the eligible taxpayer during such taxable year."

Sources: Nebraska Department of Revenue

State Senator: Dave Murman (District 38)

Standing Committees (click for scheduled committee hearings): 

• Education (chairperson)
• Revenue

Select Committees:

• Committee on Committees

Map and statistics for Legislative District 38

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Franklin County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 4

Year Authorized: 1867

Year Organized: 1871

Etymology: Benjamin Franklin (U.S. statesman)

     Diversity in terrain is one of Nebraska’s defining characteristics: sandhills, waterfalls, grassland plains, and sandstone bluffs, to name a few. With its gentle rolling hills and plentiful creeks and springs, south-central Nebraska offers an equally picturesque tableau. The beauty of the area, including Franklin County, was publicized throughout many U.S. and European newspapers, leading to an influx of settlers in the mid-1800’s.

     The county was organized in 1871 and named after noted American statesman Benjamin Franklin. The county owes its early growth to the relocation of the U.S. Land Office from Lowell to Bloomington, as well as its position on the railroad line. The county grew from only a few dozen residents in 1870 to over 5,000 by 1890. Initially, Franklin City held the county seat, but a vote by residents transferred that honor to Bloomington, projected to become the county’s major community. However, when town of Franklin was founded in a more central county location, it soon attracted new settlers, as well as residents from nearby communities. Bloomington held onto the county seat for a few decades, but by 1920, voters had transferred the county seat to Franklin.
 

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Local Highlights

License Plate Number: 50

Time Zone: Central

Number of Veterans: 223

Zoned County: Yes

Number of County-Owned Bridges: 79

County Hospital: Franklin County Memorial Hospital

Election Data

General Election Turnout % (2022): 56.58%

Total Registered Voters (2020): 2,268

Number of Precincts (2020): 4

Number of Election Day Polling Places (2020): 4

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.) (2020): 143.96 sq. miles

Intergovernmental Data

Emergency Mgt. Planning, Exercise and Training (PET) Region: South Central

Natural Resource District: Lower Republican NRD

State Lands (acres): Alfon C. Haring Memorial WPA (312.59), Ash Grove WMA (77), Limestone Bluffs WMA (480)

Federal Lands (acres): Macon Lakes WPA (1,108.61), Quadhamer WPA (593.56), Ritterbush WPA (189.87), Spoonbill Flats WPA (162)

Sources: Nebraska Department of Transportation, Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, Nebraska Legislature, Nebraska Office of the CIO, Nebraska Secretary of State, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (eCFR)