Franklin is a borough in Sussex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 4,912, a decrease of 133 (−2.6%) from the 2010 census count of 5,045, which in turn reflected a decline of 115 (−2.2%) from the 5,160 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.
Franklin, known as the "Fluorescent Mineral Capital of the World,"Fluorescent Minerals, Fluorescent Mineral Society. Accessed September 15, 2012. is located over a rich ore body containing more than 150 minerals, many of them fluorescent and 25 of which are found nowhere else on earth. Settled in the 17th century, the village known as Franklin Furnace after Benjamin Franklin,Franklinite Mineral Page, mindat.org. Accessed August 31, 2015.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 31, 2015.Herman, Jennifer New Jersey Encyclopedia, p. 277. State History Publications, 2008. . Accessed August 31, 2015. developed near iron mines and iron smelting operations located along the Wallkill River. In the early 19th century, zinc deposits in the area began to be developed commercially. For most of the century many small companies mined zinc and iron in the Franklin area. In 1897 all zinc mining efforts merged into the New Jersey Zinc Company, which was a major controlling factor in the development of Franklin. Immigrants from Russia, Britain, Hungary and Poland joined the work force at the mine. The population, 500 in 1897, had swelled to 3,000 by 1913. On March 18, 1913, the Borough of Franklin was incorporated from portions of Hardyston Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 23, 1913.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 230. Accessed October 25, 2012.
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 4.43 square miles (11.47 km2), including 4.36 square miles (11.28 km2) of land and 0.07 square miles (0.19 km2) of water (1.60%).
The borough borders the boroughs of Hamburg and Ogdensburg, as well as Sparta and Hardyston townships.Areas touching Franklin, MapIt. Accessed March 31, 2020.Sussex County Map, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed March 31, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.The Hospital Site Redevelopment Plan , Franklin Borough, revised August 8, 2017. Accessed January 14, 2018. "In terms of this redevelopment plan's consistency with other planning documents, the only municipality that is contiguous to this part of Franklin is Hardyston Township. Ogdensburg, Hamburg and Sparta are also contiguous to Franklin but those municipalities are far removed from the Hospital Site Redevelopment Area."
Franklin Furnace provides many examples of the complex mineralogy of the area.History, Borough of Franklin. Accessed January 5, 2025. "Franklin, known as the Fluorescent Mineral Capital of the World, is located over a rich ore body containing more than 150 minerals, many of them fluorescent and 25 of which are found nowhere else on earth."
Demographics
2020 census As of the 2020 census, Franklin had a population of 4,912. The median age was 45.8 years. 19.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.1% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.2 males age 18 and over.
86.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 13.8% lived in rural areas.
There were 2,047 households, of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 42.2% were married-couple households, 19.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 2,177 housing units, of which 6.0% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.9%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 3,970 80.8% Black or African American 116 2.4% American Indian and Alaska Native 15 0.3% Asian 79 1.6% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 8 0.2% Some other race 235 4.8% Two or more races 489 10.0% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 661 13.5%
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 5,045 people, 1,936 households, and 1,316 families in the borough. The population density was 1,121.6 per square mile (433.1/km2). There were 2,136 housing units at an average density of 474.9 per square mile (183.4/km2). The racial makeup was 92.15% (4,649) White, 2.18% (110) Black or African American, 0.30% (15) Native American, 1.74% (88) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.23% (62) from other races, and 2.40% (121) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.83% (395) of the population.
Of the 1,936 households, 28.7% had children under the age of 18; 49.7% were married couples living together; 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.0% were non-families. Of all households, 26.7% were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.15.
22.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 31.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.1 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $62,813 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,585) and the median family income was $81,875 (+/− $11,964). Males had a median income of $49,413 (+/− $8,152) versus $45,385 (+/− $9,926) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,708 (+/− $2,344). About 5.1% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Franklin borough, Sussex County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 15, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 5,160 people, 1,898 households, and 1,324 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,997 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 95.10% White, 0.62% African American, 0.35% Native American, 1.47% Asian, 1.22% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.42% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Franklin borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 15, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Franklin borough, Sussex County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 15, 2012.
There were 1,898 households, out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the borough the age distribution of the population shows 27.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $44,985, and the median income for a family was $52,682. Males had a median income of $41,080 versus $26,201 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $19,386. About 5.6% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.1% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over. Government
Local government Franklin is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 110. The borough form of government used by Franklin is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.
, the mayor of Franklin Borough is Republican John M. Sowden IV, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Borough Council are Concetto Formica (R, 2025), Rachel Heath (R, 2024), Joseph Limon (R, 2026), John E. Postas (R, 2026), Stephen M. Skellenger (R, 2025) and Gilbert J. Snyder (R, 2024).Council Members, Borough of Franklin. Accessed May 20, 2024.2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Franklin. Accessed May 20, 2024.Summary Results Report Official Results November 7 2023 General Election, Sussex County, New Jersey, November 22, 2023. Accessed February 1, 2024.Sussex County, New Jersey General Election November 8, 2022, Official Results Summary Report, Sussex County, New Jersey, dated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.Summary Results Report November 2, 2021 General Election Official Results, Sussex County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.
Federal, state and county representation Franklin is located in the 5th Congressional DistrictPlan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020. and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district.Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.
Politics