Franklin County is a county in Arkansas, United States, split by the Arkansas River in the western part of the state. It had a population of 17,097 at the 2020 census and covers 620 square miles (1,608 km2) centred near 35°31′15″N 93°52′33″W.
Ozark is the county seat, though Franklin County is unusual in also keeping a second seat, Charleston, for its southern district. Ozark’s postal code is 72949. The county has 5 incorporated cities, 1 town and roughly 30 unincorporated communities. It sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Franklin County
Franklin County’s map carries dozens of place names, but only six are incorporated municipalities; the rest are unincorporated communities, crossroads and former post-office stops with no town government of their own. The table below marks each place’s status; population figures are shown only where a 2020 Census count exists for that place, otherwise the cell reads —.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alix | Unincorp. | — | 72820 |
| Altus | City | — | 72821 |
| Barnes | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Beach Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Branch | City | — | 72928 |
| Cass | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cecil | Unincorp. | — | 72930 |
| Charleston | City · seat | — | 72933 |
| Cravens | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Denning | Town | — | — |
| Etna | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Felkner Town | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fern | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jethro | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lone Elm | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Meg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mountain Crest | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mountain Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mountain Top | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ozark | City · seat | — | 72949 |
| Paradise | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Peanut | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Peter Pender | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Piney | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pittston Junction | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pleasant View | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Redding | Unincorp. | — | — |
| South Ozark | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sutherland Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Toney | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vesta | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Watalula | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Webb City | Unincorp. | — | — |
| West Cobb | Unincorp. | — | — |
| White Oak | Unincorp. | — | — |
| White Rock | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wiederkehr Village | City | — | 72821 |
Wiederkehr Village, despite the name, is an incorporated city rather than an unincorporated community — it grew up around the Wiederkehr Weinkeller winery near Altus and shares Altus’s ZIP code. White Rock is the community closest to White Rock Mountain, a landmark bluff inside the Ozark National Forest along the county’s northern edge.
ZIP Codes
Franklin County uses six ZIP codes, each anchored to a post office town:
- 72949 — Ozark (also serves South Ozark and the surrounding northern district)
- 72933 — Charleston (also serves the southern district communities)
- 72821 — Altus (also serves Wiederkehr Village)
- 72928 — Branch
- 72930 — Cecil
- 72820 — Alix (a PO Box-only ZIP, no street delivery)
Smaller communities such as Denning, Cass and Etna are served by the ZIP code of their nearest post office town rather than one of their own.
Geography
Franklin County lies in the Arkansas River Valley, with the Boston Mountains and the Ozark National Forest rising along its northern half and the river-valley lowlands to the south. The Arkansas River crosses the county roughly east to west, dividing it into the northern district around Ozark and the southern district around Charleston; Mulberry Mountain and White Rock Mountain are among the higher points on the northern side. The county borders Madison County to the north, Johnson County to the east, Logan County to the southeast, Sebastian County to the southwest, and Crawford County to the west. Of these, Logan County and Sebastian County have their own Towns & Villages profiles on this site; Madison, Johnson and Crawford counties do not currently have a live Arkansas page here.
Demographics
Franklin County counted 17,097 residents at the 2020 census, giving a density of about 28 people per square mile across its 609 square miles of land. Ozark and Charleston, the two county seats, are the largest communities. Median household income in the county runs below the Arkansas median of $58,700; agriculture and manufacturing wages keep the county’s overall income profile lower than the state’s more urbanized counties.
Economy & Local Life
Poultry processing and related agriculture are the backbone of the local economy, alongside manufacturing plants around Ozark and Charleston. The Wiederkehr Weinkeller and Post Familie Vineyards, both near Altus, anchor a small wine-country cluster that traces back to German and Swiss immigrant winemakers who settled the area in the 19th century; Altus holds an annual Grape Festival tied to that history. Franklin County is also notable for its local-option liquor law split: the area north of the Arkansas River is wet, while the area south of the river, including Charleston, remains dry.
History
Franklin County was established on December 19, 1837, carved out of Crawford County, and named for Benjamin Franklin. The county originally covered a larger territory before part of it was used to form Logan County in 1871. Its two-seat structure, with Ozark serving the northern district and Charleston the southern district, dates to the 19th century and remains in place today, one of only a handful of Arkansas counties to keep dual county seats.
Getting There
Interstate 40 crosses the northern part of the county through Ozark, and U.S. Highway 64 and Arkansas Highways 22, 23, 41, 60 and 96 provide the main local connections.
- Fort Smith — about 35 miles southwest of Ozark
- Fayetteville — about 55 miles north of Ozark via the Pig Trail (Highway 23)
- Clarksville — about 20 miles east of Ozark on I-40
- Little Rock — about 140 miles east via I-40
The nearest commercial airport is Fort Smith Regional Airport, southwest of the county.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Franklin County, Arkansas?
It is in the western part of the state, in the Arkansas River Valley, bordering Madison, Johnson, Logan, Sebastian and Crawford counties.
What is the population of Franklin County?
17,097 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Franklin County?
620 square miles (1,608 km2), including 609 square miles of land and 11 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Franklin County?
Franklin County has two: Ozark for the northern district and Charleston for the southern district.
How many towns are in Franklin County?
Five incorporated cities (Altus, Branch, Charleston, Ozark, Wiederkehr Village), one incorporated town (Denning), and about 30 unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Franklin County?
72949 (Ozark), 72933 (Charleston), 72821 (Altus), 72928 (Branch), 72930 (Cecil) and 72820 (Alix, PO Box only).
Why does Franklin County have wet and dry areas?
Local-option elections split the county along the Arkansas River: the northern district is wet, the southern district, including Charleston, is dry.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Arkansas.