Franklin County is a county in Idaho, United States, in the southeastern corner of the state along the Utah border. It had a population of 14,194 at the 2020 census and covers 668 square miles (1,730 km2) centred near 42°11′N 111°49′W.
Preston is the county seat, and its postal code is 83263. The county holds five incorporated cities and roughly two dozen unincorporated communities, with no organized civil townships. Franklin County observes Mountain time.
Towns & Villages in Franklin County
Franklin County has 27 named places: five incorporated cities and 22 unincorporated communities, hamlets, and rural crossroads with no municipal government of their own. In the table below, “City · seat” marks the county seat and “Unincorp.” marks a community with no city government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preston | City · seat | 5,591 | 83263 |
| Weston | City | 631 | 83286 |
| Clifton | City | 581 | 83228 |
| Dayton | City | 577 | 83232 |
| Franklin | City | 564 | 83237 |
| Thatcher | Unincorp. | — | 83283 |
| Anderson | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Banida | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cherryville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cleveland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Coulam | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Egypt | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fairview | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Glendale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Linrose | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mapleton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mink Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mound Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nashville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oneida Station | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oxford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Riverdale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Silver Star | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Thorenson | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Treasureton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Whitney | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Winder | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 83263 — Preston
- 83286 — Weston
- 83237 — Franklin
- 83228 — Clifton
- 83232 — Dayton
- 83283 — Thatcher
The county’s smaller communities have no post office of their own and rely on the ZIP code of the nearest incorporated city.
Geography
Franklin County sits in the Bear River valley in Idaho’s southeastern corner, hard against the Utah state line. The Bear River enters the county from the south, loops north past Preston, and swings back into Utah on its long horseshoe course toward the Great Salt Lake. Farmland fills the valley floor; the Bannock Range and Cache National Forest rise along the county’s western and southern margins.
Oneida County lies to the north, Bannock County to the northwest, Caribou County to the west, Bear Lake County to the east, and Cache County, Utah to the south across the state line.
Demographics
Franklin County counted 14,194 residents at the 2020 census, giving a density of about 21 people per square mile on its 664 square miles of land. Preston, with 5,591 residents, and Weston, with 631, are the county’s two largest communities. Household income runs well below the Idaho median of $74,942; Franklin County’s farm and small-town economy sits among the lower-income counties in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Dairy farming, wheat, and alfalfa dominate the county’s rural economy, with Preston serving as the retail and service hub for southeastern Idaho’s Bear River valley. Preston Joint School District 201 runs the county’s public schools, including Preston High School. The city hosts That Famous Preston Night Rodeo each summer and the Idaho Festival of Lights from the day after Thanksgiving through December 31. Preston is also known as the primary filming location for the 2004 film Napoleon Dynamite, and a Napoleon Dynamite Festival draws visitors to town in the summer.
History
Franklin County was organized in 1913 and named for Franklin D. Richards, an apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the only Franklin County in the United States not named for Benjamin Franklin. The town of Franklin, settled by Mormon pioneers on April 14, 1860, is recognized as Idaho’s oldest continuously inhabited non-native settlement. The Bear River Massacre, in which the U.S. Army killed hundreds of Northwestern Shoshone men, women, and children on January 29, 1863, took place along the Bear River near the present-day Franklin County line.
Getting There
US Route 91 runs the length of the county, with Idaho State Highways 34 and 36 branching off toward Oxford and Weston.
- Logan, Utah — about 25 minutes south via US-91
- Pocatello, Idaho — about 45 miles north via US-91
- Salt Lake City, Utah — about 100 miles south via US-91/I-15
Pocatello Regional Airport, roughly 45 miles north, offers the nearest scheduled commercial air service; Salt Lake City International Airport, about 100 miles south, provides wider connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Franklin County, Idaho?
It sits in the southeastern corner of Idaho, on the Bear River, directly north of Cache County, Utah.
What is the population of Franklin County?
14,194 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Franklin County?
668 square miles (1,730 km2), of which 664 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Franklin County?
Preston is the county seat and largest city.
How many towns are in Franklin County?
Five incorporated cities — Preston, Weston, Clifton, Dayton, and Franklin — plus about 22 unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Franklin County?
83263 (Preston), 83286 (Weston), 83237 (Franklin), 83228 (Clifton), 83232 (Dayton), and 83283 (Thatcher).
Why is Preston famous?
Preston was the primary filming location for the 2004 movie Napoleon Dynamite, and it hosts a Napoleon Dynamite Festival each summer alongside its long-running Night Rodeo.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Idaho.