Franklin County is a county in Mississippi, United States, crossed diagonally by the Homochitto River in the state’s southwestern hill country. It had a population of 7,675 at the 2020 census and covers 567 square miles (1,470 km2) centred near 31°29′N 90°54′W.
Meadville is the county seat, and its postal code is 39653. The county has three incorporated towns and eight unincorporated communities, sits in the Central time zone, and was the fourth county organized in Mississippi.
Towns & Villages in Franklin County
Franklin County’s population centers split between three incorporated towns and a scatter of unincorporated crossroads communities. Bude, on U.S. 84, is the county’s largest town; Meadville, the seat, sits near the geographic center; Roxie lies on the eastern edge toward Lincoln County.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bude | Town | 780 | 39630 |
| Meadville | Town · seat | — | 39653 |
| Roxie | Town | — | 39661 |
| Eddiceton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hamburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Knoxville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Little Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lucien | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McCall Creek | Unincorp. | — | 39647 |
| Quentin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Veto | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 39653 — Meadville (the county seat)
- 39630 — Bude
- 39661 — Roxie
- 39647 — McCall Creek
The county’s smaller communities have no ZIP code of their own and use whichever of these four post offices is closest.
Geography
Franklin County lies in the piney hill country of southwest Mississippi, part of the same loess-hill belt that runs along the Mississippi River bluffs near Natchez. The Homochitto River crosses the county diagonally from northeast to southwest, feeding a network of smaller creeks that drain toward the Mississippi. Much of the southern half of the county lies within the Homochitto National Forest, a large tract of federally managed pine and hardwood timberland that shapes both the landscape and the local economy. Of the county’s 567 square miles, 564 square miles are land and 3.0 square miles (0.5%) are water.
Franklin County borders five counties: Jefferson County to the north, Lincoln County to the east, Amite County to the south, Wilkinson County to the southwest, and Adams County to the west.
Demographics
Franklin County had 7,675 residents at the 2020 census, down from earlier decades — the county’s population has fallen by roughly half since 1910. Bude is the largest community, followed by the county seat, Meadville. As in many rural Mississippi counties, household income here trails the statewide figure; the Mississippi median household income is $54,203. Population density works out to about 13.6 people per square mile of land.
Economy & Local Life
Forestry and timber drive much of the county’s economy, tied to the surrounding Homochitto National Forest, alongside cattle ranching and small-scale row-crop farming. Pulpwood and sawtimber harvested locally feed mills elsewhere in southwest Mississippi, and hunting leases on both public forest land and private timber tracts are a steady source of local income. Franklin County government and the Franklin County School District, headquartered in Meadville, are among the county’s larger employers. U.S. 84 through Bude carries most of the county’s through traffic and commercial activity, and Bude’s position on that highway has made it the county’s retail center even though Meadville remains the seat of government.
History
Franklin County was organized on December 21, 1809, from part of Adams County, making it the fourth county formed in the Mississippi Territory, only a few years after the territory itself was created. It was named for Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding figures of the United States, a naming pattern repeated in dozens of counties across the country. The county’s population peaked in the early 20th century, when cotton farming and timber cutting supported a much larger rural population, and has declined by roughly half since 1910 as the local economy shifted away from small-farm agriculture toward forestry and cattle.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 84 runs east-west through Bude and Meadville; Mississippi Highway 33 runs north-south through the county. Nearby cities:
- Natchez — about 30 miles west
- McComb — about 25 miles east
- Brookhaven — about 30 miles northeast
- Jackson — about 95 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport, roughly 95 miles north of Meadville.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Franklin County, Mississippi?
It is in the southwestern part of Mississippi, between Natchez and McComb, crossed by the Homochitto River.
What is the population of Franklin County?
Franklin County had a population of 7,675 at the 2020 census.
How big is Franklin County?
The county covers 567 square miles (1,470 km2), of which 564 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Franklin County?
Meadville is the county seat.
How many towns are in Franklin County?
The county has three incorporated towns — Bude, Meadville, and Roxie — plus several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Franklin County?
The county’s ZIP codes are 39630 (Bude), 39647 (McCall Creek), 39653 (Meadville), and 39661 (Roxie).
Why is the county named Franklin?
It was named for Benjamin Franklin when it was organized from part of Adams County in 1809.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Mississippi.